Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions MSc

Year of entry: 2026

Course length: 12 Months Full-Time | 24 Months Part-Time

Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Understanding how we mitigate its impacts and adapt to life in a changing climate is essential for shaping a sustainable future.

Delivered from the distinctive setting of Manchester - the world’s first industrialised city - the MSc Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions equips you with the critical knowledge and practical skills needed to help address the complex realities of human-induced climate change.

This interdisciplinary programme is led by the Department of Geography, with contributions from across the University, including the renowned Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the scientific foundations of climate change, the societal and political contexts in which it is embedded, and the range of solutions available to address it.

Top 10

We are ranked 2nd in the World for societal and environmental impact (THE Impact Rankings 2025) and a top 10 UK university for Geography (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).

Interdisciplinary advantage

Benefit from a highly interdisciplinary teaching approach, giving you breadth of knowledge across the social and natural sciences and the flexibility to specialise.

Real-world impact

Explore the full range of solutions to climate change spanning mitigation options for reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation options for protecting against climate change impacts, and more unconventional solar geoengineering ideas for reflecting sunlight back into space and cooling the planet.

Dr Rob Bellamy MSc in Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions

Dr Rob Bellamy is a Lecturer in Climate and Society and the Programme Director for the MSc Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions. His research lies at the intersection of climate, nature, and technology, with a particular focus on how climate change and its potential responses are perceived, assessed, and governed from a social science perspective.

He currently serves as Co-Investigator and Lead for Responsible Innovation at the UK’s national Carbon Dioxide Removal Research Hub.

Read more about Dr Rob Bellamy

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After Your Studies

The course is particularly well-suited for those seeking careers in local, national, or international climate policy; industries and businesses driving climate innovation or corporate social responsibility (CSR); non-governmental organisations (NGOs) advocating for environmental action; or academic research focused on climate change. A wide selection of elective units allows you to tailor your studies to your specific interests and career goals.

Information based on graduate data across Geography master's courses, 2017-2021.

Example Roles

Geography graduates have particularly great employment prospects and go on to shape environmental policy and more through positions in the public and private sectors.