Department of Geography | MSc Climate, Risk and Society

MSc Climate, Risk & Society at Durham University

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The MSc in Climate, Risk & Society examines the ongoing impact of climate change and explores ways of tackling the resulting risks to society.

The MSc in Climate, Risk & Society takes a natural science approach to climate risk. Designed to equip you with an in-depth understanding of how human influence on climate is creating new risks, challenges and greater social vulnerability, it also teaches the necessary skills to develop effective responses to such natural and socio-political threats.

The course is likely to appeal to those with a background in Social Science, Natural Science or Engineering. It explores how climate risk is defined and managed by individuals, governments and organisations, and considers the decisions they make when addressing uncertainty and the threats it poses to environments and communities across the globe.

During your studies, which will be taken over one year full-time or two years part-time, you will be taught about understanding risk as well as risk, science and communication, risk frontiers, and climate risk and society. You will also complete a major project; this can take the form of a research-based dissertation where you carry out original independent study or a vocational dissertation that combines external placements with independent research.

To further embed practice into the course, we work closely with the University’s Institute of Hazard, Risk & Resilience (IHRR). Through this, you will gain a vital insight into practitioner and academic perspectives at the forefront of risk thinking and practice. The IHRR also hosts an annual seminar series tailored specifically to students on the climate risk postgraduate programmes.

The Department’s postgraduate community is a vibrant body which offers a supportive network. When you join us you will become part of an active group that is both social and academic, participating in research events and attending talks throughout the year.

Studying in a Department with a global reputation for the quality of research, our postgraduates are well placed to continue research at a higher level or progress into a rewarding professional career.

Taught courses are designed to develop the transferable skills that are highly sought after by employers such as the ability to analyse and communicate information and make decisions, and our postgraduates are much valued in areas such as government, non-governmental organisations and the charity sector.

Other roles in which postgraduates make a real difference to people and communities include property and surveying, environmental consultancy and management, conservation, town planning, geopolitical risk, market research, development work, health, public policy, social research, logistics, youth and community work, education, energy, utilities, tourism, banking, law, PR, IT, publishing, journalism and the media.

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