Master of Climate Change Adaptation

Higher education

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Climate Change Adaptation, a student must hold:

• hold any Bachelor degree (or higher) from a recognised University (or another tertiary education institution of equivalent standing) with a minimum GPA of 4.5 (using a 7.0 point scale)
• OR hold a Griffith Graduate Certificate in Climate Change adaptation with a minimum GPA of 4.5 (these students will be eligible for 40 credit points of advanced standing).

Students admitted to this program with a Bachelor degree in a related field may be eligible for 40 credit points of advanced standing.

English Proficiency Requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
• OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

Students who successfully complete the Direct Entry Program (DEP) will satisfy the English Language requirements for this Griffith degree.

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including: 

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE. 
• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training. 
• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies.

The Climate Change Adaptation programs are designed to give professionals from any background a sound interdisciplinary knowledge of climate change, the ability to analyse its impacts, and the creative skills needed to build resilience across society and the environment. This includes the ability to develop and deploy adaptation strategies to protect communities, businesses, government agencies, infrastructure, and natural assets.

These skills can be applied from the local to the national and international level. They will empower students to be involved in, for example, improving the planning of urban areas, providing better services to the public to improve wellbeing, transforming economic development, creating new management plans to conserve biodiversity, or the development of treaties to protect major earth systems.

Recommended Study Pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include:

• Environmental Systems and Climate Change
• Policymaking and Planning for Climate Change
• Urban Futures: Delivering Water Sensitive Cities
• Climate Adaptation Theory and Practice

Plus there’s a selection of majors and electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award Requirements

To be eligible for the award of Master of Climate Change Adaptation (MClimChgAdapt), a student must acquire 160 credit points as prescribed below:

• Standard pathway
  • gain 60 credit points for core courses;
  • gain 40 credit points for a major OR
    • if you elect to not complete a major, you will complete 40 credit points from the specified list;
  • gain 60 credit points for listed electives OR
    • 40 credit points for a second major and 20 credit points for listed electives.
• Professional pathway
  • gain 60 credit points for core courses;
  • gain 40 credit points for a major OR
    • if you elect to not complete a major, you will complete 40 credit points from the specified list;
  • gain 40 credit points for work-integrated learning courses;
  • gain 20 credit points for listed electives.
• Dissertation pathway
  • gain 60 credit points for core courses;
  • gain 40 credit points for a major OR
    • if you elect to not complete a major, you will complete 40 credit points from the specified list;
  • gain 40 credit points for dissertation courses;
  • gain 20 credit points of listed electives.

To be eligible for the award of Master of Climate Change Adaptation (MClimChgAdapt), a student admitted with 40 credit points of advanced standing must acquire 120 credit points as prescribed below:

• Standard pathway
  • gain 40 credit points for core courses;
  • gain 40 credit points for a major OR
    • if you elect to not complete a major, you will complete 40 credit points from the specified list;
  • gain 40 credit points for listed electives OR
    • gain 40 credit points for a second major.
• Professional pathway
  • gain 40 credit points for core courses;
  • gain 40 credit points for a major OR
    • if you elect to not complete a major, you will complete 40 credit points from the specified list;
  • gain 40 credit points for work-integrated learning courses.
• Dissertation pathway
  • gain 40 credit points for core courses;
  • gain 40 credit points for a major OR
    • if you elect to not complete a major, you will complete 40 credit points from the specified list;
  • gain 40 credit points for dissertation courses.

This degree may be awarded with Distinction where a student achieves a minimum program GPA of 6.5 with no failed courses. The words 'This award was achieved with Distinction' will be recorded on the testamur.