Postgraduate taught degrees

Our interdisciplinary MSc degrees span a wide range of natural and social sciences, and the humanities, providing you with unique opportunities to explore and tackle global challenges.


Our world is facing many significant and complex challenges. Rising inequality and the mass displacement of people, urbanisation, unprecedented rates of climate and environmental change and associated extreme events, and finite natural resources all pose formidable challenges for the future.

Through our world-leading research, teaching, innovation and impact, we strive to solve real-world problems of local, national and international relevance. You will be uniquely placed to address local and global issues relating to inequality and vulnerability; urban precarity; nature; cultural meanings; development and sustainability; climate and environmental change; natural resources; and natural hazards, risk and resilience.

Why study with us?

🌍 Learn at the intersection of natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to tackle issues like climate change, sustainability, resilience.

🏫 Access world-class research, field facilities, labs, and collaborative partnerships.

🎓 High graduate employability and strong global reputation.


Postgraduate Virtual Open Days

19 - 21 November, 2025

Register to our online webinars covering our masters and PhD programmes. Hear from and live text chat with our academic staff.


Energy and climate

By studying the following programmes, you can join the industry transition to net-zero emissions, clean water and sustainable resources.


Environment and society

Programmes that explore core perspectives, from social justice and development, to the arts, humanities and the social sciences needed to enact sustainable environmental futures.


Collaborative degrees with SRUC

Address climate challenges by developing strategies for carbon reduction in rural areas and studying sustainable land use practices, through programmes delivered in collaboration with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).


GIS and Earth observation

By studying in the fields of GIS and Earth Observation, you can help solve these challenges using the World's most advanced technologies.


Online learning degrees

Study part-time and 100% online, from anywhere in the world. Learn from world-leading experts in key fields of climate change and carbon management.


Why choose Edinburgh

We are globally celebrated for our extraordinary research, development and innovation, providing students with exceptional teaching for over 400 years.

🌍 Extensive networks

One of the largest and most successful interdisciplinary groupings of geographers and geoscientists in the UK.

🔬 Research power

We are ranked 4th in the UK for research power, based on the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

🏢 Highly employable

UK's top 10 and world's top 50 universities for graduate employability.

QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022

📢 World leading reputation

The University of Edinburgh is ranked 34th in the world.

QS World University Rankings 2026

Contact us

Have any questions? Get in touch

Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

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