Climate Studies

About this programme

In the MSc programme Climate Studies, Wageningen University has bundled expertise from Earth-, Life-, and Social Sciences. This unique MSc programme is aimed specifically at students who wish to focus on the scientific insights in climate change and its interactions with society and the economy. Climate Studies not only covers the most important geophysical and biogeochemical processes involved in climate change (the mechanisms), but also the socio-economic aspects of causes and effects, as well as adaptation and mitigation as the main categories of societal response. \nThe great relevance of this programme comes from the observed changes in our climate occurring across the Earth, the surge in research aimed at improved understanding of the climate system and its dynamics, and emerging questions about the impact of climate change on ecosystems and society. In science, the debate no longer revolves around whether our climate will change, but how it will change, how we can cope with the impact (adaptation), and how we can limit climate change in the long term (mitigation). These issues are important in both developed and developing countries, and fuel a range of new challenges to natural and social sciences. Society needs answers to questions such as: How and to what extent can greenhouse gas emissions be reduced from technical, economic and policy perspectives? How will climate change affect ecosystems and how will these in turn affect the climate system? What will be the effect of climate change on access to water and availability of food? How will climate change issues set national and international political agendas? How will citizens, consumers, companies, and other social actors respond to climate change? What are the economic costs of climate change impacts and adaptation measures? How will these costs be shared globally? Will new social and economic opportunities emerge in the process of adaptation? As these changes and challenges become ever more apparent, the demand will rise for well-trained professionals who are able to understand and investigate them. The Climate Studies MSc programme trains such professionals. \nClimate Studies is a thesis-oriented programme. Compulsory and restricted optional courses in the first year relate to research methodology, subject matter at different levels, and the development of academic and professional skills. These courses serve as preparation for an individual academic internship and for individual thesis research, which demand a considerable degree of independence of the students. Climate-change related thesis research projects are offered by the Earth Science chair groups of Air Quality and Atmospheric Chemistry, Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management, Meteorology, and Soil Chemistry and Chemical