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Air Pollution Management and Control MSc/Diploma

Start date
September
Duration
MSc: 1 year full-time, 2 year part-time routes available
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

£10,530 FT (UK students)
£29,340 FT (International Students)
More detail

 

 

Our Air Pollution Management and Control MSc is the only programme of its kind in the UK, built upon successful air pollution control lessons and underpinned by world-leading research. The course is accredited by the Institute of Environmental Sciences (IES) and the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM).

The McCall MacBain Clean Air Fellowship - The Next Generation of Clean Air Leaders

McCall MacBain Foundation logo

CleanAirFund-Logo-Grey-RGB-300x163

The Clean Air Fund and the University of Birmingham, with the support of the McCall MacBain Foundation, are launching the McCall MacBain Clean Air Fellowship, to develop the next generation of leaders for the clean air movement. Clean Air Fund and the University of Birmingham will select five exceptional students, two from the UK and three from Central and Eastern Europe, to pursue a master’s degree in Air Pollution Management and Control as McCall MacBain Clean Air Fellows. The Fellowship will identify those who can demonstrate a strong rationale for studying air pollution and can commit to tackling the problem through their career choice after they graduate. The Fellowship will include course fees and a stipend to cover living and travel costs. Fellows will benefit from a tailored programme of masterclasses and career development opportunities such as practical experience and networking provided by the University and the Clean Air Fund.

The deadline for applications is June 2024.

Find out more  

Air pollution damages human health, ecosystems and vegetation, and is expected to worsen in many regions. Every year, air pollution costs EU economies US$ 1.6 trillion and is linked to 7 million premature deaths globally. Developing effective strategies for the management and control of air pollution is a key environmental challenge facing society today.

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the causes and effects of air pollution and climate change, and the management measures and engineering technologies Clean Air. This is a recognised and sought after qualification within the professional environmental field in the UK and abroad. Students successfully completing the course very readily find employment as air quality experts within environmental consultancies, industry or local government departments.

Accreditation
CHES accredited logo

This programme is accredited by the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES), the education committee of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). CHES is the collective voice of the environmental sciences academic community and serves to enhance the quality of environmental education worldwide. A programme accredited by CHES is assured to meet high standards, contain a strong component of practical, field and theoretical activities, and has excellent opportunities for training, work experience and links to the professional environmental sector. Students enrolled on CHES accredited programmes can apply for free Student Membership of the IES and for a fast-track route to membership once they graduate, starting you on a route towards becoming a Chartered Environmentalist or Chartered Scientist.

IAQM logoThe programme is also accredited by the Institute of Air Quality Management

 

The course combines taught modules with an independent major research project. The taught modules introduce the nature of our atmosphere, its composition and meteorology, air pollutant emissions, air pollution chemistry and climate change / carbon management, together with the practical measures used to limit emissions from sources ranging from power stations to vehicles and the legislative and policy framework used by national and local authorities to enforce air quality objectives. The research project allows students to undertake an in-depth investigation of a particular aspect of air pollution of interest to them.

This programme is run by the Environmental Health Sciences research group.

About the Environmental Health Sciences research group

The Group is based in the well-equipped, purpose-built facilities including the brand-new Molecular Sciences Building. The Group’s research attracts extensive funding from many sources, including the Department of Transport; the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); the Environment Agency; the Department of Health; the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and European Union. The collaborative nature of much of this work often involves interdisciplinary teams spanning physical, biological, chemical, medical and social sciences, provides a dynamic and internationally leading research environment.

A drawing depicting how air and pollution moves through built environmentsMuch current work concerns Clean Air and is at the intersection of air pollution, carbon cycling, and climate change.

The Division is led by Professor Roy Harrison who is a fellow of the Royal Society, and a member of the UK Government’s Air Quality Expert Group, Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, and Committee on Toxicity.  He often gives media interviews on subjects including the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

Why study this course?

The University of Birmingham is a leading Russell Group University with an internationally leading research reputation in Atmospheric Sciences.

  • The MSc in Air Pollution Management and Control has been running very successfully for over 10 years by staff who are also leaders in their respective research fields and provide policy advice to UK government, European Union and the World Health Organization.
  • The course is built upon successful air pollution control practices in the UK and underpinned by world leading research in air pollution science and management at the University of Birmingham including:

You will graduate from this course with a recognised and sought after qualification within the professional environment field in the UK and abroad. In the past two years nearly 100% of students successfully completing the course have found employment as air quality experts within environmental consultancies, industry or government departments.

The course is accredited by the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES), the education committee of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). It is also accredited by the Institute of Air Quality Management.

Modules

We offer two qualifications in this area:

  • MSc in Air Pollution Management and Control
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Air Pollution Management and Control

The full-time MSc course runs over a 12-month period, starting in October. The taught modules are delivered in the Autumn and Spring terms, while the summer months focus on the major research project. The full-time Postgraduate Diploma (taught modules only) lasts nine months, from October through to June of the following year. 

Both courses are also available on a part-time basis, running over two years.

Taught Modules

The course represents 120 credits in total :

  • Causes and Effects of Air Pollution
    The sources, behaviour and fates of air pollutants, and their impact on human health, the built environment, ecosystems and global climate are described in this module. The module also addresses the use of emission inventories, methods and procedures for air pollutant measurement, and integration of these to give effective monitoring networks. Current and future developments in road vehicle technologies are covered, and the process of defining emission standards is studied.
  • Theoretical Meteorology: Atmospheric Physics and Composition
    This course reviews the basic nature of the atmosphere in terms of its overall physical properties and chemical composition; introduces a range of physical laws relevant in meteorology such as the first law of thermodynamics and the equation of state; reviews cloud microphysics and cloud formation processes as they relate to atmospheric thermodynamics; and introduces the basic radiation laws and radiative transfer processes in the atmosphere.
  • Small-scale and Air Pollution Meteorology
    This course explains how the temperature structure and motion of the atmosphere determines the dispersion of air pollutants. Air pollution modelling techniques are also introduced.
  • Air Pollution Chemistry
    The basic principles that determine the composition of the atmosphere are introduced and the processes leading to the formation and removal of atmospheric pollutants are described. There is a focus on the chemistry of air pollution phenomena such as urban air pollution (including photochemical smog and ozone formation), acid rain and stratospheric ozone depletion, in the context of changing climate.
  • Air Pollution Management and Control Technology
    Students will study the policy and institutional framework for the management of air quality, and the monitoring of air pollutants for compliance and the role of air pollutant emission reduction strategies. External experienced consultants will be invited to teach how to use air quality management models for resolving real-world management issues. This module will also introduce the basic principles and design criteria for the engineering control of air pollutant emissions, from sources ranging from power plants to individual vehicles. Removal technologies of both particulate and gaseous contaminants are included. This module is taught in the context of the Clean Air Strategy.
  • Carbon Management 
    Carbon Management is an increasingly important consideration for individual organisations through to national governments, with recognition that responsible management and sustainable development require minimising carbon emissions where feasible. This module provides an introduction to all aspects of carbon management. Topics covered include the overall scientific context of the global carbon cycle, global policy aspects (Kyoto, Copenhagen and current UK / EU targets), carbon offsetting and emissions trading, the impact of changing energy sources (biofuels and renewable energy resources, including impacts on air quality) and local carbon management, with a focus on the techniques used by local authorities and individual organisations. The module concludes with a realistic review of the likely near-future global emissions trajectory, considering economic trends in the BRIC nations, and the scope for renewable energy on a national level.
  • Air Quality Data Analysis and Interpretation
    This module aims to provide students with skills necessary for the collection, processing and analysis of air quality data sets. The statistical software packages R will be taught in this module. The OpenAir software package will be taught for advanced air quality data analysis and interpretation.

 

Research Component

The research component of the course comprises an individual research project into an area of the students’ choice (60 credits).

Research project

The Research Project allows you to explore an area of air pollution of your choosing to develop an in-depth understanding.  Projects may involve laboratory experiments, field measurements of atmospheric composition, computer-based modelling studies or analysis of existing atmospheric data.  You will have access to the School’s research and laboratory facilities and atmospheric measurement instrumentation, and also frequently draw upon external links and data sources (for example, through local authority air quality monitoring).

You are able to select your own research project topic, and will be supervised on a one-to-one basis by a member of staff with relevant expertise and/or research interests.  Projects usually involve a design and planning phase (Jan – March) followed by the main research phase during spring / summer. The project is assessed through a written dissertation and an informal viva (oral examination).

Examples of recent projects include:

  • A preliminary investigation into how the introduction of the London low emission zone has affected PM10 levels as measured along the Marylebone Road
  • Assessment of ozone levels and meteorological effects in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
  • Characterisation of vehicle exhaust emissions using remote sensing technology
  • An ADMS-based investigation into particulate dispersal in the vicinity of the Scunthorpe steelworks
  • Changes to levels of particulate air pollution in hospitality premises across Birmingham following the introduction of the smoke-free England legislation
  • An analysis of the May 2008 ozone pollution episode in the West Midlands
  • An investigation of airborne ammonia concentrations at two contrasting locations in the West Midlands conurbation
  • The atmospheric role of methyl iodide in the continental boundary layer
  • The chemistry of HOx radicals and HONO within a street canyon – A modelling study
  • Evaluation of ADMS-roads in rural street canyons
  • Spatial and temporal variation of ozone in Hong Kong and its effect on the surrounding human population
  • Is air quality measured to best effect in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham?
  • The effect of ambient particulate matter levels in the UK on visibility


Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Fees for 2024/25

  • Code 3633: UK students £10,530 FT
  • Code UK students £5,265 PT
  • Code: 3633: International students £29,340 FT only
  • Code 8073: PG Dip UK students £7,020 
  • Code 8073: PG Dip International students £19,560 

Learn more about fees and funding.


Are you an international applicant?

All international applicants to this course will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £2,000 on receipt of an offer, to secure their place.

Find out more about the deposit >>.

Scholarships and studentships

Birmingham Masters Scholarship

We are offering over 200 awards of £2,000 to support the brightest and best applicants wishing to undertake Masters study at the University during 2024-2025.

Find out more and apply now  

Postgraduate Progression Award

Our Postgraduate Progression Awards offer final year undergraduates at the University of Birmingham a fee discount of £1,500 for postgraduate taught study.

Find out more and apply now  

The McCall MacBain Clean Air Fellowship - The Next Generation of Clean Air Leaders

McCall MacBain Foundation logo

CleanAirFund-Logo-Grey-RGB-300x163

The Clean Air Fund and the University of Birmingham, with the support of the McCall MacBain Foundation, are launching the McCall MacBain Clean Air Fellowship, to develop the next generation of leaders for the clean air movement. Clean Air Fund and the University of Birmingham will select five exceptional students, two from the UK and three from Central and Eastern Europe, to pursue a master’s degree in Air Pollution Management and Control as McCall MacBain Clean Air Fellows. The Fellowship will identify those who can demonstrate a strong rationale for studying air pollution and can commit to tackling the problem through their career choice after they graduate. The Fellowship will include course fees and a stipend to cover living and travel costs. Fellows will benefit from a tailored programme of masterclasses and career development opportunities such as practical experience and networking provided by the University and the Clean Air Fund.

The deadline for applications is June 2024.

Find out more  

Our database contains details of postgraduate taught and research scholarship and funding opportunities available to support your studies at the University of Birmingham. Find out more. 

International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships, UK government (e.g., Chevening Scholarships) or their home government.

For further information contact the School directly or get in touch with the Funding, Graduation & Awards via the online enquiries system.

How To Apply

International students requiring visas

1 July 2024 is the application deadline for international students who require a visa to study in the United Kingdom. We are not able to consider applications for 2024 made after this date; a new application will need to be made for September 2025.

UK students

31 August 2024 is the application deadline for UK students. We are not able to consider applications for 2024 made after this date; a new application will need to be made for September 2025.

Applications for 2024 entry are now open.

Making your application

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

A 2:1 Honours degree or equivalent in a science or engineering subject, or an unrelated degree or a degree without honours followed by at least two years appropriate postgraduate experience. 2.2 Honours degrees in a science or engineering subject may also be considered depending on individual module marks in key subject areas. In certain cases (for example, for applicants with appropriate professional experience) this requirement may be waived.

Learn more about entry requirements.

International Requirements



International Students

English language requirements

Standard English language requirements apply (IELTS: 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any band)


  • IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band
  • TOEFL: 80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 19 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in any component

The School is well supported and students have access to any equipment and facilities appropriate to their work.

Computing

You will have access to common software tools used to model air pollution (for example, ADMS and the DMRB as used by many local authorities). These are used in teaching sessions/workshops, and also available for research projects. We also have experience with more specialised packages such as CMAQ for research project use.

Laboratories and Atmospheric Measurement Instrumentation

A researcher monitors air pollution levels on specialist equipmentWe are well equipped for atmospheric measurements. Instrumentation available for the measurement of atmospheric particulates (aerosols) ranges from hand-held particle monitors which may be taken into homes and buildings, through various manual and automated filter sampling systems, to TEOM instruments as used for air quality monitoring. On the research side, we operate a number of Aerosol particle Spectrometers and an Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer. For gaseous pollutants, monitors are available to monitor ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, in addition to gas chromatographs which can detect a wide range of organic compounds. The School operates its own weather station, and various meteorological instrumentation is available.

Other laboratory analytical instrumentation includes GC-MS and LC-MS instruments, ion chromatography and atomic absorption spectrometers which can measure a wide range of environmental constituents and pollutants. Training and guidance on the use of instrumentation is available if you are interested in using these facilities for your research projects.

Teaching

The MSc in Air Pollution Management and Control is taught by staff from the School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, workshops and problem sessions, and off-campus visits to sites with specific air pollution problems (e.g. an incinerator, landfill site, local air quality monitoring station). We also visit a £15m facility built to study the impact of climate change on terrestrial carbon cycle at the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR). In order to give our students experience of the Management and Control aspects of the course, we make visits to Birmingham City Council Air Quality Group and to the Tyseley Energy Recovery Facility. Teaching sessions are supplemented by online resources which may be accessed remotely and students own (guided) personal reading.

A feature of the course is the use of external speakers to deliver an expert view through lectures and workshops on specific aspects. These range from experts such as Professor Robert Maynard (formerly Head of Air Pollution for the Department of Health) and Professor Dick Derwent (atmospheric ozone modelling and policy advice) to recent course graduates, now working in consultancy and local government, who run workshop sessions on pollutant dispersion modelling.

Assessment Methods

A variety of assessment methods are used, including written coursework, video documentary, case studies, oral presentations and standard examinations. The major research project is assessed through a written dissertation and an oral examination.

Here are the examples of the two outstanding examples of the high quality courseworks (videos) generated by some of our previous cohorts of students. Both courseworks received a distinction:

A yellow haze is seen across tall city buildingsGraduates in this area are in high demand due to increasing air quality and climate change legislation, increasing awareness of the impacts of atmospheric pollution and climate change, and increasing government policy towards sustainable futures. Career opportunities exist in air quality management, forecasting and regulation, in industrial emission monitoring and control, in environmental and human health impact assessment and in the transport, energy and waste and chemical industrial sectors.  Students completing the course have found employment in environmental consultancy (UK and overseas), local and national government, the Environment Agency and industry, while some have continued with PhD study.

Recent employment destinations of our graduates include:  Mott McDonald, URS Corporation, Mouchel, Temple Group, RPS group, ARUP, WSP Group,  AECOM,  Enviros Consulting,  Scott Wilson,  Jacobs UK Ltd,  Hyder Consulting, Severn Trent,  AMT coffee, Panasonic, Petrobas, Saudi Aramco, Environment Agency, various local and national government departments. 

Professional Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Institute of Air Quality Management