Climate Change Management MSc

This MSc was previously titled MSc Carbon Management.

Are you ready to confront the challenges of the global climate crisis?

Join students from across the globe to tackle the challenges of climate change and create a net-zero-carbon economy and society.

With our MSc Climate Change Management, you will be able to develop the skills and knowledge to engage critically with climate change debates and challenges for an equitable transition toward a resilient, net zero-carbon future.

This interdisciplinary programme is fast-paced and dynamic. Your studies will draw widely on the latest climate change research, along with case studies from Scotland and worldwide.

Industry experts and programme alumni also contribute to the discussions and provide guest lectures.

Throughout this interactive degree, you are encouraged to dive in and join the conversation, participate in group activities, and offer your critical analysis of the topics. Together, we work to create a culture of positivity in how we think about and act towards the global climate crisis challenge.

Is the MSc for me?

If you want a career where you can be part of the solution to one of the world's greatest and most complex challenges, this programme is for you.

The MSc Climate Change Management is designed for a diverse range of graduates from the natural, environmental and social sciences, as well as from business, economics, management studies and other related degrees who are passionate about combatting climate change.

We are also looking for people who want to be entrepreneurs in the climate change field.

MSc Climate Change Finance and Investment

Please note that this programme is not a substitute for the MSc Climate Change Finance and Investment. If you are keen to focus your studies on climate change finance and investment, we encourage you to find out more details and apply to the Business School.

• MSc Climate Change Finance and Investment

Edinburgh Climate Change Institute

This degree is associated with the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI).

The ECCI brings together consultancy, law, business, social science, technology, and policy experts to help develop a low-carbon society.

Through ECCI, you will have the opportunity to work and network alongside professionals and potential employers within this high-demand field.

• Visit the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute website

What is it really like to study with us?

No one knows what it is like to study here better than the students themselves.

Our students are sharing their experiences - from studying to living in Edinburgh and everything in between.

Get social with us:

• Student experience blog
• School of GeoSciences Instagram
• School of GeoSciences Tiktok

When to apply

Due to high demand for this programme, we operate on a series of early application deadlines.

We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

For dates and details, please refer to 'Application Deadlines' on the right panel of this page.

You should also avoid applying to more than one degree. Applicants who can demonstrate their understanding and commitment to a specific programme are preferred.

If you plan to apply to more than one programme, you should discuss your choices with us before you submit your application.

Where possible, we may make an alternative programme offer if you have been unsuccessful in your chosen programme.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject such as environmental sciences, management, social sciences, energy, sustainability, earth sciences, physical sciences, geology, geography, economics, biology, health sciences, engineering, business administration, or finance.

We may also consider degrees in other disciplines if you can demonstrate how it is relevant to the programme, or if you have relevant work experience in a related field.

We may also consider a UK 2:2 honours degree, or its international equivalent, if you have substantial, related professional experience.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

A key strength of the MSc Climate Change Management is the employability of our graduates.

The MSc aims to provide businesses, industry, academia and governments with an annual cohort of graduates with the high-level knowledge necessary to help respond to climate change and move the world towards a net-zero future.

Our programme combines the teaching of academic knowledge and understanding with the development of applied and practical skills.

Our graduates have been successful in securing employment in the carbon and climate change sector worldwide.

Although there is not a 'typical' job our graduates go on to do, your career after completing the MSc Climate Change Management can include:

• climate change and carbon management consultancy companies
• climate change managers in a wide range of companies, representing many sectors
• renewable energy project developers
• central, regional and local government civil servants delivering a wide range of climate change and decarbonisation policies
• climate policy advisors
• NGO climate policy researchers and executives
• climate change adaptation and mitigation specialists
• PhD research and a subsequent academic career path

In addition, some alumni have created their own successful businesses and consultancies.

Our graduates

In the climate change field, our graduates are employed by hundreds of organisations around the world, for example, in programme management and leadership roles, as data analytic and technical specialists, consultants or in communication and engagement positions.

Examples of organisations include:

• Bloomberg New Energy Finance
• Carbon Sense
• Mott MacDonald
• Costain Group
• PwC
• John Wood Group
• The World Bank
• Forestry Department Malawi
• The Carbon Trust
• Arup
• Deloitte
• The Nature Conservancy
• Japanese Ministry of Education
• China Beijing Environmental Exchange
• University California Berkeley
• WindPower Nepal
• Rolls-Royce
• Department of Business
• UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero
• London Assembly
• Asian Development Bank
• SEPA
• Scottish Parliament
• Forestry Research Institute of Ghana
• LCP Delta
• DSS+ DuPont Sustainable Solutions
• Jacobs Inc.
• UNDO

Networks

The MSc in Climate Change Management has excellent relationships with relevant employers and an exclusive alumni network on LinkedIn, with over 450 members covering more than 30 nations.

This network provides you with unique opportunities to seek advice from alumni, some of whom have decades of experience in the job market.

Edinburgh Innovations – start-up opportunities

We have fantastic resources through the University department 'Edinburgh Innovations' to help you successfully nurture your entrepreneurial ideas and launch your own enterprise.

• Visit the Edinburgh Innovations website

Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience at the University, providing:

• tailored advice
• individual guidance and personal assistance
• internships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
• access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network

We invest in your future beyond the end of your degree. Studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success, whatever shape that takes.

• Careers Service