MSc Climate Change and Global Development
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Why you should choose us
Course Overview
The impacts of climate change on global development are increasingly visible and alarming. Addressing these challenges requires societal transformation at an unprecedented scale and speed. Climate change, along with actions to mitigate it, significantly affects global development issues such as poverty, inequality, and social justice.
Our renowned MSc Climate Change and Global Development degree is a one-year full time course which draws on UEA’s pioneering track record in climate science and global development. From day one, you’ll be immersed in cutting edge research, learning from the combined expertise of research-active staff in the School of Global Development, the School of Environmental Sciences, and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
You’ll kick off your studies with an in-depth look at the essentials of climate change and its links with key issues in development. This includes the science of climate change, climate impacts and attribution, and the relationships between adaptation strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals. The programme places a particular emphasis on resource-poor and vulnerable locations and countries.
Over the course of the year, you’ll study increasingly specialised subjects that explore various aspects of the interface between climate change and global development. These may include the physical science of climate change, agriculture and food systems, global challenges and environmental change, sustainable consumption, and energy systems, among others. The course culminates in either an independent research project or a work placement. In both cases, you'll have the chance to apply the skills, knowledge, and expertise you've acquired throughout the course.
Our postgraduate degree in Climate Change and Global Development offers a multidisciplinary approach with a strong emphasis on practical application. Throughout the programme, you'll benefit from insights shared by inspiring practitioners, providing you with valuable perspectives on working in development and climate change-related fields. The School of Global Development provides an ideal environment for studying climate change, merging UEA's unparalleled expertise in groundbreaking climate research with its globally recognised focus on development issues. You'll have ample opportunities to develop high-level analytical skills, gain in-depth knowledge, and acquire transferable employability skills to prepare for your chosen career path.
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Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll be given the foundational knowledge you need to understand the biggest contemporary issues in climate change and their connections with global development. You’ll also have the flexibility to tailor your degree and specialise in areas that interest you. Once you’ve completed the taught element of your course, you’ll undertake either an extended independent research project, or opt for an industry work placement designed to deepen your professional experience.
In the first semester, you’ll focus on the science of climate change, its impacts on global development and the role of adaptation in promoting climate-resilient development. Our teaching adopts a student-centred, enquiry-based approach. You’ll gain an excellent grounding in the science underpinning climate change to enable you to engage confidently and persuasively with a range of audiences. You’ll also be given the theoretical and applied knowledge needed to research and plan for adaptation to climate change.
In the second semester, you’ll focus on issues of governance and policy for climate change and development. You’ll critically examine national and international climate change governance, policy and societal impacts, and responses to climate change. You’ll focus on the history and politics of international climate change negotiations and critically examine the way the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change operates. You’ll then turn to the interface of climate change and society. You’ll explore participatory governance and urban responses to climate change and critically examine ethical/justice-related debates, the role of energy demand and lifestyle in tackling climate change.
There are a range of optional modules from the Schools of Global Development and Environmental Sciences for you to choose from which will enable you to tailor your degree to suit your interests and career path.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Credits: 40)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. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with 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. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
Our Climate Change and Global Development postgraduate course adopts a wide range of inclusive teaching approaches to suit different learning styles. Teaching methods include lectures and seminars, expert and practitioner sessions, peer-to-peer activities, and small group work.
Your lectures go beyond the customary ‘chalk-and-talk’ approaches, they include a range of interactive tasks and activities to support active learning. The use of technology is also widespread, for example through visual representations of empirical evidence in international development (e.g., through statistical programs), the use of online reading materials and lecture screencasts. Seminars provide an opportunity to engage more concretely with the knowledge and skills you're learning. Seminars are interactive and often revolve around work you’ve produced either individually or in small groups.
Running alongside the lectures and seminars are a range of other teaching approaches that place a greater emphasis on you, because the best way to truly understand something is to work through examples and apply what you’ve learnt in real world scenarios. Examples of this type of work include student-led Question and Answer sessions with practitioners and experts and mini-research projects and practicals to support peer-to-peer learning. In addition to supporting your learning, these activities will help you to get to know your fellow students. The more applied elements of the course will also support you to develop transferable skills such as articulating an argument both orally and in writing and presenting complex information in a clear and cogent manner.
Independent study
To succeed at Master’s level, you’ll need to spend at least as much time on independent study as you spend in class or interacting with your fellow students. Throughout the course, you’ll receive a range of support and guidance to help you to engage critically with academic literature and relevant data. We offer a range of feedback and assistance to help you make the most of your formative and summative assignments. Additionally, each member of the faculty has two office hours available each week, giving you the chance to discuss material in more detail or get face-to-face feedback on specific pieces of work.
Assessment
We’ll use various assessment methods across the different modules contributing in proportions towards your overall module mark. Assessment methods include presentations and essays in addition to the assessed dissertation or development work placement report. Further assessment methods will differ depending on the optional modules you choose.
You’ll receive constructive and timely feedback on both your formative and summative assessments to help you develop your understanding and skills to improve your performance at assessment. You’ll be encouraged to prepare essay plans or outlines in advance of essay deadlines, and to get feedback on these with the relevant lecturer during their office hours or by email. In addition, you’ll comment on the work of your fellow students in seminars and other fora to further develop your critical reading and evaluation skills.
If you’ve additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia, please talk to our Student Support Services about how we can help.
Employability
After the Course
Climate change is one of the most challenging issues facing humankind today. Responding to climate change requires fundamental changes throughout society. These changes will have profound implications for key development issues such as poverty, inequality, and social justice.
Whether exploring the science of climate change with simple climate models, investigating the links between adaptation and the sustainable development goals, or understanding the implications of mitigation choices on poverty, you’ll gain high-level analytical skills and knowledge to equip you for your chosen career path.
The School of Global Development is the ideal place to study climate change, bringing together UEA’s unrivalled excellence in pioneering climate research with its world-renowned focus on issues of global development.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- International organisations
- Governmental and non-governmental organisations
- Local governments
- Private sector
- Graduates from this course have gone onto careers with the United Nations Environment Programme, the Asian Development Bank, WWF (World Wildlife Fund), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Norfolk County Council, and many others
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Social Sciences- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Social Sciences- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in Listening and Reading with 6.0 in Writing and Speaking)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
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UK Students: £10,850
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International Students: £22,700
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.