Course Structure

Student may register on a Full-time or Part-time basis.

The MSc is awarded to students who successfully complete the taught element of the programme (120 CATs) comprising core modules (80 CATs), elective modules (40 CATs) and a Research Project (60 CATs).

Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing the taught element of the programme (120 CATs) or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATs from the taught programme.

Course Details

Core Modules (CATS points in brackets):

Semester 1
GGY7004 The Science of Climate Change (20)
GGY7005 Living with Climate Change (20)
GGY7006 Careers in Climate Change (0)

Semester 2
GGY7007 Culture and Climate Change (20)
GGY7008 Mitigating Climate Change (20)


Elective Modules (CATS points in brackets):

Semester 1
CHE7301 Applied Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technologies (20)
EVP7040 Urban Futures (20)
LFE8031 Foundations for Sustainable Development (20)

Semester 2
CIV7012 Environmental Interaction of Assessment of Marine Renewables (10)
CIV7038 Introduction to Renewable Technologies (10)
CIV7059 Assessment of Environmental Impacts (20)
EVP7043 Planning for Sustainable Communities (20)
PAI7036 Political Economy of Energy and Low Carbon Energy Transition (20)

Teaching Times

Teaching takes place throughout the week from Monday-Friday between 9am-6pm. Timetabling requests for teaching in longer blocks over fewer days will be made but cannot be guaranteed.

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

Learning and Teaching

You’ll be part of a relatively small, informal and engaging class. You’ll get to know your classmates and your lecturers well during class discussions, practical classes and field trips. Students will be assigned an Advisor of Studies who will offer support with study-related issues and will signpost to wider University services and support. Module coordinators will provide study support for issues relating to specific modules. Supervisors for the Research Project will provide 1-to-1 supervision and guidance relating to the Research Project. Students will have access to a number of school-wide and programme-specific resources on Canvas, including the School PGT Handbook for written information on the teaching, learning and pastoral support infrastructure in the school; and module content to support with learning and assessments within modules. Students will also have access to a number of discipline-specific physical resources within Geography, including the bespoke MSc Climate Change Lab for working outside timetabled classes (with 15 computers and lots of bench space), the Centre for GIS and Geomatics for project work involving GIS; the Map Library (by appointment) for project work involving print maps; the Student Resource Room for socialising outside timetabled classes (with a tea/coffee machine available and some comfy seating); and a number of laboratories for project work involving physical analysis of primary data in the labs. Since the programme is open to applicants from any subject, we will also support those students with a less scientific/practical/technical background by offering online “help surgeries” as part of any core module practical classes (e.g. using ArcGIS Pro, Microsoft Excel, R Studio). Students will also be encouraged to make use of faculty support services on technical aspects of the course, including the EPS Mathematics and Statistics Helpdesk (MASH).

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

• The programme is coursework only, with core modules assessed via a range of methods including essays, literature reviews, presentations, reports, and videos. The elective modules are also assessed by coursework only using a range of different assessment types.

Modules

Career Prospects

Introduction

In addition to the subject-specific skills acquired on the programme, considerable care has been taken to ensure students are equipped with employability skills and are supported in their career development. Most notably, the programme includes a bespoke “Careers in Climate Change” module providing employability support and opportunities to network with employers in the climate change arena. Practical skills training is central in all core modules, ensuring students graduate with a range of technical hard skills (e.g. climate modelling, GIS, quantitative and qualitative data analysis) and transferable soft skills (e.g. presentations and report writing) that are highly valued by employers. The Research Project module includes an employer-focused option, involving a project co-designed and co-supervised by a member of staff from an external organisation. This is another way students can boost their career prospects, through working on a project of direct relevance and importance in the workplace, and by networking with staff within that organisation. Finally, students can avail of central University support through the QUB Careers, Employability and Skills department.

Employment after the Course

Where could you be in five years?

• Developing climate and flood risk scenarios in the public sector at national meteorological and environmental agencies such as the Met Office or Northern Ireland Environment Agency
• Formulating climate adaptation strategies and sustainability policies within local governments / councils
• Implementing conservation and climate action within NGOs and charities like Friends of the Earth or Greenpeace
• Leading change within the private sector at environmental consultancies such as Atkins or RPS; energy and utilities companies such as SSE Airtricity or Thames Water; and risk, finance and insurance providers such as AXA or the World Bank
• Working as a Scientific Officer within research institutes such as the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute or the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
• Pursuing further study at PhD level in various areas relating to climate change

Employment Links

Employers interested in people like you:

• National meteorological and environmental agencies such as the Met Office or Northern Ireland Environment Agency
• Local governments / councils – e.g. Belfast City Council
• NGOs and charities like Friends of the Earth or Greenpeace
• Environmental consultancies such as Atkins or RPS
• Energy and utilities companies such as SSE Airtricity or Thames Water
• Risk, finance and insurance providers such as AXA or the World Bank
• Research institutes such as the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute or the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
• Universities for further study (PhD)

Prizes and Awards

In addition, supervisors may nominate students with exceptional research projects (with their permission) for national prizes. A range of Postgraduate Dissertation Prizes exist through external bodies, including the Royal Geographical Society (RGS):

The School offers two prizes worth £100 each –

https://www.rgs.org/research/research-groups/research-groups-dissertation-prizes/.

one for the top performing student across the 120 credits taught modules (PG Diploma students are also eligible for this prize), and one for the top performing student in the 60 credit Research Project module (open to MSc students only).

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1	£2,434
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2	£2,434
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1	£3,083
EU Other 3	£8,600
International	£8,600

¹EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

² EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

³ EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

Terms and Conditions for Postgraduate applications:

1.1  Due to high demand, there is a deadline for applications. 
1.2  You will be required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the course.
1.3  This condition of offer is in addition to any academic or English language requirements.

Read the full terms and conditions at the link below:
https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/EPS/terms-and-conditions/

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Download a prospectus