Environmental Science

Master of Science in Climate Change, Adaptation and Sustainable Development

The Master of Science in Climate Change, Adaptation and Sustainable Development is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in climate change science, adaptation strategies, and sustainable development. The programme provides specialised training in climate change science, vulnerability and risk assessment, mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development planning.

Core areas include climate change science, adaptation and mitigation, vulnerability assessment, climate risk management, environmental impact assessment, sustainable development, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, fieldwork, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through the Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation and the Department of Earth and Climate Science. Kenyatta University offers a related MSc in Climate Change and Sustainability through the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Both programmes are available over two years.

Students develop competencies in climate science, adaptation planning, risk assessment, sustainable development, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, fieldwork, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for climate change and sustainability roles.

The University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 401,500 per year while Kenyatta University charges approximately KES 295,800 per year. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Environmental Science, Climate Science, Natural Resources, or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as climate change specialists, adaptation officers, sustainability consultants, environmental policy analysts, climate researchers, and lecturers across government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and international organisations.

Skills Required

Climate Change Science and Modelling
Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies
Sustainable Development Planning
Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
Climate Risk Management
Climate Policy and Governance
GIS and Remote Sensing for Climate
Research Methods in Climate Change
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Climate Change Science and Modelling
Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies
Sustainable Development Planning
Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
Climate Risk Management
Climate Policy and Governance
GIS and Remote Sensing for Climate
Research Methods in Climate Change
Thesis Research

Certifications

IPCC Professional Affiliation
UNFCCC Climate Action Certification

Specializations

Climate Change Science

Focuses on climate change science, covering climate, science, modelling, change, and managing climate change science and modelling.

Adaptation and Mitigation

Examines adaptation and mitigation, covering adaptation, mitigation, climate, strategies, and managing adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Vulnerability and Risk Assessment

Covers vulnerability assessment, covering vulnerability, risk, assessment, climate, and managing vulnerability and risk assessment.

Sustainable Development

Focuses on sustainable development, covering sustainable, development, planning, environment, and managing sustainable development planning.

Climate Policy and Governance

Examines climate policy, covering climate, policy, governance, environment, and managing climate policy and governance.

Climate Risk Management

Covers climate risk, covering climate, risk, management, assessment, and managing climate risk management and assessment.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 295,800
Private, up to: Ksh 249,800
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Climate Change Science and Modelling
Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies
Sustainable Development Planning
Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
Climate Risk Management
Climate Policy and Governance
GIS and Remote Sensing for Climate
Research Methods in Climate Change
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Climate Change Science and Modelling
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines climate change science, covering climate, science, modelling, change, and managing climate change science and modelling.
Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers vulnerability assessment, covering vulnerability, risk, assessment, climate, and managing vulnerability and risk assessment.
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines adaptation and mitigation, covering adaptation, mitigation, climate, strategies, and managing adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Sustainable Development Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers sustainable development, covering sustainable, development, planning, environment, and managing sustainable development planning.
Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines EIA, covering environmental, impact, assessment, audit, and managing environmental impact assessment and audit.
Climate Risk Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers climate risk, covering climate, risk, management, assessment, and managing climate risk management and assessment.
Climate Policy and Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines climate policy, covering climate, policy, governance, environment, and managing climate policy and governance.
Research Methods in Climate Change
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research, methods, climate, statistics, and conducting research in climate change, preparing students for their thesis.
GIS and Remote Sensing for Climate
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines GIS for climate, covering GIS, remote, sensing, climate, and managing GIS and remote sensing for climate analysis.
Climate Change and Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers climate and development, covering climate, change, development, society, and managing climate change and development.
Project Planning and Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines project planning, covering project, planning, management, climate, and managing project planning and management.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a climate change topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and climate change knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Climate Change Science
Focuses on climate change science, covering climate, science, modelling, change, and managing climate change science and modelling.
Adaptation and Mitigation
Examines adaptation and mitigation, covering adaptation, mitigation, climate, strategies, and managing adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Covers vulnerability assessment, covering vulnerability, risk, assessment, climate, and managing vulnerability and risk assessment.
Sustainable Development
Focuses on sustainable development, covering sustainable, development, planning, environment, and managing sustainable development planning.
Climate Policy and Governance
Examines climate policy, covering climate, policy, governance, environment, and managing climate policy and governance.
Climate Risk Management
Covers climate risk, covering climate, risk, management, assessment, and managing climate risk management and assessment.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Climate Change, Adaptation and Sustainable Development programme combines lectures, fieldwork, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover climate change science, vulnerability assessment, adaptation strategies, sustainable development, and climate policy. Climate science sessions examine climate, science, modelling, change, and managing climate change science. Vulnerability sessions cover vulnerability, risk, assessment, climate, and managing vulnerability and risk assessment. Adaptation sessions cover adaptation, mitigation, climate, strategies, and managing adaptation and mitigation strategies. Sustainable development sessions cover sustainable, development, planning, environment, and managing sustainable development. Climate policy sessions cover climate, policy, governance, environment, and managing climate policy. Risk management sessions cover climate, risk, management, assessment, and managing climate risk. Fieldwork provides practical experience in vulnerability assessment and climate impact monitoring. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a climate change topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses one of the most critical global challenges with growing demand for climate professionals.
Two public universities confirmed offering related programmes, providing options for students.
Programme is multidisciplinary, drawing from science, policy, economics, and social sciences.
Graduates are well positioned for roles in government, NGOs, international organisations, and research.

Against it

Significant fee difference between KU (KES 295,800/year) and UoN (KES 401,500/year).
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Climate change jobs may require additional specialised training beyond the degree.
Fieldwork may require travel to remote areas affected by climate change.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public187k to 296k

187k at Moi University296k at Kenyatta University

Private131k to 250k

131k at Mount Kenya University250k at Daystar University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 295,800/yr (ku.ac.ke). UoN MCCA also offered. Moi 187K. Daystar 250K, MKU 131K.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. IPCC and UNFCCC may offer fellowships for climate change research and education.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Scholarship
UNFCCC Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 401,500Kenyan
UoN and KU may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate climate change students.
UNFCCC Fellowship
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
IPCC and UNFCCC may offer fellowships for climate change research and education.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: UoN and KU require at least Upper Second Class Honours in a relevant degree. Lower Second Class may be considered with relevant work experience. A pass degree with a postgraduate diploma in a related field may also be considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, fieldwork reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering climate change science, vulnerability assessment, adaptation strategies, and sustainable development.
Fieldwork Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through fieldwork, demonstrating vulnerability assessment, climate impact monitoring, and adaptation planning skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a climate change topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and climate change knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi (public) offers Master of Climate Change and Adaptation through the Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation and MSc in Climate Change through the Department of Earth and Climate Science. Kenyatta University (public) offers MSc in Climate Change and Sustainability. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in climate change and sustainable development. Graduates may interact with IPCC and UNFCCC for international climate standards. The programme aligns with CUE, IPCC, and UNFCCC global climate change frameworks.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi (public) offers Master of Climate Change and Adaptation through the Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation and MSc in Climate Change through the Department of Earth and Climate Science. Kenyatta University (public) offers MSc in Climate Change and Sustainability. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in climate change and sustainable development. Graduates may interact with IPCC and UNFCCC for international climate standards. The programme aligns with CUE, IPCC, and UNFCCC global climate change frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Climate Change Specialist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Implements climate change programmes, covering climate, change, specialist, adaptation, and managing climate change programmes and adaptation.
Adaptation Officer
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 380,000
Develops adaptation strategies, covering adaptation, officer, climate, strategies, and managing adaptation strategies and climate.
Sustainability Consultant
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides sustainability consulting, covering sustainability, consulting, climate, advisory, and managing sustainability consulting and advisory.
Environmental Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Analyses environmental policy, covering environmental, policy, analyst, climate, and managing environmental policy analysis.
Climate Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 380,000
Conducts climate research, covering climate, research, science, analysis, and managing climate research and analysis.
Climate Change Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches climate change at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
SoftwarePrimary
ArcGIS for climate spatial analysis and vulnerability mapping, covering GIS, climate, spatial, analysis, and managing climate spatial analysis and mapping.
R Statistical Software
Software
R for climate data analysis and statistical modelling, covering R, statistics, climate, data, and managing climate data analysis.
Google Earth Engine
Software
Google Earth Engine for satellite imagery and climate monitoring, covering satellite, imagery, climate, monitoring, and managing climate monitoring and imagery.
CLIMDEX
Software
CLIMDEX for climate extremes indices and analysis, covering climate, extremes, indices, analysis, and managing climate extremes analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Climate change studies are just about weather.
Climate change studies cover science, adaptation, mitigation, policy, vulnerability assessment, and sustainable development beyond just weather.
This programme is only for environmental science graduates.
Climate change is multidisciplinary, for professionals from economics, agriculture, social sciences, and natural resources, not just environmental science.
Climate change has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Climate change professionals are in high demand in government, NGOs, international organisations, and research institutions as Kenya addresses climate impacts.
This programme is the same as environmental science.
Climate change focuses specifically on climate science, adaptation, and mitigation, distinct from broader environmental science.
Climate change is only about reducing emissions.
The programme covers adaptation, vulnerability, risk, policy, and sustainable development, not just emission reduction.
You need a science background to study this programme.
The programme is multidisciplinary and accessible to graduates from social sciences, economics, and policy fields, not just science.