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Ecology, Climate Change and Health MSc

London, Stratford (UCL East)

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

£22,700

£11,350

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)

£37,500

£18,750

Duration

1 academic year

2 academic years

Programme starts

September 2024

Applications accepted

Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally, an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in life sciences, environmental sciences, medical sciences or related subject area, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with an appropriate professional qualification and relevant work experience may also apply.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The MSc Ecology, Climate Change and Health programme will fill this gap by training future transformative leaders who have the core capabilities and expertise to work collaboratively across disciplines of public health, animal, and ecosystem health to define and address key societal challenges. The key theme underpinning this programme is the concept of ‘One Health’, defined as an integrated unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals, and ecosystems (World Health Organisation 2021).

Students from different disciplinary backgrounds will work together to explore key concepts such as public health, climate change, biodiversity loss, epidemiology, infectious disease, global health policy, sustainable development goals, ecosystem services, and nature-based solutions for health.

The programme is based within the People and Nature Lab in our brand-new campus UCL East in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park working with partners the Zoological Society of London and the Natural History Museum London and with external stakeholders such as WHO, WOAH, FAO, UNEP, RSPB, and the UK-CEH, students will be exposed to real-world ecological and health challenges at local and global levels and will develop the skills to provide their solutions.

The MSc Ecology, Climate Change and Health programme will connect research with both policy and practice, in recognition of the fact that a multisectoral response is needed to address critical global challenges such as health inequalities, climate change, and the biodiversity crisis. The programme will equip students with the ability to develop nature-based solutions to emergent global human and environmental health challenges, whether through a research, policy, or implementation lens.

The main aims of the programme are to:

• Provide an understanding of the links between people, nature, and health, exploring and critically assessing the framing of One Health.

• Explore the impact of human activities such as climate change and biodiversity loss on the interactions between people, nature, and health.

• Provide students with skills to understand, critically assess and apply multi-disciplinary approaches.

• Understand the range of data science analytical approaches needed to develop solutions within a One Health framework.

• Apply analytical approaches through real world applications to understand different health nexus issues, for example how land use is impacting the risk of wildlife pathogen spill over into human populations or how climate change is impacting food security.

• Develop science communication skills at the science-policy interface to create solutions for real-world health issues with NGOs and policymakers.

Who this course is for

This is an ideal degree for students interested in developing the core capabilities and expertise to work collaboratively across disciplines of public health, animal, and ecosystem health to define and address key societal challenges. This cross-disciplinary programme welcomes both ecologists seeking to apply their skills and deepen their knowledge of public health and climate change, and those from a public health background keen to learn to apply their skills within a one-health and climate change policy and practice setting.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This new programme will train future leaders to collaborate across public health, animal, and ecosystem domains. It explores crucial concepts such as public health, climate change, biodiversity loss, epidemiology, infectious disease, global health policy, sustainable development goals, ecosystem services, and more, allowing students to develop real solutions with professionals for long-term health, climate, and biodiversity benefits.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This programme will launch in September 2024, so detailed graduate destinations are not yet available at the time of publication.

Employability

Upon completion of the programme, students will possess the project management skills, and theoretical and practical experience needed to implement multidisciplinary approaches to tackling grand challenges of global public health underpinned by a One Health approach. Students will also leave with the necessary insight to plan and undertake independent research, and the ability to report its findings to a variety of audiences. Employment destinations may include academia; civil service; local, national and international governmental bodies; environmental charities; conservation charities, NGOs.

Networking

Students are invited to divisional, departmental and other research seminars, where there are opportunities to network with academic colleagues. A number of teaching sessions are taught by staff from industry including from our partner organisations, NHM and ZSL. Students will also get access to seminar series at our partner organisations, and some of the research facilities if their project supervisor is based there. A number of regular social events are scheduled throughout the year, as well as social wider social events organised by UCL, ZSL and NHM, many of which MSc students will be invited. Additionally, through the Nature-Smart module, students will be working directly and networking with other industry partners such as public health bodies, local and national governments, animal-health and wildlife conservation organisations and other stakeholders to co-develop one-health multi-disciplinary solutions to climate change and health challenges.

Teaching and learning

Students will learn through a broad suite of learning approaches, including lectures, seminars and tutorials incorporating problem-based learning, group discussions, task-focused workshops, hands-on experience, teamwork, and reflective learning.
Assessment will be both formative and summative and will provide opportunities for exploration of reflective independent learning, peer feedback, problem-based learning, evidence synthesis and presentation as well as written content with a focus on various audiences. The programme has a strong focus on applied learning but provides the theoretical as well as practical context required to plan, deliver, and manage projects designed to produce improved outcomes for both ecosystem and human health. Modules support the development of critical skills in experimental/project design and the collection, analyses, and management of data. Student’s practical skills and theoretical knowledge will be augmented through their own choice to broaden their multidisciplinary learning via an optional module in Term 1.

Students will be assessed through a variety of means to develop graduate skills as well as to test subject knowledge. Forms of assessment include:
• An individual oral presentation to peers.
• Report writing in styles from across disciplines including a government-style policy note and scientific writing.
• Problem-based assessments that include the design of a research question and practical implementation of tools and methods in R or Python. These will develop
analytical and programming skills.
• Rapid evidence synthesis, to develop skills in literature review and information distillation.
• Writing of a grant proposal and pitching the proposed project. Many careers involve designing projects, applying for funding and promoting a project so these
assessments will prepare students for their future career paths.
• Reflective summary to evaluate projects and outcomes.
• A science communication strategy to develop skills in communicating science to a lay audience.
• A final research project developed in collaboration with UCL academics and/or with a programme partner.

This programme offers approximately 300 contact hours with approximately 1200 hours of self-directed learning.

Modules

In term 1, students take two core modules: Foundations of Ecology, Climate Change & Health and Computational Methods in Biodiversity Research, and one or two optional modules. To provide flexibility for the development of a broad range of skills across disciplinary boundaries for their options. For example, students from a public health and epidemiology disciplinary background may choose to deepen their skills in ecology and impacts of climate change by choosing 'Foundations of Ecology & Ecological Monitoring’. Alternatively, students with an ecological background may wish to choose to expand their knowledge of epidemiology and population health by choosing 'Epidemiology’. or ‘Community Wellbeing, Health Inequalities and the Role of Social Prescribing’ (noting that this module runs over term 1 and 2).

In term 2, students take three core modules: Data Science for Ecology, Climate Change & Health, Human & Ecosystem Health for a Changing World, and Nature Smart Challenge: One Health. If only one optional module has been selected for term 1, then students can also take an option in term 2. These options offer an opportunity to broaden knowledge on both health and climate change aspects of the programme through either the “Climate Change and Health” module or “The Social Determinants of Global Health”.

In term 3, students complete the Nature Smart Challenge module. Students will undertake an independent research project (60 credits). This is a fundamental part of the programme where students will be embedded within a research group at UCL or one of the partners (ZSL or NHM) to undertake an independent research project. This will enable students to undertake a piece of research from beginning to end, including developing the questions, collecting data, analysing data and presenting their work in the style of a scientific paper. The length of the module allows students to get a real experience of scientific research. Periodic workshops during this period will support students in the required skills and will enable feedback from staff and peers.

Part-time Year 1

In term 1, students take two core modules: Foundations of Ecology, Climate Change & Health to introduce the concepts of One Health, and Computational Methods for Biodiversity Research to introduce basic data science and statistical programming skills.

In term 2 of the first year, students will take one core module: Data Science for Ecology, Climate Change & Health. If a term two optional module is selected, then this will take place in year 1. Options include “Climate Change & Health” or “Social Determinants of Global Health”.

In term 3 and over the summer, students can start developing their ideas for the research project to be undertaken in the next year. Periodic workshops during this period will support students in the required skills and will enable feedback from staff and peers, part-time students can attend these workshops the year before they start their project to aid in the planning and preparation for undertaking the bulk of the research in their second year.

Part-time Year 2

In term 1 of the second year, students take either one or two optional modules depending on whether an option was taken in term 2 of year 1 (‘Foundations of Ecology and Ecological Monitoring’, ‘Epidemiology’ or ‘Community Wellbeing, Health Inequalities and the Role of Social Prescribing’).

In term 2 of the second year, students will undertake two core modules: Human & Ecosystem Health for a Changing World and Nature Smart Challenge: One Health. Nature Smart Challenge will also run into term 3.

Completion of the Nature Smart Challenge module will take place in term 3. During term 3 and the summer term, students will undertake an independent research project (60 credits).

Compulsory modules

"Foundations in Ecology, Climate Change and Health "

Computational Methods in Biodiversity Research

"Data Science for Ecology, Climate Change and Health "

Nature Smart Challenge: One Health

Human and Ecosystem Health in a Changing World

MSc in Ecology, Climate Change and Health Research Project

Optional modules

Foundations in Ecology and Ecological Monitoring

Community Wellbeing, Health Inequalities and the role of Social Prescribing

Epidemiology

Climate Change and Health

The Social Determinants of Global Health

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits in total. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Ecology, Climate Change and Health.

Fieldwork

There is a one week fieldwork course in term one which takes place in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park where the UCL East campus is based.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£22,700	£11,350
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£37,500	£18,750

Additional costs

Students are required to have a laptop which is suitable for running R software.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: Brown Family Bursary

Deadline: 20 June 2024

Value: £15,000 (1 year)

Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need

Eligibility: UK

UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 20 June 2024

Value: Tuition fees plus £15,700 stipend ()

Criteria Based on financial need

Eligibility: UK

Next steps

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

why you want to study Ecology, Climate Change and Health at graduate level
why you want to study Ecology, Climate Change and Health at UCL
what particularly attracts you to this programme
how your academic, professional and personal background meets the demands of this programme
where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

To be confirmed.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.