Global Environmental Change and Policy Heriot-Watt University

Overview

You’ll gain the highly integrated level of fundamental, applied, and communication-based knowledge needed to identify, characterise, and effectively find solutions to a range of challenges related to climate change.  

You’ll understand the principles of environmental and earth system science, including a detailed knowledge of the earth system, and be able to make informed decisions on the future. You’ll also consider strategic environmental assessment, policy, legal, ethical and health and safety issues of concern in the marine environment.  

This career-focused master’s programme will develop your technical, scientific, and managerial abilities, relevant for a marine science career in academia, industry, government and non-governmental organisations. 

Your Student Experience

Our Expertise

 Your learning will be informed by experts in earth and marine sciences from our Institute of Life and Earth Sciences (ILES), part of Heriot-Watt’s School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society. The School is one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity.  

You’ll also benefit from teaching and research at the Lyell Centre, a leading centre in earth, marine and ecosystem sciences, and a collaboration between the British Geological Survey and Heriot-Watt University.  

The research relevance of this postgraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused.  

Your Learning Environment

 The MSc Global Environmental Change and Policy is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratory practicals and field work, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your research project, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.  

During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, software and laboratories. You will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems at a range of locations within the United Kingdom and abroad, and work across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact.  

Outside of the classroom, you can get involved with the Heriot-Watt Student Union, and there are lots of ways to do so including participating in student groups, becoming an Academic Rep, and joining societies. Societies provide a great opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects. You may be particularly interested in joining an academically related society including:  

• Marine Biology Society 
• Eco Society 
• Geography Society 
• Net Zero Society 

Customise Your Learning

 You’ll take seven mandatory courses that will provide you with specialist knowledge of earth system science, technologies to mediate global water challenges, reconstructing environmental change and tracing ecosystem function, and you’ll also learn about ecosystems under pressure. Technical skills will be developed through a course which will increase your applied laboratory, field work and data analysis work. Transferable skills will be developed throughout the programme, including in the mandatory business of the environment, and science communication and engagement courses.  

You can customise your learning to match your specific interests or desired career pathway by choosing one optional course from a range of environmental and marine courses, including marine biotechnology, marine environmental monitoring, and practical skills in marine surveying. Geographical information software for marine and environmental scientists is also an option along with the opportunity to go to Malaysia on a two-week field trip through the Tropical and Coral Reefs: Monitoring and Management course.  

In semester three, you’ll undertake an extensive and specialised investigation into your chosen area of earth sciences through your project. You’ll be required to examine a particular scientific issue in depth and conduct an independent laboratory, literature, practical or data-based research project. This will offer you the chance to strengthen your research, analytical, and communication skills through your practical application in a professional environment.