How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: Environmental Futures with Climate Change

Start date: October 2024

Study mode: Full-time

Maximum duration: 1 year

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Government

How is climate change linked to policy and policy makers? How does climate change impact upon the world’s economies?

There is a rapidly growing need to understand the nature and consequences of the climate crisis, and to develop evidence-led strategies to respond. Our MSc in Environmental Futures with Climate Change will provide you with rigorous training to better understand the causes and impact of climate change and to formulate strategies and solutions. The programme will provide you with knowledge of how climate change science is linked to policy and policy makers, and will develop a foundation to understand prevention of the climate crisis and mitigation/adaptation that is grounded in the social, natural and environmental sciences. You will learn the scientific evidence that is needed for policymakers and societies to respond to these global challenges impacting the natural capital and the world’s economies.

You will also learn and apply the appropriate research methods to study the environment and climate change, and will be fully prepared and supported to conduct a dissertation project on a relevant topic.

You will be able to formulate theories that are amenable to multivariate hypothesis testing and will be able to implement advanced regression models in R. You will also learn how to handle complex data structures and implement the appropriate models for research in environmental studies. The programme provides a strong foundation for PhD research, but is also ideal for employment in a wide range of public and private industries, including government agencies, consultancies and NGOs/charities.

If you like the sound of our MSc Environmental Futures with Climate Change course but are less interested in quantitative analysis and complex data structures, the MA version of this course may be for you.

The world needs Essex graduates now more than ever, welcome home.

Why we're great.

You will gain a solid foundation in not just how environmental policy is approached from the social sciences but also from physical science as well
Learn from and contribute to world-leading research in our top ranking politics department
Consolidate an in-depth understanding of political studies and apply your knowledge to relevant real-world contexts

Our expert staff

Some of the biggest names in the field work at Essex, giving you unparalleled access to some of the best minds in politics. Our staff are advising the CIA on counter-terrorism, training politicians and civil servants in democratising countries, and commentating on political events in national and international media.

Our academic staff work on topics ranging from international conflict and violence to British elections, and from the obligations of the younger generation to why authoritarian leaders welcome natural disasters. For example, Dr Zorzeta Bakaki works on public opinion and climate change, Dr Federica Genovese on International cooperation and climate change, Professor David Howarth specialises in discourse analysis and environmental planning and Professor Philip Leifeld is an expert in discourse network analysis and climate change.

Specialist facilities

Laboratories of networked computers featuring extensive software for political analysis
ESSEXLab provides opportunities for experimental lab research
Student societies for politics, debating, and Model UN
We organise the Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis
A programme of seminars and events run by the department

Your future

All Essex politics graduates have the distinction of a qualification from one of the world’s leading politics departments.

Our MSc Environmental Futures with Climate Change can lead you to a career in areas such as analysis and policy formulation in public and private industries, including government agencies, consultancies and NGOs/charities.

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

A 2:2 degree in any subject.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please select your country page where you'll find this information.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Structure

Course structure

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

The MSc also contains the GV903 Advanced Research Methods core module. We recommend the MSc to applicants who have already received basic statistical training in their undergraduate course. Choose the (otherwise identical) MA instead if you have not had an introduction to statistics.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis I

(15 CREDITS)

This module offers you an introduction to the theory and practice of quantitative data analysis techniques. You will also be introduced to the computer package R, which is widely used by academics and practitioners for the analysis of quantitative data. As the work becomes more challenging, the relevance of the techniques to modern social science research becomes more apparent.

View Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis I on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: CORE

Comparative Environmental Politics

(15 CREDITS)

Study one of the most important contemporary aspects of political action: the natural environment. You consider the state of the environment and possible paths along which it might change, before exploring environmental policies from the level of individual values to the environmental movement to political parties, and finally to the level of international affairs.

View Comparative Environmental Politics on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: CORE

Climate Change and Pollution

(15 CREDITS)

Earth`s climate has fluctuated throughout history, but the speed of change in recent decades has been unprecedented. Warming, acidification, drought, flooding, and fire are increasingly prevalent features of our modern world. In addition, humans are responsible for widespread environmental pollution, which is any input of material or energy into air, land, or water that causes harmful environment change. The sources and ecological consequences of climate change and pollution will be explored and discussed, concentrating on biodiversity, species distributions and extinctions, and the provision of ecosystem services of benefit to humans. Examples of climate change and pollution will be presented from both terrestrial and aquatic domains, and from polar to tropical biomes, together with a review of the avenues to be followed for remediation of biosphere processes and the conservation of biological diversity. The module will be delivered through lectures and a practical session incorporating data analysis and interpretation.

View Climate Change and Pollution on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis II

(15 CREDITS)

This module starts with a refresher on linear regression before delving into more advanced methods, both theoretically and practically. You will start with the assumptions that go into linear regressions, learning to analyse whether each assumption holds and considering how our results are impacted when they do not. The remainder of the module will focus on more advanced statistical methods with a focus on two broad categories. The first will be models for analysing non-continuous dependent variables, including binary, categorical and ordinal dependent variables. You will also spend some time looking at causal inference methods and analysis, using both observational and experimental data.

View Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis II on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: CORE

International Environmental Politics

(15 CREDITS)

This module provides a better understanding of democratic political and economic processes in Europe. In the first part, you will compare representative democracy with direct democracy instruments and analyse under what circumstances referendums are suitable for making political decisions. As corruption is a perpetual threat for democracies, you will examine what types of corruption are prevalent in Europe, how they are measured, and which accountability mechanisms have proved effective at curbing corrupt behaviour. You will then examine the institutional foundations of welfare-capitalism, analysing how coordinated and liberal capitalism types responded to challenges such as globalisation and deindustrialization. The second part of the module is devoted to studying the power-sharing arrangements in the European Union. In this context, you will examine under what circumstances member states may decide to delegate powers to the EU level or alternatively re-nationalize supranational powers. The module also provides an accessible introduction to research design and methods that political scientists have used to address these topics.

View International Environmental Politics on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY

Research Design

(15 CREDITS)

In this module you gain an overview of the logic of social science research designs that includes the goals, theories and strategies of social science research, and develop a research agenda for potential use as publication in a peer reviewed journal, MA or PhD dissertation.

View Research Design on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 07: OPTIONAL

(35 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 08: CORE

MA Dissertation

(60 CREDITS)

Your dissertation gives you an opportunity for independent learning on a topic of your choice, with one-to-one supervision from a member of staff. You write a dissertation of up to 10,000 words, which is due at the end of the summer.

View MA Dissertation on our Module Directory

Teaching

Courses are designed to provide you with an advanced understanding of either the politics of a geographical area or an aspect of the discipline
Courses include both compulsory and optional modules, so the course can be tailored to fit your interests and aspirations
Learn through discussion and problem-solving
Lab sessions allow you to improve your technical research skills
We encourage students to attend national conferences to meet researchers and discuss their work

Assessment

Your coursework comes in the form of essays, simulations, presentations and in-class tests

Dissertation

You are given guidance on how to prepare a Masters dissertation by our Graduate Director in the spring term
We link you with an appropriate supervisor at the earliest opportunity

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£10,000

International fee

£21,700

Masters fees and funding information

Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's next

We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.

2024 Open Days (Colchester Campus)

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Find out more

You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we’ll ask you to provide as part of your application.

We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.

For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply’ information.

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