Climate Studies

Learn how to strengthen the capacity of SIDS to develop management responses, identify disaster risks, and implement strategies at all levels.

Dates & Learning Mode

Key Dates
Applications Now Open (Deadline Feb 15, 2026)
Duration
Full Time / Part Time
Learning mode
Online

The programme's aim to leverage the strong and internationally recognised climate capacity of The University of the West Indies by honing additional climate professionals for adapting a comprehensive approach to climate solutions.

Programme Overview

 

Climate change is an existential threat to Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The significant threat to lives, economies, and infrastructure posed by climate change impacts – particularly as they occur in the form of increasingly frequent and extreme weather events – is a challenge that can undermine the development of Caribbean nations. This interdisciplinary programme leverages the strong, internationally recognised climate capacity of The University of the West Indies to develop climate professionals equipped with comprehensive approaches to climate solutions.

The emphasis on interdisciplinary studies makes this programme unique. Courses draw on content from multiple disciplines and are delivered as modules that demonstrate the wide and interconnected impact of climate change across various sectors.

 

Programme Levels

  • Graduate Certificate

    4 core courses (12 credits)
    Total: 12 credits

    US$3,500
    16 in-course weeks full-time, 32 in-course weeks part-time

  • Graduate Diploma

    5 core courses (15 credits); 2 electives (6 credits)
    Total: 21 credits

    US$7,500
    32 in-course weeks full-time, 56 in-course weeks part-time

  • Masters

    6 core courses (18 credits); 4 electives (12 credits); 1 project (6 credits)
    Total: 36 credits

    US$10,000
    56 in-course weeks full-time, 96 in-course weeks part-time

Programme Goals

  1. Increase climate professionals equipped and inspired to advance reparatory justice work, particularly in SIDS
  2. Expand career opportunities by creating graduates capable of making meaningful contributions as climate advisors, advocates, educators, and problem solvers
  3. Create a diverse pool of climate specialists whose expertise aligns with climate-related needs of key Caribbean economic and social sectors including agriculture, health, sport, tourism, energy, and social welfare
  4. Capitalize on The UWI as a living laboratory for implementing climate initiatives that align with institutional strategy for climate justice and resilience
  5. Create synergies between The UWI and Caribbean industries requiring climate expertise for planning, forecasting, and decision-making
  6. Align climate education with needs of Caribbean governments, industries, and the international community
  7. Attract funding for high-quality graduate programmes aligned with international, government, and industry needs
  8. Establish a model of best practice for climate education in the region
  9. Support professional collaborations among climate faculty, researchers, and practitioners through teaching, research, and project supervision
  10. Strengthen pedagogical competence of faculty through co-teaching, co-supervising research, and advising regional climate projects
  11. Broaden perspectives across The UWI on climate action
  12. Challenge traditional classifications of students being oriented to either sciences or humanities

Programme Objectives

  • Evaluate the progress made by the region toward achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Articulate the impacts of climate change and inequality within and among countries in the region
  • Select appropriate research techniques to investigate and gather data to solve climate-related problems
  • Sectoral Applications 4. Contribute to collaborative projects geared toward food security, improved nutrition, health, well-being, climate justice, and sustainable agriculture for SIDS 5. Articulate the changes needed in health and medicine to alleviate the impact of climate change on human health 6. Identify strategies for making clean energy affordable
  • Solutions & Strategy Development 7. Develop feasible, evidence-based solutions for climate-related problems in the region 8. Plan collaborative projects with research and applied components that provide recommendations for climate change adaptation and mitigation in key SIDS socio-economic subsectors such as health, energy, sport, tourism, climate justice, food, or agriculture
  • Communication & Advocacy 9. Select appropriate communication tools and media for disseminating accurate and verifiable climate information to various publics 10. Produce a range of interdisciplinary written products on climate studies including technical papers, policy papers, briefs, position papers, proposals, articles, presentations, speeches, blogs, and social media content 11. Develop and implement public education plans to create awareness on climate-related topics 12. Engage in activism and advocacy for climate causes
  • Collaboration & Implementation 13. Present outcomes of collaborative initiatives supporting at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal 14. Learn and adopt interdisciplinary perspectives on climate issues 15. Contribute effectively to interdisciplinary work groups and project teams

SDG Focus

  • #7 - Affordable and clean energy
    Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
  • #8 - Decent work and economic growth
    Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • #10 - Reduced inequalities
    Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • #13 - Climate action
    Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

 
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