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1 Year On Campus Masters Program
University College LondonThe Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment MSc at UCL is a one-year full-time (also available part-time/flexible) degree designed to give you a strong interdisciplinary grounding in energy, climate, and environmental issues. You’re not just crunching numbers—you learn the economic theory, policy frameworks, and modelling tools needed to address global sustainability challenges. Core modules include environmental & resource economics, environmental policy & law, energy modelling & scenarios, and “planetary economics & political economy of energy and climate change.” Together with electives and a dissertation, you build analytical, quantitative, and qualitative skills. The department combines economics, political economy, innovation theory and environment policy. UCL’s Bartlett School, with its sustainability research reputation, anchors the program. The course gives you practical exposure through modelling methods, energy scenarios, and policy interplay, not just theory. You’ll finish with a dissertation that lets you dig deep into your interest—could be carbon pricing, energy model, or legal frameworks. The program operates out of London, placing students close to policy hubs, industries, regulators, think tanks, which means guest lectures, seminars, and networking tie into real contexts.
You learn by doing, not just listening. Lab-style problem sets, modelling exercises, scenario analyses, and workshops make up a big part of assessment. In Terms 1 & 2 you’ll get core modules with in-class teaching + group/individual work. There's a specialist “Research Concepts & Methods” module early on to prep you for the dissertation. For your thesis, you pick a topic, get a supervisor, plan and carry out independent research. Optional modules let you deepen quantitative skills (e.g. econometrics for energy, advanced modelling) or branch into innovation, behaviour, business, policy. You’ll present your findings in seminars and receive feedback. The program encourages engagement with guest practitioner talks, possibly internships or project work, given UCL’s industry connections. Workflow is intense: lecture/seminar hours (8-15 in teaching weeks), then lots of independent study (~22-29 hours). The environment pushes you to hone time management, teamwork, presentation, modelling, research design. By program end you’ll have delivered a data‐driven, issue-focused dissertation and be fluent in economic tools applied to energy/environment policy.
When you finish this MSc, pathways open wide. A lot of grads move into policy institutes, regulatory agencies, government think tanks, international bodies (IEA, OECD, EU) to work on environmental regulation, market design, decarbonisation strategy. Others join consulting or finance/data analysis roles focused on energy transition, ESG, sustainable business models. The quantitative and modelling skills give you credibility in modelling houses, energy companies, NGOs. Some graduates decide to do further academic research—PhDs in environmental economics, energy policy, climate modelling. UCL’s reputation helps: alumni scattered around McKinsey, UN, government, EU agencies, private sector firms. Because of London base, access to policy debates, industry consultancies, regulators is a strong boost. Employers value your ability to interpret energy-economic models, critique policy, craft solutions. With experience, you can move into leadership in strategy, policy advisory, or sustainability roles in business or government. So this degree sets you up both for immediate impact and long-term strategic influence.
A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor s degree in a relevant discipline (economics, economics-plus, a science or engineering subject) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required. A non-quantitative degree may, however, be considered provided that some aptitude, e.g. at A level, has been demonstrated for quantitative analysis. These requirements may be relaxed for mature students who can demonstrate aptitude and experience, for example, in business or government. IELTS- standard level overall grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6 in each of the subjects/good level overall grade of 7 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the subjects/advanced level overall grade of 7.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the subjects. TOEFL - standard level score of 92 overall with 24/30 in reading and writing and 20/30 in speaking and listening/ good level score of 100 overall with 24/30 in reading and writing and 20/30 in speaking and listening/ advanced level score of 109 overall 24/30 in reading and writing and 20/30 in speaking and listening.A non-quantitative degree may, however, be considered, provided that aptitude is demonstrated for quantitative analysis, e.g. through some undergraduate modules, and/or through A levels or overseas equivalents. The English language level for this course is: Level 2Environmental Economist – design or evaluate policy (carbon taxemissions tradingenergy subsidies)Energy Modelling Specialist – working with models to forecast energy demand/supplyscenario planningPolicy Advisor / Regulator – staff in government agencies or regulators shaping energy/environment lawSustainability Consultant – support businesses or public sector to decarboniseshift to greener modelsAnalyst in Think Tanks / NGOs – research on climateenergy transitionspolicy effectivenessClean Energy Strategy and Investment – roles in investment firms or corporate strategy focusing on renewables or green techCorporate Sustainability Manager – inside companies shaping environmental practicecompliancereportingAcademia / PhD Track –ifyou're interestedyou can go to doctoral research or teaching
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