Climate Change Finance and Investment MSc
Awards: MSc
Study modes: Full-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Climate Change Finance and Investment
Please note: this MSc was previously known as Carbon Finance, but has been renamed to better reflect the content of the programme.
The challenge of responding and adapting to climate change will drive trillions of dollars of new investment over the coming decades, with major changes required across the economy, in energy production and consumption, industry, buildings, transport, infrastructure, forests and agriculture.
Delivering this investment will require professionals with a deep understanding of the mechanisms that will regulate new financial flows like:
- renewable investment funds
- international climate funds
- carbon markets
In addition, following the Paris Agreement, both developed and developing countries now have increased commitments for addressing climate change, which is driving increased demand for skills and knowledge in carbon and climate finance.
What will I learn?
Previously known as Carbon Finance but renamed to better reflect the content of the programme, this MSc is dedicated to developing professionals in the field of climate change finance and investment.
Designed to develop your understanding of how the challenges of climate change are driving trillions of dollars of new investment in a huge range of sectors, including energy production, and housing and infrastructure, the programme will also prepare you to deliver this investment with advanced knowledge and skills.
Very few business schools in the world have a similar depth of expertise in climate change finance and investment.
How will I learn?
Learning will primarily be through:
- lectures
- set reading
- class discussions
- exercises
- group-work assignments
- problem-solving in tutorials
- case studies
Assessment
Assessment methods include examinations, assignments, presentations or continuous assessment.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Climate Change Finance & Investment | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2023/24 |
You will be able to:
- explain and evaluate the current state of climate change science and key climate change policy initiatives
- explain and apply principles of finance in the energy sector
- describe and critically evaluate the structure and dynamics of the major global, regional and national-level carbon markets
- explain and apply practices and procedures of carbon accounting
- describe and evaluate the challenges and opportunities for low-carbon investment
Graduates from the MSc in Climate Change Finance and Investment will typically pursue a career in climate change investment, carbon markets, consulting or carbon accounting.
Likely future roles include:
- carbon credit development
- low carbon portfolio management
- renewable energy investment
- climate fund management
- carbon trading
- carbon consulting
- carbon accounting and related policy or regulatory roles (for example, with government or NGOs)
Find out from Maurice, who studied Carbon Finance in 2018 (the precursor to CCFI), what it is like to live and study in Edinburgh.
These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 13 July 2023.
Entrance to our MSc programmes is strongly competitive. You can increase your chances of a successful application by exceeding the minimum programme requirements.
Academic requirements
You will need a UK first-class or 2:1 honours degree in one of the subjects below, or its international equivalent.
- An undergraduate degree in business, economics, engineering or a social or physical science is normally required.
- Candidates with a very good Honours degree in other areas of study or relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis
Supporting your application
- Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.
- Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements and/or relevant work experience due to strong competition for places on this programme.
Exemptions
If you do not meet the minimum academic requirement, you may still be considered if you have 2 or more years of relevant work experience. We may require you to complete the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Records Examination (GRE) which are internationally-recognised assessments of analytical, numerical and verbal reasoning.
If we require you to take GMAT we would require a score of 600 as a minimum to qualify for our Climate Change Finance and Investment MSc. For the GRE we would require a score of 315 as a minimum to qualify. The GMAT and GRE are not a compulsory part of the application process, but if you have a score that you wish to report to us then this would be welcomed.
We will accept results from the GMAT Online exam.
Students from China
This degree is Band A.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Deposit
You will need to pay this deposit within 28 days of receiving your offer of admission (either unconditional or conditional).
- £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)
Additional programme costs
See the programme website for more information on additional costs, as well as application fees and deposit payment.
Living costs
You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.
Tuition fees
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Climate Change Finance & Investment | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
Featured funding
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Enquiry Management Team
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 9663
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director, Ian Cochran
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5547
- Contact: ian.cochran@ed.ac.uk
- University of Edinburgh Business School
- 29 Buccleuch Place
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9JS
- Programme: Climate Change Finance and Investment
- School: Business School
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc Climate Change Finance & Investment - 1 Year (Full-time)
Due to high demand, the School operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through the competitive process described on the School website.
Full details on the admissions process and the selection deadlines are available on the Business School website:
Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2023/24:
Round | Application deadline | Decisions by |
---|---|---|
1 | 12 October 2022 | 1 December 2022 |
2 | 7 December 2022 | 23 February 2023 |
3 | 8 February 2023 | 20 April 2023 |
4 | 26 April 2023 | 1 June 2023 |
5 | 7 June 2023 | 20 July 2023 |
You must submit one reference with your application.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Enquiry Management Team
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 9663
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director, Ian Cochran
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5547
- Contact: ian.cochran@ed.ac.uk
- University of Edinburgh Business School
- 29 Buccleuch Place
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9JS
- Programme: Climate Change Finance and Investment
- School: Business School
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences