World’s first carbon finance masters degree launched

The first masters degree dedicated to climate change investment and the carbon market is to be offered by the University of Edinburgh Business School.

The year-long MSc in Carbon Finance, open for entry to postgraduate students from 2011, focuses on the business opportunities and financial flows driven by society’s response to climate change.

Graduates will be equipped for a career in carbon markets, climate change investment, consulting, or related policy and regulatory roles.

Responding and adapting to climate change will drive trillions of dollars of new investment over the coming decades. Delivering this effectively will require professionals with a deep understanding of new financial mechanisms such as carbon markets and climate investment funds.

Programme Director Francisco Ascui said: “This groundbreaking programme is timely. Governments and business have woken up to the scale of the climate change challenge. Investment in clean technologies is booming, and carbon emissions are fast becoming one of the world’s major commodity trades.

“With the established expertise of the Business School in carbon management and financial services, anchored in the climate change expertise of the University, we are uniquely positioned to deliver highly qualified carbon finance professionals.”

This programme builds on existing School expertise in carbon management established through the creation of the MSc in Carbon Management in 2008. In this landmark collaboration between the world-renowned School of GeoSciences and the Business School, the MSc in Carbon Management provides a high-level, intensive exploration of a subject crucial to the future of business and, of course, the planet itself.

The University of Edinburgh Business School enjoys a long tradition of teaching and research. The School offers undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education programmes in business and management and provides a platform for research, discussion and debate on a wide range of business issues.

Part of the University of Edinburgh one of the world’s top 40 universities with a rich heritage of delivering education for over 400 years, the Business School has an international student body typically representing more than 25 countries.

Recently the School relocated to a new building atBuccleuch Place, located at the heart of the University campus. This state-of-the-art space features eight lecture theatres, multiple syndicate rooms, an executive education suite, student study centre and online resource, cafe and significant flexible space for staff and students. The building has been designed and specified to meet the current and anticipated future needs of the School’s portfolio of activities and represents an investment of £17m by the University.

For further information on our extensive portfolio of masters courses visit our website – www.business-school.ed.ac.uk