The three mandatory modules are:

CEUP 1

Understanding sustainability transformations

• Analytical frames (including collective action problems, theory of externalities, systems analysis, theory of tipping points, sustainability/socio-technical transitions theory, Anthropocene).
• Sources (survey of the most authoritative sources of data, regular reports, key institutions and processes, e.g. IPCC, IPBES, UNFCCC, CBD, and state of knowledge to enable an informed opinion on climate, environmental and urban policy issues).
• Selected issues of particular relevance relating to climate change, environmental governance and urbanisation (case study-based)

CEUP 2

Economics and Public Policy of Sustainability

• This module introduces students to the field of environmental economics and its policy challenges. It explores the question: Why do people pollute or overuse natural resources?
• This includes a discussion of the complex interaction between the economic system, specifically markets, and the natural environment. The module also looks into the design and assessment of environmental regulation and policies.
• It covers both the microeconomic and macroeconomic perspectives on regulation in a variety of policy settings, each characterised by specific constraints.

CEUP 3

Law and Governance of Sustainability

• This module studies the different dimensions of environmental geopolitics, with a particular focus on the context of international legal frameworks for energy, investment, trade and environmental law. The module includes an historical component, explaining the role of law in driving or hindering the main energy transitions. Students are introduced to more complex issues such as natural resource distributions and energy security, non-conventional energy sources and their geopolitical impact, energy diversification and international conflict and cooperation.

Complementing the ‘Core Modules’, there will be three optional ‘Applied Modules’, out of which students have to select only one as their specialisation stream:

CEUP4 Climate change and the energy transformation

This module will provide an introduction to climate change, from a scientific, economic and legal perspective. Students will have an overview of the most relevant reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), with a particular focus on global energy systems. Building on the tools introduced in the ‘Core Modules’, students will be able to analyse case studies based on regional decarbonisation policies and global economic trends.

CEUP5 Ecosystems and biodiversity

This module will address the measurement, valuation and governance of ecosystem services, and how that connects with the global biodiversity threats we are facing today. The students will look at ecosystems and biodiversity in the context of broader environmental and economic challenges, with a particular focus on ‘planetary boundaries’ and sustainable development. Regional case studies, with a particular focus on developing regions, will be analysed by the students in this module.

CEUP6 Cities and the future of urbanisation

This module will study the impact of urbanisation and global demographic changes in sustainability transformations. The module will focus on cities and how innovations in design, planning, and policy can improve the environmental footprint of cities as well as urban living and quality of life. The module will combine a global perspective with local case studies.

CEUP7 Methods and Methodologies

The course includes a mandatory ‘Methods and Methodologies’ module, that will give the students access to quantitative and qualitative tools that they can use throughout the course, especially while working on their dissertation. Each student will have assigned a supervisor, who will provide face to face supervisions during the residential blocks. In addition, the students will receive online support during non-residential periods.

The Director for the MSt in Climate, Environmental and Urban Policy is Jorge Viñuales. He is available to discuss with students specific issues about the content of the MSt in Climate, Environmental and Urban Policy.

The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) known as "Moodle" is a valuable teaching and learning resource and is the main means of communication between the course team and students throughout the two-years. 

Assessment is completed via the VLE and supplementary materials, such as slides used by presenters and links to useful websites, articles, and other resources are also made available through the VLE.

There are also forums for students to participate in discussions with each other and the course team, either generally or specifically about the assignments/dissertation.

The examining schemes are approved from year to year, and are therefore liable to variation. Approved schemes will be made available at the start of the academic year.

The MSt is assessed through:

• Three cases studies
• Three critical essays
• One Dissertation methodological outline
• A dissertation of no more than 12,000 words in length.

All students who enrol on the Climate, Environment and Urban Policy Masters Programme become full members of a Cambridge University College, which provides pastoral support within a collegial academic environment.  Once a college member students remain a member of that college for life which includes some on-going opportunity to book accommodation, formal dinners and be invited to College and alumni events.

College life is an important aspect of the course and we believe that having students on the course together as members of a college helps contribute to a really positive 'Cambridge Experience'. However, if an applicant already has an affiliation with or a strong preference for a a particular college then this will be taken into consideration.

The college provides accommodation and also offers meals, although students often prefer to sample the many different types of cuisine available from the wide variety of restaurants and cafes in Cambridge, along with their course colleagues.

During the course both complimentary and optional formal dinners are held at the college and are again part of the Cambridge College experience and highly recommended.

As members of a college students have access to all the resources and facilities of the college, including leisure facilities, library, IT resources and common rooms.

General information about Cambridge colleges can be found here: http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/colleges

The MSt in Climate, Environment and Urban Economics have arrangements for students at Hughes Hall, and students are fully inducted and matriculated into their college during the first residential session.

Applications for our MSt programme are reviewed in batches. Candidates may be interviewed (via video call) and offered places after these reviews. Given the desire to get a diverse mix of skills and backgrounds, final decisions on most applications are not taken until after the closing date for all applications.

We advise that applications are made as early as possible, particularly non-standard applications which are likely to take longer to process.

Applicants should normally have a relevant UK first or very good upper second class honours degree or overseas equivalent. In addition, students joining the MSt course will typically have significant experience in a relevant industry or in public service and, in some cases, a professional qualification, although such additional element would not be a pre-requisite.

Those with alternative qualifications or experience will be evaluated on an individual basis. As applicants will be expected to have experience and successful track records in industry or public service, consideration may be given to candidates on the strength of their vocational experience in lieu of the normal standard entry requirements.

If English is not your first language, you will need to submit evidence to meet the University’s English language requirement, please see the Competence in English tool for further information.

• IELTS Academic: Overall score of 7.5 (a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component)
• TOEFL Internet: Overall score of 110 (a minimum of 25 in each individual component)
• CAE: Grade A or B (with at least 193 in each individual element) plus a language centre assessment.
• CPE: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 in each individual element).

Those applicants who are subject to a language requirement are strongly encouraged to submit their language results with their initial application as failure to do so may delay the processing of applications.