MSc Global Energy and Climate Policy (Online Learning)
SOAS University of London
Key Information
Campus location
London, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 12,000 / per year
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
Introduction
Mode of Attendance: Online learning
The MSc Global Energy and Climate Policy is the online version of the successful campus degree of the same name; housed within the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) this programme’s focus is on policy and policymaking in the energy and climate space. The MSc introduces students to the key energy sources, their economic and technical bases and how they are regulated. It further analyses energy and climate governance at the international level and discusses the geopolitics of energy. This programme places policy and policymaking as the key to enabling change and creating the requisite legal and regulatory environment within which the low-carbon energy system of the future can develop and grow.
The MSc provides students with a detailed understanding of the transformative change in energy systems now underway around the world and equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to play a part in it. It treats energy and climate change policy as inextricably linked, taking an integrated approach to the study of the two fields. Case studies are drawn from around the world, accounting for different conditions in developed, newly-industrialised and developing country contexts.
The ways in which energy is produced, managed and consumed in the 21st century in both the Global North and South are fundamentally changing. While oil, coal and gas have continued to dominate the global energy mix, new players have emerged challenging the status quo. From large offshore wind parks in the UK to innovative, mobile phone-enabled off-grid solar PV solutions in Kenya; from a booming electric car market in China to high-voltage energy superhighways crisscrossing Germany; from energy storage projects in California to concentrated solar power plants in South Africa – the global energy transition means more renewably-produced energy, more distributed generation, technology leapfrogging, greater energy efficiency of both existing and new installations, and greater investment in new energy infrastructure.
Much of this transformative change has been driven by the urgent need to decarbonize energy systems and the global economy more widely, in order to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to a level consistent with a 2°C (1.5°C) stabilisation pathway. The consequences of increasing global average surface temperatures pose serious risks to ecosystems and physical infrastructure and challenge various actors to cope with extreme weather events, the destruction of habitats, water scarcity, migration, public health and conflict. The global task is therefore not only one of international diplomacy, but one that requires policymakers at all levels of political authority, corporations, businesses, NGOs and others to take the necessary steps to effectively mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The programme is delivered by the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) in association with the FCO's Diplomatic Academy, using a combination of multi-disciplinary teaching, cutting-edge research and public discussion of diplomacy and international politics in a globalised world.
Gallery
Ideal Students
Who is this programme for?
The MSc is designed for those engaged with or planning a career in professional contexts relating to energy and/or climate policy and who wish to study in a flexible way. By studying online, students will also have the flexibility to integrate studies into working life without having to take a career break.
Admissions
Curriculum
Structure
Students will study two core modules and a range of elective modules on offer each session. There are also four research mini-modules.
- 1 x core module1 (30 credits)
- 3 x elective modules (30 credits)
- 4 x research mini-modules
- 1 x dissertation (60 credits)
Modules
- Global Energy and Climate Policy (Core)
- Finance Sustainability and Climate Change (Elective)
- America and the World: US Foreign Policy (Elective)
- Cultural Diplomacy (Elective)
- Diplomatic Systems (Elective)
- Foundations of International Law (Elective)
- Global Citizenship and Advocacy (Elective)
- Global Challenges: Science Diplomacy (Elective)
- Global Economic Policy Debates and Analysis (Elective)
- Global International Organisation: United Nations in the World (Elective)
- Global Media (Elective)
- Human and Critical Security Studies (Elective)
- International Economics (Elective)
- International Security (Elective)
- Multinational Enterprises in a Globalising World (Elective)
- Political Economy of Violence, Conflict and Development (Elective)
- Strategic Studies (Elective)
- Trade Diplomacy (Elective)
- Global Public Policy (Elective)
Students can also take one of the following electives outside CISD:
- Climate Change and Development
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Low Carbon Development
- Energy and Development
- Global Environmental Change and Sustainability
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.
Career Opportunities
Employment
The degree prepares for a multitude of careers in public, private and non-profit contexts, including in public administration and government departments, the diplomatic service and international organisations, strategic policy and risk advisory, government relations and public affairs, policy advocacy, think tanks and academia.
Graduates of the MSc Global Energy and Climate Policy are now working for Abundance Investment, Platts, Intasave, Greenmax Capital, DFID, Grue & Hornstrup, Carbon Smart, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Sustainable Home Survey, S-RM, Fuel Poverty Action, UK Government Investments (UKGI), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UN ESCAP and the World Bank.
We welcome applications from a wide variety of fields and backgrounds. It is not necessary to have a degree in a discipline directly related to global energy and climate policy.
Each application is assessed on its individual merits and entry requirements may be modified in light of relevant professional experience and where the applicant can demonstrate a sustained practical interest in the international field.
English Language Requirements
Certify your English proficiency with the Duolingo English Test! The DET is a convenient, fast, and affordable online English test accepted by over 4,000 universities (like this one) around the world.