Program Overview

Environment, Sustainability and Climate - Cert

Course Fact File

• Code: CEVSC
• Duration: 1 year
• Teaching Mode: Part-Time
• Qualifications: Cert
• NFQ Level: Level 7
• NFQ Award Title: Special Purpose
• Fees: Springboard+ Funded. See further details under 'Fees' See Fees and Costs for full details.
• Closing Date: Springboard+ Applications: 16 July 2025
• Next Intake: 2025
• Venue: Online
• Start Date: September 2025

Course Outline

Springboard+ Applicants

There are a limited number of places available for this programme (Certificate) funded by Springboard+. All places available have now been offered and we are no longer accepting applications for Springboard+ funding.

General Applicants

There are a limited numbers of places remaining on the 2-year Diploma in Environment, Sustainability & Climate for fee-paying and company sponsored applicants.

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 in order 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 related sustainable and societal issues within their own organisations.

Course Details

This is an interdisciplinary programme across both science and social studies and links the UN SDGs across all its teaching.

• 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 Cert 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)

Course Practicalities

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.

Progression

• 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

• Candidates must be at least 21 years of age by 1 January of the year of application
• 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 have attained IELTS Level 6 or the equivalent TOEFL score

Fees and Costs

• Springboard+ Applicants: There are a limited number of places available for this programme (Certificate) funded by Springboard+. All places available have now been offered and we are no longer accepting applications for Springboard+ funding.
• General Applicants: There are a limited numbers of places remaining on the 2-year Diploma in Environment, Sustainability & Climate for fee-paying and company sponsored applicants.