Climate Change and Development

TheMaster in Climate Change and Development at University of Cape Town will equip its graduates for employment in government, local authorities, businesses with a sustainability agenda, consultancies, NGOs and international development organisations.

University of Cape Town 's Master program in Climate Change and Development will provide the foundation for those aiming to do a PhD in climate and development. 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.

Key Facts

We seek applicants 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 who want a comprehensive introduction to climate change issues. Applicants should be Honours or four-year Bachelor graduates from across the spectrum of disciplines, who have completed a research-based project or dissertation in their final year.

This is a full-time, 180 NQF credit coursework masters that is 50% course-based and 50% dissertation-based.

Please note, this is a full-time Master’s program and it is not advised to try to complete it while working. You will be required to attend all the scheduled classes and talks (minimum of 80% attendance), as well as spend a significant amount of time doing preparation or assignments. Lectures for the two core courses are from 11-13:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with often at least one hour of workshops or seminars scheduled per week.

Courses include:

• sustainable development; the climate system

• anthropogenic

• forcing and climate system response
• African climate variability and change

• climate change adaptation and mitigation
• biodiversity