Climate Security: Humanitarian - Development - Peacebuilding - MA

More about this course

This unique master’s degree is at the cutting-edge of 21st Century challenges and tackling key issues for the future. You’ll explore how climate change is affecting populations and global areas of conflict, so you can identify climate vulnerabilities and limiting socio-economic resources.

Learn about climate change and mitigation methods such as renewable energy solutions and adapting to climate change.

Jointly taught with a capacity-building and training agency of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), this course is paving the way in this specialist area of study.

This is a distance learning course, meaning you can study from wherever you are around the world.

When it comes to climate change and global warming, some experts claim we have entered a new era called the anthropocene. Although inevitable, the level of global warming and the extent of the damage will depend on the political, economic and social transformations we implement.

The power struggles over these transformations and how to respond to the humanitarian-development-peace connections will be central to this course. The degree is designed to address fundamental questions such as:

• How will climate change transform our world, political, economic, social, philosophical and ethical systems?
• What transformations will be necessary for who and for what?
• Who is most at risk and vulnerable?

You’ll focus on hard security, which covers resource conflict, socio-political and economic unrest, radicalisation and terrorism, inter- and intra-state conflict, state collapse and regional conflicts. You’ll also explore human security, covering water, food, livelihoods, health, disaster and energy resources.

Relevant global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement/COP 26 are also integral to this course. You’ll review how effective and inclusive humanitarian assistance can be implemented in places most vulnerable in terms of conflict and climate change.

To receive the full master’s degree, you can carry out research into an area of climate change and solutions that’s of interest to you as part of your dissertation. If you don’t want to complete the dissertation element of this course you can be awarded a postgraduate diploma (PG Dip).

Our teaching team is committed to ensuring you have an in-depth understanding of key issues and debates so you’re prepared for a career in a range of areas, including policy-making, diplomacy and research in international and local organisations, multinational corporations or governmental departments.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed through a mix of methods including essays, unseen examinations, presentations, a research design project, a regional report and a 12,000 word dissertation.

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

• a second class degree (2:2) from a UK university or equivalent international qualification.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).

English language requirements

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet our standard requirements

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Modular structure

Where this course can take you

You’d be completing this MA in climate security at a poignant and decisive time. More and more prominent institutions and international organisations are looking for skilled specialists in this critical area, so you’ll gain expertise at an exciting time.

There are a variety of jobs relating to climate change around the world in organisations and institutions such as the United Nations, European Union, security services, internationally-focused non-governmental organisations, or within diplomacy and conflict resolution.

There are a number of jobs that you could go on to do after successfully completing this course, including:

• Political risk analysts who examine the risks posed by climate change and resulting issues such as economic conditions, terrorism, conflict, political stability, plus humanitarian and human rights concerns.
• Intelligence analysts who piece together information from a large number of sources in order to assess threats to a state’s security, typically employed by governments.
• Civil service roles in a variety of government departments including defence and foreign affair departments, human resources and the diplomatic service.
• Roles within nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) such as Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, International Rescue Committee, Front Line Defenders, Save the Children, Oxfam and Human Rights Watch.
• Working in international governmental institutions such as the United Nations, the EU and NATO where roles often require you to have completed or be enrolled on a master’s programme.

Some of our students go on to further education in this area and may continue with research, or become journalists, advisors/consultants on climate change, international and security issues.

Additional costs

Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees. Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.

When to apply

You are advised to apply as early as possible as applications will only be considered if there are places available on the course.