Loughborough University

What you'll study

The programme mixes core climate science with applied modules on management, policy and tools for decision support. You will study the physical basis of climate change, climate modelling and data analysis alongside modules on impacts and vulnerability assessment, adaptation planning and mitigation strategies. Practical skills covered include greenhouse gas accounting, risk and resilience assessment, scenario development, and the use of GIS and remote sensing for climate applications.

Typical taught modules include:

• Fundamentals of Climate Science – radiative forcing, feedbacks, atmospheric and oceanic processes.
• Climate Modelling and Data Analysis – climate model outputs, downscaling, statistical analysis and uncertainty.
• Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation – sectoral and regional impacts, vulnerability assessment methods and adaptation planning.
• Mitigation, Carbon Management and Policy – emissions pathways, carbon accounting, policy instruments and climate economics.
• Decision Support Tools and GIS for Climate Applications – spatial analysis, remote sensing and mapping for assessment and planning.
• Communication, Ethics and Governance – stakeholder engagement, risk communication and governance frameworks.

The programme culminates in a substantial research project or dissertation, which can be an empirical study, model-based investigation or an applied consultancy-style project in partnership with an external organisation.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a good undergraduate degree (typically a UK second-class honours, upper division/2:1 or international equivalent) in a relevant subject such as environmental science, earth sciences, geography, physics, engineering, mathematics, ecology or a related social science with quantitative elements. Candidates with a lower class of degree (for example a 2:2) plus substantial relevant professional experience, or a strong postgraduate qualification, may also be considered.

Applicants should demonstrate numeracy and some competence in statistics or computing; experience with GIS, scripting or data analysis is advantageous but not always mandatory. International applicants will need to meet the programme's English language requirements; typical minima are equivalent to IELTS overall scores commonly required for postgraduate study, with no low component score below the programme threshold.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a range of roles across the public, private and third sectors. Common career destinations include climate risk analyst, adaptation and resilience specialist, sustainability or carbon manager, policy adviser in government or NGOs, environmental consultant, data analyst for climate services, and research roles in academia or specialised institutes. The combination of science and management training also prepares graduates for roles in international development, disaster risk reduction, urban and regional planning, and for continued research at PhD level.

Why study at Loughborough University

Loughborough offers a strong interdisciplinary environment with close links between environmental science, engineering and social science research, providing practical and technical training relevant to real-world climate challenges. The university's facilities include computing resources, GIS and environmental modelling support, and opportunities to work with industry partners and external organisations on applied projects. Students benefit from a campus-focused experience with access to research groups working on climate impacts, adaptation and mitigation, and from career services and employer links that support transition into professional roles.