Our Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy MSc interdisciplinary programme provides an opportunity to explore key issues relating to climate and environmental change at an advanced level. You will explore a wide range of critical topics, focusing on human influences on the Earth’s climate and environment, and their societal consequences. This MSc is unique because it’s flexible and allows you to study climate change from a policy or science pathway - and choose from an interdisciplinary list of optional modules to deepen your knowledge. You can choose to take the science pathway and concentrate your studies on the physical science aspects, such as forecasting climate change and its impacts. If you opt for the policy pathway, you’ll focus on the societal aspects, such as policymaking, adaptation and communication. This flexibility allows you to specialise while still studying modules from the other pathway. By drawing on social, natural, and environmental science approaches, you’ll learn how to critically analyse and interpret scientific evidence related to climate change, its distributional impacts across the globe, and the responses of nation-states, businesses, and other key stakeholders. You’ll join an alumni network boasting graduates working in consultancy, NGOs, governments and further academic research.

Key benefits

• Bring your understanding of climate and environmental change issues up-to-date, focusing on the human influences and societal consequences of climate change
• Learn about how the potential future impacts and consequences of environmental change can be studied, including changes to the climate, carbon cycle, hydrology and land use
• Master your ability to address complex research and policy questions with newly developed multidisciplinary skills. Gain the skills to critically evaluate and analyse environmental change research, the implications of the science, and the range of possible policy responses
• Develop your understanding of what policymakers and society need from scientific research in order to respond to global and regional environmental changes
• Find out more about the nature of the uncertainties involved in future predictions
• An optional internship module helps students take their first steps towards employment in a relevant vocational field

“I have had the chance to meet some fantastic people from across the globe - lecturers, staff and my peers - which has been incredible, and I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone goes on to do afterwards!”

Isobel, Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy MScShow more

Course essentials

This Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy MSc is unique because it approaches the topic from both a science and policy perspective, which means you’ll learn more about applied physical science that's policy relevant. It’s also the only MSc where you can choose to study climate change with a focus on science or policy - or you can opt for a more comprehensive understanding of both disciplines. With over 30 modules to choose from, this Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy MSc is a rare opportunity to get truly interdisciplinary teaching. You’ll complete compulsory modules on fundamentals of Climate Change, and choose from a wide range of modules covering Policy, Environmental Sciences and more, to develop your cross-disciplinary outlook. You’ll get the chance to learn from researchers who have, and are currently, contributing to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as well as staff providing expert advice to the UK Government on a wide range of pressing policy matters. You’ll also have the freedom to pick from a large number of optional modules from across all our Geography programmes, including the Internship (Environment and Society) module, where students gain hands-on experience of formulating and implementing actions on behalf of an environmental actor. Students can also take one module outside Geography such as the Energy Transitions and Green Technology. You’ll be taught by physical and social scientists, and gain an in-depth understanding of the scientific and policy basis of a series of global environmental change issues.

Base campuses

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Awarding Institutions

King's College London and Affiliates

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements

UK applicants

Standard requirements

A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree

If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

Programme-Specific Requirements

2:1 degree with preference given to geography, natural sciences (such as environmental science, physics, chemistry and biology) and engineering subjects.

Candidates who do not achieve a 2:1 but have professional or voluntary experience will also be considered.

In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree or international equivalent. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.

International applicants

Equivalent International qualifications

Select a countrySelect a countryAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustralasiaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCook IslandsCosta RicaCote d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzechia (Czech Republic)Democratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFijiFinlandFranceGabonGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHome Fee Status StudentsHondurasHong Kong SARHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRepublic of the CongoRomaniaRussiaRwandaSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé and PríncipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSt Kitts and NevisSt. HelenaSt. Kitts & NevisSt. LuciaSt. Vincent & the GrenadinesSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandThe GambiaTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTürkiyeTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamWalesYemenZambiaZimbabwe

English language requirements

English language band:

B

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection process

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.

For marginal academic criteria cases, candidates will be invited to a remote video interview to assess their ability to successfully complete the programme. Interviews will be conducted by the Geography staff.

 

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Supporting Document	Yes	Please provide a writing sample of around 500 words, answering the following questions. Please note this is an essential requirement and supporting statements which do not answer the questions below will not be assessed as part of your application. Why you are applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit in with your future plans? (max 250 words) How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? (max 250 words) Please write these questions as separate answers, with a clear title for your answer to each question. Documents where your answers are not clearly titled and separated will not be accepted
Previous Academic Study	Yes	A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References	Yes	One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you
Other	Optional	Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application

Teaching & structure

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures

Seminars

Self-Study

Check out further information about our Geography courses including our teaching team, exclusive videos and more on our hub page.

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

We will teach you through a combination of lectures and seminars, typically 20 hours per module. We also expect you to undertake 130 hours of independent study for each module. 

Module	Lectures, seminars and feedback	Self-study
Per 15-credit taught module	16-30 hours.	120-134 hours (some modules may involve lab work or e-learning which would require less self-guided learning).
Dissertation module	Usually 5 contact hours of one-to-one or group consultation with supervisors.	595 hours of self-study and project work.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Location

This programme is primarily taught at the King’s College London Strand Campus, with occasional lectures and practical sessions taking place at the Waterloo Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select. 

Assessment

• Coursework
• Written Examinations
• Practical Examinations
• Essays
• Oral Presentations
• Lab Work
• Examinations
• Dissertation

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include essays and other written assignments, oral presentations, lab work and occasionally an examination, depending on the modules selected. All students also undertake a research based dissertation of 12,000 words.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180-190 credits as outlined below.

Required modules

Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180-190 credits as outlined below. You are required to take the following module:

Dissertation (60 Credits)

Science Pathway

If you choose the Science pathway, you are also required to take the following modules:

Fundamentals of Climate Change (15 credits)

Modelling Environmental Change (15 credits)

Researching Climate Change: Key Methods (15 credits)

Policy Pathway

If you choose the Policy pathway, you are also required to take the following modules:

Environmental Science and Policymaking (15 credits)

Fundamentals of Climate Change (15 credits)

Researching Climate Change: Key Methods (15 credits)

Optional modules

In addition, for both the Science and Policy pathways, students are required to take 75-85 credits, of which at least 30 credits must be from the prescribed list of options specific to this programme:

Climate: Science and Society (15 credits)

Earth Observation and Remote Sensing for Sustainability (15 Credits)

Environmental Data Analysis (15 credits)

Environmental Science and Policymaking (15 credits) (Compulsory for Policy pathway, Optional for Science pathway)

Environmental Science for Sustainability (15 credits)

Fundamentals of Environment, Politics and Development (15 credits)

GIS and Spatial Data Science (15 Credits)

Resilience, Adaptation and Development (15 Credits)

Risk Analysis: Science and Applications (15 Credits)

Other Optional Modules Available to Students on this Programme:

Internship (Environment and Society) (15 credits)

Any Level 7 (Masters) modules offered in the Department of Geography that are not subject to exclusion criteria (e.g. prerequisite modules or restricted to the specific Masters’ programme).

Energy Transitions and Green Technology (15 credits) (King’s Dickson Poon School of Law) subject to approvals.

Green Finance (15 credits) (King’s Dickson Poon School of Law) subject to approvals.

Up to 20 credits of Level 7 (Master’s) modules from other King’s Departments or Institutes outside of Geography, subject to approvals.

Indicative Module Catalogue

Please click here to view our indicative module catalogue guide for 24/25 which includes more information on the modules offered by the department

Part-Time Students

• Part-time students should contact the Programme Director to understand how the programme works particularly in relation to any existing work commitments you may have. Part-time students on both pathways are advised to take 75-90 credits of taught modules in their first year. Students on the Science Pathway are advised to take Modelling Environmental Change, Researching Climate Change: Key Methods, and Fundamentals of Climate Change in their first year. Students on the Policy Pathway are advised to take Environmental Science and Policymaking and Fundamentals of Climate Change in their first year, and Researching Climate Change: Key Methods, in their second year. Should students have strong reasons to deviate from this schedule, they should consult with and have the agreement of their Programme Director.

Part-Time International Students and paid or unpaid work

• Please note that for international students, UK Government guidelines are currently more restrictive for those holding part-time visas than full-time visas. If you hold a student visa for a part-time programme, you will not have the right to undertake any work, paid or unpaid, in the UK. Therefore, the Internship (Environment and Society) module is only available to full-time overseas students but not part-time overseas students, as the UK government considers it unpaid work. The Internship module is also available to full- or part-time home students.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Careers

Employability

Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy MSc graduates have secured careers in national and international consultancies and NGOs, governments, charities, research organisations, journalism and teaching. Many graduates have also gone on to undertake doctoral research at King’s and other universities in a broad range of Climate Science related topics.

Our ever-popular internship module, which has been running for over 20 years, helps Masters’ students take their first steps towards employment, offering opportunities to undertake a period of work with an organisation broadly related to their programme of study. The internship not only provides valuable career enhancing opportunities but also counts towards their degrees. In 2021-22, over 150 students worked with 60 different organisations across a range of sectors including: international agencies; local councils and national government departments; companies in the for-profit and not-for-profit sector, research institutes and charities. As well as UK organisations, partners also included Belgium, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany and the United States.

Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £14,500 per year (2025/26)

Part time: £7,250 per year (2025/26)

International:

Full time: £31,600 per year (2025/26)

Part time: £15,800 per year (2025/26)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.

• If you receive an offer before March, payment is due by 20 March.
• If you receive an offer between 1 March and 20 May, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 21 May and 15 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 16 July and 10 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer from 11 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
• Graduation costs
• Some modules include the option to undertake other short day-trip fieldwork. These fieldwork options will enhance the modules, but they are not assessed as part of the module. The additional costs for short day-trip fieldwork would typically not exceed £50 per year.
• Costs may be incurred for your dissertation work if fieldwork and/or laboratory materials are needed for the chosen study topic, but such work is not mandatory and would not impact academic success if an alternative approach to dissertation research is taken.

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

• Course essentials
• Entry requirements
• Teaching & structure
• Careers
• Fees & Funding

This Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy MSc is unique because it approaches the topic from both a science and policy perspective, which means you’ll learn more about applied physical science that's policy relevant. It’s also the only MSc where you can choose to study climate change with a focus on science or policy - or you can opt for a more comprehensive understanding of both disciplines. With over 30 modules to choose from, this Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy MSc is a rare opportunity to get truly interdisciplinary teaching. You’ll complete compulsory modules on fundamentals of Climate Change, and choose from a wide range of modules covering Policy, Environmental Sciences and more, to develop your cross-disciplinary outlook. You’ll get the chance to learn from researchers who have, and are currently, contributing to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as well as staff providing expert advice to the UK Government on a wide range of pressing policy matters. You’ll also have the freedom to pick from a large number of optional modules from across all our Geography programmes, including the Internship (Environment and Society) module, where students gain hands-on experience of formulating and implementing actions on behalf of an environmental actor. Students can also take one module outside Geography such as the Energy Transitions and Green Technology. You’ll be taught by physical and social scientists, and gain an in-depth understanding of the scientific and policy basis of a series of global environmental change issues.

Base campuses

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Awarding Institutions

King's College London and Affiliates

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

UK applicants

Standard requirements

A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree

If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

Programme-Specific Requirements

2:1 degree with preference given to geography, natural sciences (such as environmental science, physics, chemistry and biology) and engineering subjects.

Candidates who do not achieve a 2:1 but have professional or voluntary experience will also be considered.

In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree or international equivalent. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.

International applicants

Equivalent International qualifications

Select a countrySelect a countryAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustralasiaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCook IslandsCosta RicaCote d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzechia (Czech Republic)Democratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFijiFinlandFranceGabonGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHome Fee Status StudentsHondurasHong Kong SARHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRepublic of the CongoRomaniaRussiaRwandaSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé and PríncipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSt Kitts and NevisSt. HelenaSt. Kitts & NevisSt. LuciaSt. Vincent & the GrenadinesSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandThe GambiaTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTürkiyeTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamWalesYemenZambiaZimbabwe

English language requirements

English language band:

B

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection process

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.

For marginal academic criteria cases, candidates will be invited to a remote video interview to assess their ability to successfully complete the programme. Interviews will be conducted by the Geography staff.

 

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Supporting Document	Yes	Please provide a writing sample of around 500 words, answering the following questions. Please note this is an essential requirement and supporting statements which do not answer the questions below will not be assessed as part of your application. Why you are applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit in with your future plans? (max 250 words) How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? (max 250 words) Please write these questions as separate answers, with a clear title for your answer to each question. Documents where your answers are not clearly titled and separated will not be accepted
Previous Academic Study	Yes	A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References	Yes	One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you
Other	Optional	Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures

Seminars

Self-Study

Check out further information about our Geography courses including our teaching team, exclusive videos and more on our hub page.

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

We will teach you through a combination of lectures and seminars, typically 20 hours per module. We also expect you to undertake 130 hours of independent study for each module. 

Module	Lectures, seminars and feedback	Self-study
Per 15-credit taught module	16-30 hours.	120-134 hours (some modules may involve lab work or e-learning which would require less self-guided learning).
Dissertation module	Usually 5 contact hours of one-to-one or group consultation with supervisors.	595 hours of self-study and project work.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Location

This programme is primarily taught at the King’s College London Strand Campus, with occasional lectures and practical sessions taking place at the Waterloo Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select. 

Assessment

• Coursework
• Written Examinations
• Practical Examinations
• Essays
• Oral Presentations
• Lab Work
• Examinations
• Dissertation

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include essays and other written assignments, oral presentations, lab work and occasionally an examination, depending on the modules selected. All students also undertake a research based dissertation of 12,000 words.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180-190 credits as outlined below.

Required modules

Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180-190 credits as outlined below. You are required to take the following module:

Dissertation (60 Credits)

Science Pathway

If you choose the Science pathway, you are also required to take the following modules:

Fundamentals of Climate Change (15 credits)

Modelling Environmental Change (15 credits)

Researching Climate Change: Key Methods (15 credits)

Policy Pathway

If you choose the Policy pathway, you are also required to take the following modules:

Environmental Science and Policymaking (15 credits)

Fundamentals of Climate Change (15 credits)

Researching Climate Change: Key Methods (15 credits)

Optional modules

In addition, for both the Science and Policy pathways, students are required to take 75-85 credits, of which at least 30 credits must be from the prescribed list of options specific to this programme:

Climate: Science and Society (15 credits)

Earth Observation and Remote Sensing for Sustainability (15 Credits)

Environmental Data Analysis (15 credits)

Environmental Science and Policymaking (15 credits) (Compulsory for Policy pathway, Optional for Science pathway)

Environmental Science for Sustainability (15 credits)

Fundamentals of Environment, Politics and Development (15 credits)

GIS and Spatial Data Science (15 Credits)

Resilience, Adaptation and Development (15 Credits)

Risk Analysis: Science and Applications (15 Credits)

Other Optional Modules Available to Students on this Programme:

Internship (Environment and Society) (15 credits)

Any Level 7 (Masters) modules offered in the Department of Geography that are not subject to exclusion criteria (e.g. prerequisite modules or restricted to the specific Masters’ programme).

Energy Transitions and Green Technology (15 credits) (King’s Dickson Poon School of Law) subject to approvals.

Green Finance (15 credits) (King’s Dickson Poon School of Law) subject to approvals.

Up to 20 credits of Level 7 (Master’s) modules from other King’s Departments or Institutes outside of Geography, subject to approvals.

Indicative Module Catalogue

Please click here to view our indicative module catalogue guide for 24/25 which includes more information on the modules offered by the department

Part-Time Students

• Part-time students should contact the Programme Director to understand how the programme works particularly in relation to any existing work commitments you may have. Part-time students on both pathways are advised to take 75-90 credits of taught modules in their first year. Students on the Science Pathway are advised to take Modelling Environmental Change, Researching Climate Change: Key Methods, and Fundamentals of Climate Change in their first year. Students on the Policy Pathway are advised to take Environmental Science and Policymaking and Fundamentals of Climate Change in their first year, and Researching Climate Change: Key Methods, in their second year. Should students have strong reasons to deviate from this schedule, they should consult with and have the agreement of their Programme Director.

Part-Time International Students and paid or unpaid work

• Please note that for international students, UK Government guidelines are currently more restrictive for those holding part-time visas than full-time visas. If you hold a student visa for a part-time programme, you will not have the right to undertake any work, paid or unpaid, in the UK. Therefore, the Internship (Environment and Society) module is only available to full-time overseas students but not part-time overseas students, as the UK government considers it unpaid work. The Internship module is also available to full- or part-time home students.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy MSc graduates have secured careers in national and international consultancies and NGOs, governments, charities, research organisations, journalism and teaching. Many graduates have also gone on to undertake doctoral research at King’s and other universities in a broad range of Climate Science related topics.

Our ever-popular internship module, which has been running for over 20 years, helps Masters’ students take their first steps towards employment, offering opportunities to undertake a period of work with an organisation broadly related to their programme of study. The internship not only provides valuable career enhancing opportunities but also counts towards their degrees. In 2021-22, over 150 students worked with 60 different organisations across a range of sectors including: international agencies; local councils and national government departments; companies in the for-profit and not-for-profit sector, research institutes and charities. As well as UK organisations, partners also included Belgium, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany and the United States.

Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £14,500 per year (2025/26)

Part time: £7,250 per year (2025/26)

International:

Full time: £31,600 per year (2025/26)

Part time: £15,800 per year (2025/26)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.

• If you receive an offer before March, payment is due by 20 March.
• If you receive an offer between 1 March and 20 May, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 21 May and 15 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 16 July and 10 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer from 11 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
• Graduation costs
• Some modules include the option to undertake other short day-trip fieldwork. These fieldwork options will enhance the modules, but they are not assessed as part of the module. The additional costs for short day-trip fieldwork would typically not exceed £50 per year.
• Costs may be incurred for your dissertation work if fieldwork and/or laboratory materials are needed for the chosen study topic, but such work is not mandatory and would not impact academic success if an alternative approach to dissertation research is taken.

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

Application closing date guidance

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