Climate Change Management (MSc / Postgraduate Diploma / Postgraduate Certificate) - 2013/2014 entry

The MSc in Climate Change Management aims to meet the needs of both climate-change practitioners and those hoping to move into this fast-developing sector. The programme will provide students with a comprehensive advanced level grounding in many areas of climate change and an opportunity to reflect on practice at both individual and corporate levels. As the programme is offered through part-time, evening face-to-face study, it provides a distinctive opportunity for practitioners to combine study with a continuing career.

In the compulsory programme, you will gain an informed understanding of the key issues in the 3 main areas of science, policy and business by engaging with academic, professional and popular literature. You will be able to critically evaluate scientific scenarios for future climates and landscape impacts, assess the effectiveness of different policy approaches, and determine suitable business responses to the climate change challenge. You will then be able to pursue your own interests, both within climate change and across the broad range of Master's-level environment modules. It is also possible to specialise in Geographic Information Science (GIS) and gain an MSc Climate Change Management with GIS. The research project will comprise in-depth study of real challenges arising from climate change, in a number of contexts.

From October 2013-2014, (pending approval) completion of the correct option modules within this MSc will allow students to become Associate Members with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

Find out more about studying at Birkbeck and what our students say about our geography- and environment-related programmes.

Watch an Introduction to Climate Change taster lecture.

• Aims to meet the needs of both climate change practitioners and those hoping to move into this fast-developing sector. 
• From October 2013-2014, (pending approval) completion of the right option modules within this MSc will allow students to become Associate Members with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). IEMA is the largest professional membership body for the environment with over 15,000 members working across all industry sectors. IEMA Associate Member status is required for many environmental job roles.
• Provides an opportunity to undertake in-depth research in a sector of your own choosing, which can lead to important networking opportunities.
• Birkbeck has considerable expertise in, and a long history of, effectively teaching Geographic Information Science (GIS) and this programme has a pathway that allows students to combine Climate Change and GIS studies, graduating with an MSc Climate Change Management and GIS.

From October 2013-14, (pending approval) completion of this MSc will allow students to become Associate Members with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). The Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) is the largest professional membership body for the environment with over 15,000 members working across all industry sectors. IEMA Associate Member status is required for many environmental job roles. 

The MSc in Climate Change Management comprises 7 taught modules, 1 at 30 credits, the others at 15 credits. A 60 credit dissertation is also required, making 180 credits in total.

The PGDip in Climate Change Management comprises 120 credits of taught modules, without a dissertation.

The PGCert in Climate Change Management comprises 60 credits of taught modules.

Compulsory modules will be undertaken in the first year in Climate Change (15 credits), including science, mitigation and adaptation; Environment and Policy (30 credits); Climate Change and Sustainable Business Practice (15 credits) and Energy and Climate Change (15 credits). By engaging with academic, professional and popular literature students will gain an informed understanding of the key issues in these 3 main areas of science, policy and business. They will be able to critically evaluate scientific scenarios for future climates and landscape impacts, assess the effectiveness of different policy approaches and determine suitable business and energy responses to the climate change challenge.

In the second year of the programme, students will focus on developing research skills (GEDS Research Methods module - 15 credits) and pursuing their own interests in option modules. Students can choose either to complete modules that will lead to Associate Member status with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (Environmental Science for Environmental Management (15 credits) and Environmental Reporting and Management Systems - 15 credits) or other option modules (e.g. Readings in the Environment, Cultural Landscapes or other Birkbeck modules). Students on the MSc Climate Change Management with GIS take the three 15-credit modules Introduction to GIS, GIS Data and Databases and Remote Sensing and Environmental GIS. They also complete a dissertation conducting an in-depth study of real challenges arising from climate change, in a number of contexts.

The department has contacts with many public and private sector organisations, professional bodies and researchers at other academic institutions.
We offer student support and have a range of research resources.

For students studying the GIS pathway, we provide access to GIS software (ArcGIS, free to UK-based students and IDRISI, available at student rates) and GIS practicals (ESRI Virtual Campus, IDRISI and selfcontained).

If you are interested in further research, we offer a PhD/MPhil in Geography.

Graduates go on to careers in business, environmental management, local government, policy work, and in environmental groups and charities.

• Applications are welcome at any time.