Applied Mathematical Sciences with Climate Change Impacts Modelling MSc/Diploma

Overview

Climate change is recognised as having potentially huge impacts on the environment and on human society. This programme aims to provide an understanding of climate change causes, impacts, mitigation and adaptation measures from a life science perspective in conjunction with developing a wide variety of mathematical modelling skills that can be used to investigate the impacts of climate change. 

The programme closely follows the structure of our Applied Mathematical Sciences MSc. Two of the mandatory courses will specifically focus on understanding the issues related to climate change and are taught by the School of Life Sciences.

Programme duration

Award	Duration
MSc	One year
Diploma	9 months

Also available part-time over 2 to 3 years. 

Programme content

Students will take a total of 8 courses, 4 in each of the 1st and 2nd Semesters followed by a 3-month Project in the summer.  A typical distribution for this programme is as follows: 

Core courses:

• Modelling and Tools;
• Mathematical Ecology;
• Climate Change: Causes and Impacts;
• Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation Measures;
• Dynamical Systems (recommended);
• Stochastic Simulation (recommended)

Optional Courses: 

• Optimization;
• Mathematical Biology and Medicine;
• Numerical Analysis of ODEs;
• Applied Mathematics;
• Statistical Methods;
• Applied Linear Algebra;
• Partial Differential Equations;
• Numerical Analysis;
• Geometry;
• Bayesian Inference. 

Typical project subjects:

• Population Cycles of Forest Insects;
• Climate Change Impact;
• The replacement of Red Squirrels by Grey Squirrels in the UK;
• Vegetation Patterns in Semi-arid Environments;
• Daisyworld: A Simple Land Surface Climate Model.

The final part of the MSc is an extended project in mathematical modelling the impacts of climate change on environmental systems, giving the opportunity to investigate a topic in some depth guided by leading research academics.

Entry requirements

Preferably, but not exclusively a First or Second Class Honours degree in a suitable numerate science or engineering subject.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we’ll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum requirement for English language is IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. We offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your masters programme:

• 2 semesters English (for IELTS of 4.5-5.0);
• 12 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5);
• 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5*-6.0). (*minimum 5.5 reading and writing)

Tuition fees

Fees for this programme can be found on our Tuition fees page.

Scholarships & bursaries

• Alumni Scholarship Scheme
  Heriot-Watt Alumni
• British Chamber of Commerce in Germany Foundation Scholarship (German students)
  German nationals
• Carnegie-Cameron Taught Postgraduate Bursaries
  Applicants must be Scottish by birth, have at least one parent born in Scotland or have been continuously resident in Scotland for a period of three years for the purpose of secondary or tertiary education.
• Chevening Scholarship
  Non UK
• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
  International (Commonwealth citizens)
• Department for International Development (DFID) Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme
  Commonwealth citizens
• East Lothian Educational Trust
  Applicants must be a resident of the old county of East Lothian (ie excluding Musselburgh, Wallyford and Whitecraig.)
• Entente Cordiale Scholarships
  French nationals aged 35 or under.
• Football Bursaries
  All students
• Japan Scotland Association Scholarship
  Japanese nationals planning to enter a postgraduate course at Masters level at a Scottish University.
• Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust
  Restricted to residents of the UK who are a son, daughter, spouse, widow or widower of a commercial traveller, chemist or grocer.
• Local Education Authority Awards
  Various
• MSc Fee abatement scholarships (MACS)
  New applicants
• Mexican Scholarships
  Mexican applicants
• Music Scholarships
  All students
• Part-time Fee Grant (SAAS)
  See SAAS residence conditions.
• Postgraduate Student Allowance Scheme (SAAS)
  EU and UK applicants who meet the SAAS criteria on eligible courses
• Remission of Fees (families of staff)
  Spouses/civil partners and children of members of staff, also retired members of staff of the University
• Royal Caledonian Schools Trust
  Applicants must be of Scots parentage (conditions apply - see below)
• SFC Key Skills Funded Places (MACS) (MACS)
  Applicants resident in Scotland to the programmes listed below who have accepted an offer to study from the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
• Scotland's Saltire Scholarships
  Citizens of Canada, the People's Republic of China, India or USA (2 awards for each country)
• Smith Scholarship (MACS)
  Scottish applicants to the MSc in Actuarial Science, MSc in Actuarial Management and MSc in Quantitative Risk Management
• Sports Bursaries
  All students
• Sports Scholarships
  All students
• Staff Scholarships
  Employees of Heriot-Watt University
• West Lothian Educational Trust
  Individuals must have originated in West Lothian or have lived there for the last 3 years.

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