A minimum UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in law.
We will also consider candidates with a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a social science subject.
Entry to this programme is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements for consideration does not guarantee an offer of study.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
For 2020 entry we accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:
IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.5 in each module)
TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 23 in each module)
PTE Academic: total 67 (at least 61 in each of the "Communicative Skills" sections)
CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 176 in each module)
For 2021 entry we will accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:
IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 7.0 in the writing component and 6.5 in each other module)
TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 25 in writing and 23 in each other module)
CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 185 in writing and 176 in each other module)
Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
*(Revised 21 February 2020 to remove PTE Academic from 2021 entry requirements. Revised 21 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition in 2020 and 2021 entry requirements.)
Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
Environmental law is a dynamic, fast-developing and globally important area of law that requires not only specialist legal knowledge but also an understanding of underpinning political, economic and scientific issues.
This programme is designed to equip you with an advanced, multidisciplinary knowledge of the legal issues and techniques related to environmental protection and the management of natural resources, with special emphasis on climate change.
You will analyse and evaluate the historic and ongoing development of international, European and national law for environmental protection, the interrelations between these different levels of law-making and the interactions between environmental law and other areas of law. You will also choose option courses to complement your legal studies with an analysis of the scientific and socioeconomic aspects of environmental protection.
More info: Click here
You must complete 180 credits of study – 60 credits are taken in the compulsory dissertation and the remaining 120 credits are taken in taught courses.
You will experience a range of teaching styles on these courses, led by members of Edinburgh Law School academic community and experienced legal and industry practitioners.
You are expected to prepare in advance by reading the required materials and by reflecting on the issues to be discussed, and your participation in classes will be assessed.
For the dissertation you will have a supervisor from whom you can expect guidance and support, but the purpose of the dissertation is to allow you to independently design and conduct a piece of research and analysis.
Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances or lack of demand for particular courses, we may not be able to run all courses as advertised come the start of the academic year.
The Global Environment & Climate Change Law programme is a gateway to graduates finding careers as specialised legal drafters, government advisers, international negotiators, legal advisers to private companies and NGOs, international civil servants, specialised researchers in academic and think-tank institutions and independent consultants.
Teaching staff will be available to support students in identifying internship opportunities in international and non-governmental organisations, academia and think-tanks. Recent graduates are now working in legal roles internationally, including in India, Mexico and the Netherlands, and for the European Commission.
