Global Environmental Economics

Do you want to contribute to address major environmental challenges? Do you have an interest in economics? Then this course is for you! It will help you to make a career out of your interests.



Many of the greatest challenges facing societies around the world today relate to environmental concerns—from climate change to food and energy security, the need to achieve sustainable and resilient forms of economic development, sustainable use of natural resources, pollution or biodiversity loss. The discipline of environmental economics is central to our understanding of these challenges and to the framing and evaluation of appropriate policy responses.



This course will equip students with the skills to address these challenges through a unique combination of theoretical and applied subjects. These are delivered through small group teaching by academics as well as industry and policy experts. This guarantees a practical focus that is further strengthened through work placements in related companies or research institutes in Ireland or abroad, including for example with the UN Climate Change and Universities Partnership Programme.



The programme is specifically targeted to provide students with employability skills that are relevant to shape and influence future public policy, conduct environmental evaluations, lead research projects, work in a business or consultancy role, with international development and aid agencies or continue education through further academic study.



The aims of the MSc in Global Environmental Economics are to equip graduates with the following skills:

• Understand and analyse global environmental issues from an economic perspective

• Critically evaluate and inform future public policy in relation to the environment

• Advanced knowledge of economic methods used to analyse environmental problems

• Understand global interlinkages of environmental problems and how these differ around the world

• Effective communication skills and be proficient with various media.



Environmental Economics at the University of Galway

The MSc Global Environmental Economics is hosted by the Discipline of Economics at the University of Galway, part of the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, which is in turn one of three Schools in the College of Business, Public Policy and Law.



Throughout the programme you will mainly be engaged with academic staff of the Economics discipline.



Students have the option to undertake a work placement or dissertation during the summer semester. Students going on work placement are required to submit a Placement Report at the end of the placement, while those taking the dissertation option submit a research paper of approximately 6,000 words in length at the end of the summer semester (usually at the end of July). The dissertation usually involves close collaboration with an academic supervisor on an existing research project or on a topic chosen in discussions between the student and the supervisor.

Course Outline (Links to module descriptors available below)

The course consists of taught modules and a work placement or dissertation.



The programme includes the following core modules and one optional module:

(Full Time) Core Modules:

Semester 1

• Microeconomic Theory

• Econometrics

• Natural Resource Governance and Sustainability

• Climate Change Economics



Semester 2

• Cost-Benefit Analysis and Evaluation

• Environmental Economic Modelling

• Global Issues in Agricultural, Marine and Renewable Energy Economics

• And one optional module



Optional Modules (offered in 2023/24*)

• Renewable Energy Economics

• European Energy Policy

• Applied Econometrics

• Public Sector Economics

• Green and Sustainable Finance

• Derivatives and Risk Management



*Note that optional module offerings may vary from year to year.



Semester 3 / Summer

• Dissertation or work placement



(Part Time) Core Modules

Year 1

Semester 1

• Climate Change Economics

• Microeconomic Theory



Semester 2

• Global Issues in Agricultural, Marine and Renewable Energy Economics



And one optional module

Optional modules (offered in 2023/24*)

• Derivatives and Risk Management

• Social Marketing & Environmental Sustainability

• Public Sector Economics

• Green and Sustainable Finance

• Data Analytics for Social Sciences I

• Data Analytics for Social Sciences II

• Renewable Energy Economics and Policy



*Note that optional module offerings may vary from year to year.



Year 2

Semester 1

• Natural Resource Governance & Sustainability

• Econometrics



Semester 2

• Cost Benefit Analysis & Evaluation

• Environmental Economic Modelling



Semester 3 (Summer)

• Applied Environmental Economics Placement*

• Dissertation



*We will secure internship opportunities, but it is at the discretion of employers as to whether they shortlist and offer a position to applicants.



Please see Course Web Page above for module details.

Normally a H2.1 degree (NFQ Level 8 or equivalent) with Economics. However, candidates with a significantly high H2.2 honours degree and who have achieved a 2.1 average in relevant Economics modules in a business degree, will also be considered. Students without an economic background are also encouraged to apply and will be accepted subject to successful completion of an online preparatory Economics course. These students are advised to get in touch with the course coordinator as early as possible for more details. IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent, if applicable.

Applications must be completed online at: https://nuigalway.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login.



An application requires a registration fee of €35. You will be asked to upload proof of identification, academic transcripts, a personal statement, an academic reference and documentation to fulfil the English requirement (where English is not your first language).

1 year, full-time;

2 years, part-time.

Next start date September 2025

Career Opportunities

Graduates have found employment in international development and aid agencies, the European Commission, utility companies, government departments, investment banks, corporate environmental investment funds, United Nations organisations, consultancy firms and local authorities, and many of our graduates have gone on to undertake PhDs.



Graduate Employers include: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) Marine Institute, Galway County Council, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), Bord na Mona, Coillte, Teagasc, Environment Agency (UK), Electricity Supply Board (ESB), Bord Iascaigh Mhara.