Who can apply for an EGS MSc/MPhil Degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development?
Honours or four-year Bachelor graduates from across the spectrum of disciplines, who want to gain a broad understanding of the issues involved in climate change and sustainable development from an African and developing world perspective, and those wanting a comprehensive introduction to climate change issues before embarking on a PhD. The course will equip its graduates for employment in government, local authorities, businesses with a sustainability agenda, consultancies, NGOs and international development organisations. It is aimed at both recent graduates and those with several years' experience who wish to engage with these pressing issues within the context of their vocations.
What does an EGS MSc/MPhil Degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development involve?
Global climate change presents daunting and exciting challenges, especially for the developing world, where traditional routes to development are at odds with the need for a low carbon economy. At the same time, building resilience to climate change and variability is fundamental to sustainable development and prosperity. A transdisciplinary approach that integrates the biophysical, technological, socio-economic sciences and the humanities is required to successfully engage with the challenges of climate change. South Africa is well positioned to engage with these issues because of its status as a developing country with good technology and infrastructure, juxtaposed with less developed communities, and an economy in transition. This provides a microcosm of the developing world's social, environmental, and economic development issues.
This full time one-year taught Masters course provides interdisciplinary training in climate change and sustainable development, with a focus on the issues of relevance to African development. It is convened by UCT's African Climate and Development Initiative, a UCT Signature Theme comprising academics and research units from across the University with a shared interest in interdisciplinary research and solutions to the climate change problem.
Curriculum:
The course begins in late January and finishes with a dissertation hand-in deadline of end January the following year.
- Two compulsory core modules:
Introduction to Climate Change and Sustainable Development - providing broad, integrated knowledge on key issues in the climate change and sustainable development field. The module covers topics such as sustainable development; the climate system, anthropogenic forcing and climate system response; African climate variability and change; international climate change legal frameworks; the economics of climate change and climate change financing; and climate-compatible development.
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation - providing in-depth coverage of adaption and mitigation from both theoretical and applied points of view.
ยท Two elective modules, chosen from a range of topics such international climate law, sustainable urban systems, climate variability and prediction, and climate change and biodiversity, offering the opportunity to explore new areas or to look at climate and development through existing disciplinary backgrounds.
- A 90-credit dissertation to be submitted by the end of January, with possible extension to June.
What is the application process for an EGS MSc/MPhil Degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development?
Acceptance to a postgraduate degree in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science Department is highly competitive. To be eligible to apply for the Masters in Climate Change and Development, a candidate must have the equivalent to a UCT Honours degree. This is a minimum of a four-year degree, with a significant research component in the fourth year. If you are uncertain as to your eligibility, you would be advised to approach the South African Qualifications Association (SAQA) to review your transcripts. A SAQA score of 8 would be considered equivalent to Honours, in which case you would be eligible to apply to our Masters programmes.
Applicants should be aware of early deadlines ranging from June to October for things such as student housing and postgraduate funding. These deadlines can be found on UCT's website.
Applicants should submit a UCT online application form and attach the following documents to the online application, preferably in one document:
1. Scanned academic transcripts
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Writing Sample (min 6 pages/max 20)
4. Two academic references on the departmental reference form.
5. Statement of interest (max 1000 words) including motivation for attending the course
The closing date for applications is 31 August of the year preceding the intended year of study.
For general application queries, please contact pgapplications.egs@uct.ac.za. Course content queries can be directed to the course convenor, Dr Marieke Norton (marieke.norton@uct.ac.za).