Why to study MSc in Climate Change – Technical Track
Analyse and think critically about climate change
The Master’s in Climate Change (MCC) is a two-year programme, featuring specialised newly developed courses across a range of climate change topics, supplemented by key courses already offered through PAU and PAUWES. The initial (semester 1) focus of the MCC is on the intersection between climate change – both mitigation and adaptation and development. Thereafter (semesters 2 and 3), students move into one of two tracks: a Policy track and a Technical track.
The Technical Track of the programme provides advanced training in the technical, scientific dimensions of climate change. It will provide students with knowledge and skills in specific climate-related sectors and fields: interpretation of climate data and science, application of ICTS, as well as supporting skillsets for communication, knowledge management and visualisation of complex datasets, scenarios, and models.
MCC Student profile
The technical track of the Master’s in Climate Change is open to candidates with a disciplinary background in any science field with proven course syllabi related to Climate Change. Candidates should have a license degree or equivalent, or a master’s degree from a renowned institution, and they will be selected by an international selection committee.
MCC Overview
Courses have been designed to complement and build on one another over the two-year period, with four semesters of 30 credits each. The programme thus totals 120 credits. The programme includes mandatory PAU courses as well as already operational PAUWES courses, in addition to the newly developed climate change focused courses.
Internships are an integral part of the degree that students earn at PAUWES.
The PAUWES internship programme is an important vehicle to advance student skills and professionalism toward achieving their desired future career.
It consists of two internships:
- Summer (also called career) Internship
- Students do it during their summer break (at the end of the first-year master), during the Summer Internship students can test and apply the skills they acquired during their studies in a real-life situation and tailor these to the specific field they have chosen. This experience will help them to narrow down their job preferences and define their professional profile. We strongly encourage students to reach companies and do their summer internship
- The Research Internship (also called data collection Internship)
- Students do it at the beginning of their Master Thesis (MT) in the fourth semester. The Research Internship will allow students to collect data on-site for their MT (find case studies, conduct interviews, take measurements or perform experiments, etc.). It provides students with the opportunity to get to know their research subject personally or allows them to work directly with their supervisor at his/her workplace. PAUWES internship program provides various channels for support.
Career Prospects of PAUWES Graduates
PAUWES curricula aims to equip future graduates with knowledge, skills and attitudes that allow them to be competitive in both the employment market and in academia if they choose to pursue doctoral studies. Owing to their methodical approach and their governments’ clear vision and policy, developed countries have a strong demand for graduates with profiles similar to the ones produced by PAUWES. The job market for such profiles has long been limited in Africa. However, there is an increasing number of employment opportunities as a consequence of the boom in start-up companies and foreign direct investments witnessed in the past decade across Africa.
Some examples of positions that can be filled by PAUWES graduates in energy, water and policy.
Climate Change Technical Track:
- Research and Academia: expanding the knowledge field through new research, including transdisciplinary research;
- Evidence based strategic planning;
- Skilled technical expertise in specific areas or sectors.
Climate Change Policy Track:
- Research and Academia: expanding the knowledge field through new research, including transdisciplinary research;
- Policy development, strategic planning;
- Policy implementation and monitoring and evaluation of policy implementation;
- Skilled technical expertise in specific areas or sectors.