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Economics and Environmental Policy (MSc)

Find out more about our Economics and Environmental Policy Master's degree at Warwick

P-LF01

MSc

1 year full-time

21 September 2026

Economics

University of Warwick

The Economics and Environmental Policy MSc is designed for students with an Economics degree or another related social science degree. Warwick's Department of Economics, ranked 1st in the UK (The Good University Guide 2026), 2nd in the UK for research excellenceLink opens in a new window (based on the most recent Research Excellence Framework 2021) and 36th in the world (The QS World University Subject Rankings 2025), offers you a programme to develop your skills and expertise in applying economic analysis to the socially urgent problems of sustainability and environmental policy.

This course will explore the link between economics and sustainability and how economists can engage with pressing environmental and sustainability challenges in the global economy. This degree course is for you if you intend to work in government and public sector (e.g. policy or sustainability analyst, environmental economists); consulting and private sector (e.g. sustainability/environmental consultants, head of sustainability) or any companies dealing with renewable energy issues or sustainability goals.

An 8,000-word dissertation provides an opportunity to explore your own interests across these fields of study. You may also have the opportunity to collaborate with external stakeholders (for example, Defra, Ofgem, Bank of England and the Food and Agricultural Organization) and suggest solutions to real-life sustainability related issues. It also provides an excellent foundation if you are intending to undertake further postgraduate research.

You will be automatically enrolled on a pre-sessional Mathematics and Statistics programme to equip you with the relevant methodological skills you need to succeed on the course.

Skills from this degree

• Knowledge and understanding of core concepts and methods of analysis in microeconomics, and econometrics and quantitative methods.
• Knowledge and understanding of core concepts in environmental economics and policy, analytics, and how quantitative methods are applied to problems arising in public policy and in the private sector.
• Knowledge of economic and environmental trends and patterns; survey data; and an understanding of problems and solutions in economic and environmental measurement including evaluation methods.
• Knowledge of contemporary theoretical and empirical debates and research outcomes in core economics and in environmental policy.
• Acquisition and processing of economic data.
• Verbal, graphical and mathematical understanding of economic models as well as quantitative analysis pertaining to environmental policy applications.
• Understanding models of multi-agent decision making, where pay-offs depend on the action of others, particularly asymmetric information games, repeated games and evolutionary models.
• Understanding private verses social costs and benefits and their distribution rationale for government and international environmental policy.
• Numeracy and quantitative skills: use of mathematics and diagrams, understanding data, statistical analysis.
• Use of IT including word processing and spreadsheet packages; specialist econometric, statistical, and other software; the internet.
• Written and oral communication skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

View a full list of frequently asked questions from the Department of Economics.Link opens in a new window

You will have a combination of lectures, small group support and feedback classes, and practical classes or workshops. You will also learn through independent study, which will include reading journals and books, completing problem sets and assessments, revising for exams and undertaking research. In the summer term and summer vacation your independent study time will increase as you complete your research project.

Your lecture size will naturally vary, especially for the optional modules, but also for core lectures.

Some of the larger modules may have 50-100 students in them. You will then typically have weekly support and feedback classes with around 15-20 students.

An average of 8 hours of lectures and 3 hours of classes per week.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you, and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Pre-Sessional Mathematics and Statistics

Our MSc Economics and Environmental Policy is a quantitative degree, and students will need to be competent in several areas of mathematics. You are required to attend a pre-sessional course, Introductory Mathematics and Statistics, which will be taught in the two weeks before the University’s main term begins.

The course is designed to ensure that your maths and statistical knowledge and skills are at the standard required for you to succeed on the rest of the MSc course and it consists of both lectures and a small learning group. Further information can be found on our Introductory Maths and Statistics web pageLink opens in a new window.

Assessment is through formal examinations and coursework, including a mixture of worksheets, essays, research reports, modelling and data analysis, class tests, exams, presentations and a research project.

Reading lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platformLink opens in a new window. 

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue. 

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) specialising mainly in economics or another relevant social science. This means achieving a good standard in at least some undergraduate modules in microeconomics, or econometrics/economics statistics at an intermediate level and/or modules in all these areas at introductory level.

A strong background in mathematics is also expected, evidenced by undergraduate level modules.

• Band A
• IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0.

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

You will select three optional modules, which may change from year to year. Examples include:

Page updates

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