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1. Study
2. Adult Continuing Education
3. Study At ACE
4. Certificate
5. Environment, Sustainability and Climate

Course Fact File

Code	CEVSC
Duration	1 year
Teaching Mode	Part-Time
Qualifications	Cert
NFQ Level	Level 7
NFQ Award Title	Special Purpose
Fees	90%-100% Springboard+ Funding See Fees and Costs for full details.
Closing Date	Springboard+ Applications: 16 July 2026
Next Intake	2026
Venue	Online
Start Date	Sep 2026

Course Outline

Springboard+ Applicants 

There are a limited number of places available for this programme (Certificate) funded by Springboard+. See the apply section below for full details.

General Applicants 

If you are a fee-paying or company sponsored applicant, please visit this page to see full details and make your application: Sustainability and Climate

 

Today's world is one which is rapidly changing: global warming and the related environmental and social issues raise serious concerns for the welfare of our current and future generations. Such changing developments requires business to be responsive, agile and capable of developing new approaches and solutions to address these key issues for their businesses to remain sustainable. The Certificate in Environment, Sustainability and Climate will introduce students to key theories and skills related to the environmental and sustainable and societal issues within their own organisations. Environmental issues such as climate change, sustainable development and planning, use and misuse of natural resources, environmental conditions and the protection of human health are now high on the agenda of all government departments, resulting in more stringent regulations and standards. This in turn has created a greater need for an environmentally aware, knowledgeable and appropriately trained workforce.

Course Details

This is an interdisciplinary programme across both science and social studies and links the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across all its teaching. 

The course offers an in-depth introduction to the environment and related societal issues and policy. The course gives students the knowledge and experience of the key inter-related concepts of the environment and society through subjects such as geology, ecology, sustainable development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental monitoring, eco-social policy, law and conservation. The course also offers the students an insight into how these subjects can be assessed and analysed using technology such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and through practical applications. The role of the UN SDGs that will help shape the world we live in is also central to this long established and highly regarded programme at UCC. 

 

Students will complete 30 credits as follows in the Certificate:

• AD1084 Introduction to Earth Science (10 credits)
• AD1085 Perspectives on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (10 credits)
• AD1086 Environmental Monitoring, Assessment and Social Impact (10 Credits)

Students who successfully complete the Certificate will have the option to progress to the Diploma and will complete a further 30 credits as follows in Year 2:

• AD2031 Ecology and Applied Geographical Information Systems (GIS) (10 credits)
• AD2032 Environmental Protection and Eco-Social Policy (10 credits)
• AD2033 Practical Environmental Management (10 credits)

 

Queries

For Academic Queries and Course Content Queries please contact the Programme Coordinator Lucia Hermida Gonzalez: lucia.hermidagonzalez@ucc.ie

For Online Application Support please click here.  

Course Practicalities

Programme Schedule:

• Lectures are delivered using a blended online approach with pre-recorded material released on a weekly basis prior to a live interactive discussion class with the subject lecturer on Thursday evenings from 7pm to 8pm.
• Lectures can be viewed at any time, from anywhere, and as often as desired.
• Detailed lecture notes will accompany each lecture as well as recommended reading.
• Students will attend an in-person fieldtrip in semester one.
• We aim to have an on-campus workshop in semester 2.

An ability to manage and allocate time to course content each week is necessary. Students are expected to participate in the weekly live class and to engage with the discussion forum to interact with course lecturers, tutors, and other students, where they can discuss content and engage in module material.

Assessment

All work is continuously assessed. The course is evaluated through a combination of essays, journal reviews, case studies, oral presentation, poster presentation, field reports and practicals.

Who teaches this course

Lecturers on this course are drawn from a broad spectrum of disciplines and include academics, regulators, environmental scientists, economists, social scientists, energy sector professional, planners and policy makers.

Who Should Apply

This course is aimed at people returning to education, people with an existing qualification and seeking to broaden their knowledge of environmental and social issues, or people starting out in a career in and looking for direction to an area of specialisation.

Why Choose This Course

Skills and Careers Information

• Many students have continued their studies in specialised areas such as Planning and Development, Environmental Science/Studies, Environmental Management and Protection, and Government Policy. 
• Graduates of this course have found employment in Local Authorities, Environmental, Health and Safety positions, the pharma-chem sector, “green teams” and sustainability teams in many sectors. 
• Each May a session is held where a member of the team will present the most up-to-date information on further education and jobs in the industry.

Requirements

Programme Entry Requirements:

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 21 years of age by 1 January of the year of application
• Hold a Leaving Certificate (or equivalent qualification)/FETAC Level 5 qualification
  • Candidates who do not have a Leaving Certificate or FETAC Level 5 but are over 21 years of age may be deemed suitable. Applicants will have at least 2 years prior experience in a suitable area (environmental studies, social studies) and will be asked to submit a Personal Statement detailing their motivation to take this course and any work or life experience relevant to the subject.

English Language Requirement: 

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency. See our English language proficiency requirements. 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

Applicants who do not meet the above academic entry requirements may be considered for admission via RPL. See information on RPL here. 

Springboard+ Eligibility Requirements 

If you wish to apply as a Springboard+ funded applicant for this programme, you will need to meet the Springboard+ eligibility criteria. 

Springboard+ funded applicants will also need to meet the programme entry and English language requirements listed above. 

Fees and Costs

Programme fee is €1,750

 

Springboard+ Applicants 

There are a limited number of places available for this programme (Certificate) funded by Springboard+. 

• Jobseekers and returners may be eligible for a 100% fee subsidy. These applicants will be given priority.
• Those in employment may be eligible for a 90% fee subsidy. 
  • If awarded Springboard+ funding, applicants will need to pay the remaining 10% fee on registration (non-refundable). 
  • If an applicant's organisation wishes to pay their fees in part or in full, the applicants must pay the 10% on registration and any arrange any reimbursement with their employer/organisation directly. 

How To Apply

Those applying for Springboard+ funding may check their eligibility HERE.

If you wish to apply for Springboard+ funding for this course, you must do so via the Springboard+ website HERE.

You must choose one application route: 

• Apply for Springboard+ funding, or 
• Apply directly to the programme as a fee-paying applicant 

Please note that applicants who have already applied via the direct (fee-paying) route are not eligible to subsequently apply for Springboard+ funding. 

If your application for Springboard+ funding is not approved, you may have the option to apply as a fee-paying applicant, subject to availability of places. 

 

Direct Applications

To apply for this course as a full-fee-paying student, or if you are sponsored by your organisation, please apply for the 2-year Diploma HERE