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MSci Environmental Geography and Climate Change ( F812 )

UCAS Course Code:
F812
Duration:
4 years
Attendance:
Full Time
Award:
Degree of Master of Sciences
School of Study:
Environmental Sciences
Brochure:
School of Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Brochure (PDF)
Typical A-Level Offer:
AAA

There is a pressing need for people who understand both the environmental and social complexities of climate change. This new degree programme offers you the chance to study climate change from a unique multi-disciplinary perspective in one of the world’s leading university departments for the study of climate change.

Why is climate change such a difficult problem to tackle?

This innovative undergraduate degree programme uses the insights, methods and skills of environmental geography and environmental social science to study the historical, environmental, social, economic and political dimensions of climate change. The programme allows students to understand the natural and human drivers of climate change and the varied responses of individuals and societies around the world to the challenges climate change raises. This requires a broad range of disciplinary perspectives and an ability to understand how different approaches for studying climate change complement each other. Although the emphasis is on the human dimensions of climate change, a solid grounding in the natural sciences is also an integral part of the degree programme. An undergraduate programme on climate change from such a strong multi-disciplinary perspective has not before been offered in the UK. This degree is also unique by being taught by some of the world’s leading academics who have studied climate change from this inter-disciplinary perspective.

This programme is offered by the School of Environmental Sciences and is co-ordinated by Professor Mike Hulme, a renowned geographer and climate change expert and founder of the Tyndall Centre. You will take core modules on the history of climate change science, climate politics, and climate change risk, communication and ethics and also be able to choose from a wide range of other modules to tailor this degree to meet your specific interests.

Study Environmental Geography and Climate Change at UEA and find out the answers to the following questions and many more...

  • When did scientists first realise humans were altering climate?
  • What is the role of population growth in climate change?
  • Is it possible to prevent dangerous climate change?
  • How do scientists communicate uncertainty about future climate predictions?
  • Why has negotiating global climate treaties been so difficult?
  • Have the media made it easier or harder for people to understand climate change?
  • Do world religions have any part to play in managing climate change?
  • Are proposed geoengineering solutions safe?
  • Is it unethical to fly?
  • Should people be labelled ‘climate deniers’?
  • Why do people perceive the risks of climate change differently?
  • How can Pacific islands adapt to sea-level rise?
  • Are there technological solutions to climate change?
  • What are the costs of climate change?
  • Why are there controversies about climate change science?
  • Should developing countries be paid to keep their forests intact?
  • How can energy consumption in the western world be reduced?
  • How are the risks of flooding reduced?

Projects and Seminars

Project based seminars will include topics such as the role of newspapers, films and books in communicating climate change, scientific controversies, what climate change means in developing countries, and how different societies adapt. Guided by a member of Faculty you will be able to complete your own projects in these areas and many others relating to your own interests in climate change.


Prof Michael Hulme

Why choose usEnvironmental science is a rapidly progressing, vibrant and exciting field of study with excellent career prospects in the UK and beyond.

Environmental Science is a modern scientific discipline that will have a profound effect on human society as environmental concerns become paramount at the beginning of the 21st century.

A human population of over 6 billion demands energy, transport, and technology, while climate change threatens the security of the most vulnerable peoples on the planet. Management of pollution and waste is essential to protect human health. Global environment change is eroding the planets biological diversity. Natural hazards threaten infrequent but catastrophic disasters.

Solving these urgent problems requires the expertise of trained environmental scientists. In ENV you will be trained to understand the complex interactions of human society with the bio-geosphere and to provide solutions for enhanced industry and sustainable economies. Inter-disciplinary scientists are needed to communicate the solutions and influence policy at local, national and global scales.

Volcanology, seismology, ecology, conservation, meteorology, oceanography, environmental economics, environmental politics, geochemistry, soil science, climate change and energy resources are just a few of the subjects you could study. Whether you choose to study a broad range of the environmental sciences or specialise in one field, you can be sure that your degree will be challenging and inspiring from beginning to end.

In the 2012 National Student Survey, the School of Environmental Sciences at UEA gained a 96% satisfaction rate, putting the department at joint 5th in the UK, above universities like Southampton and Exeter. Teaching was a particular highlight of the survey, and as a School, Environmental Sciences came in joint 2nd with a rating of 97% satisfaction.

UniStats Information

Compulsory Study (90 credits)

Students must study the following modules for 90 credits:

Name Code Credits
ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN ENV-1A56 10
BIODIVERSITY IN A CHANGING WORLD ENV-1A26 10
DYNAMIC EARTH ENV-1A67 10
FORCES OF NATURE ENV-1A25 10
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES ENV-1A29 20
RESEARCH & FIELD SKILLS 1 ENV-1A41 10
RESEARCH & FIELD SKILLS 2 ENV-1A42K 10
SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIETY ENV-1A28 10

Option A Study (10 credits)

Students will select 10 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
EARTH'S CHEMICAL PROCESSES 1 ENV-1A32 10
EARTH'S CHEMICAL PROCESSES II ENV-1A34 10

Option B Study (20 credits)

Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
MATHEMATICS FOR SCIENTISTS 1 ENV-1A61 10
MATHEMATICS FOR SCIENTISTS II ENV-1A62 10
NUMERICAL SKILLS FOR SCIENTISTS I ENV-1A51 10
NUMERICAL SKILLS FOR SCIENTISTS II ENV-1A52 10

Compulsory Study (50 credits)

Students must study the following modules for 50 credits:

Name Code Credits
CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE AND POLICY ENV-2A09 20
ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY MAKING ENV-2A06 20
RESEARCH SKILLS FOR SOCIAL SCIENTISTS ENV-2A90 10

Option A Study (10 credits)

Students will select 10 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
EARTH SCIENCE FIELD SKILLS ENV-2A98K 10
EARTH SCIENCE SKILLS ENV-2A96 10
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY ENV-2A92 10
GIS SKILLS FOR DISSERTATIONS ENV-2A94 10

Option B Study (40 credits)

Students will select 40 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS ENV-2B52 10
HYDROLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY ENV-2A65 20
INTERACTIONS AND POPULATIONS ENV-2A35 20
LOW CARBON ENERGY ENV-2A82 20
LOW CARBON ENERGY WITH FIELDCOURSE ENV-2A82K 20
METEOROLOGY I ENV-2A23 20
METEOROLOGY II ENV-2A24 20
METEOROLOGY II WITH FIELDCOURSE ENV-2A24K 20

Option C Study (20 credits)

Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
AQUATIC ECOLOGY ENV-2A01 20
AQUATIC ECOLOGY (CW) ENV-2A01C 20
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND GLOBAL CHANGE ENV-2A37 20
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND GLOBAL CHANGE (CW) ENV-2A37C 20
CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY ENV-2A45 20
CLIMATE CHANGE HISTORY, ECONOMICS AND GOVERNANCE (CW) ENV-2A09C 20
CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE AND POLICY ENV-2A09 20
EARTH SCIENCE FIELD SKILLS ENV-2A98K 10
EARTH SCIENCE SKILLS ENV-2A96 10
EARTH SYSTEM GEOCHEMISTRY ENV-2A30 20
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS ENV-2B52 10
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY ENV-2A92 10
ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY MAKING ENV-2A06 20
GEODYNAMICS: EARTH'S ENGINE ENV-2A43 20
GEODYNAMICS: EARTH'S ENGINE (CW) ENV-2A43C 20
GIS SKILLS FOR DISSERTATIONS ENV-2A94 10
HYDROLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY ENV-2A65 20
HYDROLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY (CW) ENV-2A65C 20
INTERACTIONS AND POPULATIONS ENV-2A35 20
INTERACTIONS AND POPULATIONS (CW) ENV-2A35C 20
LOW CARBON ENERGY ENV-2A82 20
LOW CARBON ENERGY WITH FIELDCOURSE ENV-2A82K 20
MARINE SCIENCES FIELDCOURSE ENV-2A47K 20
MATHEMATICS FOR SCIENTISTS III ENV-2A21 20
MATHEMATICS FOR SCIENTISTS III (CW) ENV-2A21C 20
MATHEMATICS FOR SCIENTISTS IV ENV-2A22 20
METEOROLOGY ENV-2A23C 20
METEOROLOGY I ENV-2A23 20
METEOROLOGY II ENV-2A24 20
METEOROLOGY II WITH FIELDCOURSE ENV-2A24K 20
OCEAN CIRCULATION ENV-2A39 20
OCEAN CIRCULATION (CW) ENV-2A39C 20
RESEARCH SKILLS FOR SOCIAL SCIENTISTS ENV-2A90 10
SEDIMENTOLOGY ENV-2A25 20
SEDIMENTOLOGY (CW) ENV-2A25C 20
SOIL ENVIRONMENTS AND PROCESSES (CW) ENV-2A27C 20
SOIL PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ENV-2A27 20
SOLID EARTH GEOPHYSICS ENV-2A12 20
SOLID EARTH GEOPHYSICS WITH FIELDCOURSE ENV-2A12K 20
WAVES, TIDES AND SHALLOW WATER PROCESSES ENV-2A40 20
YEAR ABROAD IN EUROPE ENV-2Y2Y 120
YEAR ABROAD IN NORTH AMERICA ENV-2Y1Y 120
YEAR IN AUSTRALASIA ENV-2Y4Y 120
YEAR IN INDUSTRY ENV-2Y5Y 100

Compulsory Study (100 credits)

Students must study the following modules for 100 credits:

Name Code Credits
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE ENV-3A20 20
Human Geography of Climate Change ENV-3A40 20
INDEPENDENT PROJECT ENV-3A91 40

Option A Study (20 credits)

Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND HUMAN SOCIETY ENV-3A17 20
CATCHMENT WATER RESOURCES ENV-3A60 20
CLIMATE CHANGE: PHYSICAL SCIENCE BASIS ENV-3A49 20
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS ENV-3A44 20
PARTICIPATORY ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING ENV-3A54 20
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION BIO-3C6Y 20

Option B Study (20 credits)

Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION: MEASUREMENT AND MODELLING ENV-3A80 20
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND HUMAN SOCIETY ENV-3A17 20
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND HUMAN SOCIETY (CW) ENV-3A17C 20
BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE ECOLOGY ENV-3A15 20
BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE ECOLOGY ENV-3A15C 20
CATCHMENT WATER RESOURCES ENV-3A60 20
CLIMATE CHANGE: PHYSICAL SCIENCE BASIS ENV-3A49 20
EARTH AND LIFE ENV-3A38 20
EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANIC HAZARDS ENV-3A04 20
EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANIC HAZARDS WITH FIELDCOURSE ENV-3A04K 20
FIELD COURSE TO EAST AFRICA ENV-3A55K 20
FOSSIL FUEL ENV-3A33 20
FOSSIL FUEL (CW) ENV-3A33C 20
GEOSCIENCES FIELDCOURSE ENV-3A57K 20
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE ENV-3A20 20
Human Geography of Climate Change ENV-3A40 20
INDEPENDENT PROJECT ENV-3A91 40
MODELLING ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES ENV-3A11 20
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS ENV-3A44 20
PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY ENV-3A58 20
PARTICIPATORY ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING ENV-3A54 20
POLLUTION, TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY ENV-3A08 20
THE CARBON CYCLE AND CLIMATE CHANGE ENV-3A31 20
THE CARBON CYCLE AND CLIMATE CHANGE (CW) ENV-3A31C 20
THEORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ENV-3A63 20
THEORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (CW) ENV-3A63C 20

Compulsory Study (60 credits)

Students must study the following modules for 60 credits:

Name Code Credits
RESEARCH TRAINING PROJECT ENV-MA9Y 60

Option A Study (40 credits)

Students will select 40 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY FOR DEVELOPMENT DEV-M093 20
CLIMATE CHANGE: PHYSICAL SCIENCE BASIS ENV-MA49 20
PARTICIPATORY ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING ENV-MA54 20
SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION ENV-MA83 20

Option B Study (20 credits)

Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND HUMAN SOCIETY ENV-MA17 20
ECOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE ENV-MA46 10
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ENV-MA66 10
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT EFFECTIVENESS ENV-MA64K 20
GIS FOR ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ENV-MA94 10
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS ENV-MA44 20
THEORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ENV-MA63 20

Disclaimer

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules and regular (five-yearly) review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff or sabbatical leave. Where this is the case, the University will endeavour to inform students.

Entry Requirements

A Level:
AAA
International Baccalaureate:
34 (incl 3 HL subjects at grade 6)
Scottish Highers:
AAAAA
Scottish Advanced Highers:
AAA
Irish Leaving Certificate:
AAAAAA
Access Course:
See below
European Baccalaureate:
85% overall

Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading). Recognised English Language qualifications include:

  • IELTS: 6. overall (minimum 5.5 in any component)
  • TOEFL: Internet-based score of 78 overall (minimum 20 in Speaking component, 17 in Writing and Listening components and 18 in Reading components.
  • PTE: 55 overall (minimum 51 in any component).

If you do not meet the University's entry requirements, our INTO Language Learning Centre offers a range of university preparation courses to help you develop the high level of academic and English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Interviews

The majority of candidates will not be called for an interview. However, for some students an interview will be requested. These are normally quite informal and generally cover topics such as your current studies, reasons for choosing the course and your personal interests and extra-curricular activities.

Gap Year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year, believing that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry and may wish to contact the appropriate Admissions Office directly to discuss this further.

Special Entry Requirements

Applicants are asked to have at least one science based A2-level or equivalent. Acceptable science subjects include: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics. 

General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.

Intakes

The School's annual intake is in September of each year.

Alternative Qualifications

We encourage you to apply if you have alternative qualifications equivalent to our stated entry requirement. Please contact us for further information.

Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 45 credits at Level 3, including 12 Level 3 Science credits.

GCSE Offer

Students are required to have Mathematics and English at minimum of Grade C or above at GCSE Level.

Fees and Funding

Undergraduate University Fees

We are committed to ensuring that Tuition Fees do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds.  Full time UK/EU students starting an undergraduate degree course in 2013 will be charged a tuition fee of £9,000.  The level of fee may be subject to yearly increases.  Full time International students starting an undergraduate degree course in 2013 will be charged a tuition fee of £14,400.  The level of fee may be subject to yearly increases.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Home/EU - The University of East Anglia offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships.  To check if you are eligible please visit http://www.uea.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/finance/university-financial-support      

International Students -  The University offers around £1 million of Scholarships each year to support International students in their studies. Scholarships are normally awarded to students on the basis of academic merit and are usually for the duration of the period of study.    Our University international pages gives you more details about preparation for studying with us, including Fees and Funding http://www.uea.ac.uk/international


 


Applications need to be made via the Universities Colleges and Admissions Services (UCAS), using the UCAS Apply option.

UCAS Apply is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time Undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom. It is made up of different sections that you need to complete. Your application does not have to be completed all at once. The system allows you to leave a section partially completed so you can return to it later and add to or edit any information you have entered. Once your application is complete, it must be sent to UCAS so that they can process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.

The UCAS code name and number for the University of East Anglia is EANGL E14.

Further Information

If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances with the Admissions Office prior to applying please do contact us:

Undergraduate Admissions Office (Environmental Sciences)
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk

Please click here to register your details online via our Online Enquiry Form.

International candidates are also actively encouraged to access the University's International section of our website.