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Environmental Sciences at UEA
Find out more about studying Environmental Sciences at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMSc Climate Change and Net Zero Solutions
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Start Dates
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4th
UEA is ranked 4th overall for research quality in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisCourse Overview
Why MSc Climate Change and Net Zero Solutions at UEA?
You’ll be equipped as a highly skilled climate scientist, with the knowledge and insight needed to apply your expertise across diverse environmental careers. You'll benefit from research-led teaching delivered by internationally recognised specialists within the School of Environmental Sciences, the Climatic Research Unit, and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
Why Choose UEA
- World-leading experts: Learn from internationally renowned scientists in a school ranked first in the UK for research quality.
- Interdisciplinary science: Tailor your MS with flexible modules spanning climate, oceans, freshwater, land, ecology, natural hazards, resources, policy and economics
- Transferrable skills: Hands-on training in data analysis, GIS, modelling and communication, using real-world case studies and applied assessment tasks
What is Climate Change and Net Zero Solutions?
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns driven mainly by human greenhouse gas emissions.
Net zero solutions aim to balance emitted greenhouse gases with removal, reducing overall atmospheric concentrations and limiting warming impacts.
Together, climate action and net zero strategies involve renewable energy, efficiency improvements, behavioural change, and carbon capture technologies.
Careers
Career Pathways
With a MSc Climate Change and Net Zero Solutions degree, you could launch a career in:
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Climate policy advisor: Shaping mitigation and adaptation strategies for governments, NGOs, or international organisations
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Sustainability consultant: Helping businesses measure emissions and develop credible net-zero transition plans
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Carbon accounting specialist: Analysing greenhouse gas footprints and supporting reporting under recognised climate disclosure frameworks
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Renewable energy analyst: Assessing clean energy projects, feasibility, and integration into low-carbon energy systems
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Climate risk and resilience analyst: Evaluating physical and transition risks to infrastructure, finance, and communities from climate change
Career Support
You'll gain employment-focused skills through applied modules, project-based learning, and an independent research dissertation. You'll strengthen in-demand technical capabilities such as data analysis, GIS, and modelling while working with real environmental datasets. You'll also build communication skills by writing for varied audiences and presenting evidence clearly, from technical reports to decision-oriented outputs. Alongside academic support, UEA Career Central(opens in a new window) provides appointments, events, and opportunities to help you plan your next steps.
After the Course
Graduates move into positions within consultancies, environmental agencies, NGOs, and industry. Some pursue research pathways, including PhD programmes or research assistant roles. Your dissertation can serve as a portfolio project showcasing your specialist knowledge and practical skills. The MSc also develops confidence to collaborate across disciplines and address complex environmental challenges.
Study and Modules
Structure
This UEA Climate Change and Net Zero Solutions is a one-year full-time master’s course. You’ll take compulsory modules to enhance basic research skills such as statistics, dissertation writing and research ethics, understand the relationship between climate and energy, through to the physical science of climate change, learning about its effects on our world, and the changes that are needed to reduce emissions and mitigate global warming.
You’ll discover the fundamentals of the changing climate, including the Earth’s energy balance, the global circulation of the atmosphere, the greenhouse effect, and the causes of climate change and variability. You'll study the evidence and causes of climate change over the last two millennia up to the present day, including the atmospheric build-up of greenhouse gases and its consequences for the behaviour of the Earth system.
You’ll examine how current energy resources, technologies and services produce greenhouse gas emissions, drawing on both historical evidence and theories of change to explore prospects and potentials for transforming the energy system.
You’ll then choose three optional modules. Our setting within the long-established School of Environmental Sciences is designed to provide you with both in-depth and interdisciplinary knowledge, giving you the freedom to focus more on either the natural or social sciences, depending on your interests and career aspirations. You’ll also complete a research dissertation related to some of the compulsory elements of the course that are of particular interest to you. As the dissertation is an important part of your course, you’ll be given training to help you to perform the research and write up the dissertation.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Important Information
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.
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Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
You'll learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, practical sessions, IT laboratories, and field visits. Teaching is research-led, connecting environmental science concepts with real-world case studies and datasets. You'll be supported in developing independent study skills through directed reading, guided tasks, and regular feedback. An independent research project enables you to explore a chosen topic with academic supervision.
During your year at UEA, core modules establish fundamental knowledge and practical skills in data analysis, GIS and modelling, and research design.
Fieldwork and practical activities strengthen observation, sampling, and interpretation skills across diverse environmental environments
Assessment
Assessment approaches differ across modules, evaluating both intellectual understanding and practical competence in environmental sciences.
You may be assessed through essays, reports, position papers, presentations, problem sheets, mini-projects, and an independent dissertation. Coursework measures practical and quantitative skills, alongside your ability to analyse data and communicate effectively.
Your research proposal and dissertation assess project design, use of evidence, and your overall development as an environmental scientist.
Most modules are assessed through coursework, including essays, reports, presentations, problem sheets, and mini-projects.
The independent project is evaluated through a research proposal and a final dissertation submission.
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
Any science subject across physical and social sciences. Strong applicants from other backgrounds with experience relevant to Climate Change are also encouraged to apply.
- 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
Any science subject across physical and social sciences. Strong applicants from other backgrounds with experience relevant to Climate Change are also encouraged to apply.
- 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 with minimum 5.5 in each component.
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.(opens in a new window)
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
- UK Students: £12,950
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International Students: £27,000
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
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(opens in a new window).
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(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.