Programme Description

This course introduces students to the role of finance in the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Mitigating and adapting to climate change while simultaneously realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires the deployment of large amounts of capital – capital which isn’t currently provided in sufficient amounts. Moreover, climate change poses significant risk to economies and financial systems alike. At the same time, there are substantial opportunities in financing the green transformation and in aligning investments and finance with environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.

The course enables students to understand and apply key concepts in climate and sustainable finance, the role of climate and other environmental risks in creating potential financial risks in banking and capital markets, and the role of financial actors in driving a global transition and aligning capital markets with climate and sustainability goals.

The course will draw on examples and case studies from various countries of the Global North and South and different thematic areas including ESG standards, green bond markets, long-term sustainability risk assessment, the role of central banks and financial supervisory authorities, and climate accounting principles. The course will help students build the skills necessary to work and conduct research in a cutting-edge area of finance that is increasingly becoming an important topic for financial institutions and financial authorities around the world.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, a student should be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Have an in-depth understanding of economic concepts and principles in climate and sustainable finance;
• Understand and explain the gaps in global climate and sustainable finance and propose solutions to meet the funding challenge;
• Explain the role of different actors in climate and sustainable finance, including central banks, financial supervisory authorities, national and multilateral development banks, corporate banks, and institutional investors;
• Understand and analyse the potential risks and opportunities of environmental trends for financial markets, with a particular emphasis on climate risks;
• Explain the range of financial policy instruments and initiatives and their potential with regard to integrating climate change and sustainability into financial policy and supervisory frameworks.

Assessment

Assessment is optional and will be in the form of a 2,500 word essay to be handed in 3 weeks after the end of the course.

15 SOAS Credits

This course is worth 15 credits in the UK system. 15 credits is equivalent to 4 credits in the US system and 7.5 ECTS in the European system. If you intend to transfer credit to your home institution, please check the requirements with them before you apply. We will be happy to assist you in any way we can, however please be aware that the decision to transfer credit rests with your home institution.

SOAS Students

Current SOAS students selecting this course as an open option module will not be charged the tuition-fee. For further information and assistance, please contact summerschool@soas.ac.uk.

Enquiries

For more information, please fill out our enquiries form

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: 20 July – 7 August 2020

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

Programme structure

Week 1: Climate and sustainable finance – an introduction

• The economics of climate change and sustainability: key concepts and principles
• Environment, social and governance (ESG) standards and financial performance
• From ambition to action: identifying – and closing – global funding gaps
• Climate and sustainable finance in developing and emerging economies

Week 2: Governing climate and sustainable finance

• Leveraging private sector finance: the role of national and multilateral development banks (MDBs)
• The role of financial governance: central banks and regulators and the Paris Agreement
• Mobilising bond markets for a low-carbon transition

Week 3: Climate risk and financial markets

• Quantifying environmental risks in financial markets
• Monitoring and supervising long-term and climate risk by financial supervisors
• Aligning financial portfolios and companies with sustainability goals

In addition to classroom-based lectures and tutorials, students will attend a range of activities and field trips that support and contribute towards the core learning outcomes and objectives.

Examples of trips include:

- Excursions to the Bank of England, an institutional investor in the city, and several NGOs (Climate Bonds Initiative, Carbon Tracker Initiative, 2 Degrees Initiative)

- Guest lecturers

Important notice

Teaching & Learning

Contact hours:

46 hours (lectures, tutorials, activities). The course will be delivered Monday - Friday over the 3 weeks.

Core hours:

Monday - Friday 10am-3pm. In addition to regular lectures and tutorials, each course is composed of a range of activities relating to their academic content (e.g. museum visit, company visit etc).

Sample Reading list:

Tuition Fees

• Credit-assessed: £1,750
• Non-assessed: £1,600

Application fee

A one-off, non-refundable application fee of £40 will be charged to cover administration costs. Please visit the SOAS online store to make your application fee payment.

Discounts

10% early-bird discount when you apply by 31 March

15% discount for SOAS Alumni (including Academic Summer School alumni)

20% discount for our partner institutions

Accommodation

Information regarding accommodation will be released soon.

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

How to Apply

Application Form

Entry Requirements

In order to join the Academic Summer School, students should meet the following entry requirements:

• A university student or a graduate at the time of attending. Professional experience can be acknowledged as equivalent to a university qualification.
• Participants must be 18 or over at the time of attendance.
• Fluency in English language is recommended for non-credit courses, but essential for SOAS Accredited courses. Proficiency can be demonstrated through:
• IELTS, 6.5 overall or higher, with at least 6 in all sub scores.
• TOEFL Paper based test we require a minimum of 583 with minimum 53 in all skills and for TOEFL Internet Based Test we require a minimum of 93 with minimum 20 in all skills. 
• Pearson Test of English a score of 59-64
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Grade B
• If you have studied in an English speaking institution, or have courses taught at your university in English (excluding English language courses) you may meet our requirements without having to supply a certificate. Evidence of this will either need to be included on a transcript or letter from your university. 
• If you are unsure whether you meet the above entry requirements, please contact us to discuss your application.

Enrolment of applicants who do not meet the entry requirements is at the discretion of SOAS – please get in touch to speak to us about your application and we will be happy to help. 

Application Procedure

Once you have paid the £40 application fee and submitted the online application form, you will be informed as to whether you have a place on the summer school within 5 working days. Please do not pay your tuition fee prior to having received your offer letter.

Application Deadline

Applications now accepted on a rolling basis for all courses

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