Various factors and events have affected study abroad over the decades in which I have served as an international education and career coach. Recently, climate change has been gaining ground in students’ decision-making. Here is why and how.

The recent cohort of prospective students belongs primarily to Generation Z (born roughly between 1997 and 2012) and Millennials (born roughly between 1981 and 1996). Studies have shown that these generations care the most about climate change and environmental issues.

Gen Z is widely regarded as the most environmentally conscious generation. They are the first in higher education to have grown up fully aware of climate change, and many have been exposed to environmental education from a young age. Greta Thunberg, one of the faces of global climate activism says, in a TED talk: “I was about eight years old when I first heard about climate change or global warming.” She could not understand why so little was being done about solving this issue and this drove her to take action.

Why do younger generations care more?

As a result of witnessing climate change as well as being educated about it, current Bachelor’s and Master’s students are very active in climate movements. Since younger generations will live longer into the future, they are more likely to be affected by the worsening effects of climate change, leading to greater concern. Another major contributory factor is the rise of social media. It has made environmental activism more accessible to younger people, amplifying the voices of climate activists and creating platforms for climate action campaigns. Gen Z are also more likely to prefer eco-friendly brands, adopt sustainable habits like reducing waste, and promote circular economy practices like second-hand shopping or reducing plastic use.

Climate change and sustainability academic programmes

Climate change has recently spurred increased interest in environmental studies, sustainability, and related fields which have already been offered by universities for many years. In addition, many new programmes now provide specialised courses in climate science, environmental policy, or sustainable development.

The University of Copenhagen offers a Master of Science in Climate Change with an interdisciplinary approach. Justine Beaule, a 2023 alumna, describes the programme as: “Interdisciplinary programme capturing the scope of climate change’s impacts on businesses, human life, and our environment. This programme is extremely timely, given the current situation of climate change.” Currently, Justine is Sustainability and Marketing Strategist at Reel, a next-generation electricity supplier for climate-conscious companies.

In addition, some programmes are designed around field research or community engagement in areas impacted by climate change, offering students the chance to study its effects first-hand. For example, students might study coral reef bleaching in Australia or deforestation in the Amazon.

Local climate policies

International education enables students to choose programmes in locations particularly affected by or leading responses to climate change. Students studying abroad may experience different political and cultural responses to climate change. Some destinations might have aggressive climate action policies in place, offering insight into mitigation strategies, while others may still be grappling with slow responses to the crisis. This can enhance students’ understanding of global environmental politics and activism, as well as affect their choices of study destination.

Read: How Sustainability in Business Education Can Help Build a Green Future

Reducing the air-travel carbon footprint

Better environmental awareness highlights the impact of long-haul flights on global carbon emissions. Many students and institutions are becoming more conscious, leading to debates about the ethics of frequent flying for education. Some universities are exploring ways to offset the carbon footprint of study abroad programmes or encouraging alternative travel options.

In response to climate concerns, some students may opt for shorter trips or choose universities closer to home to reduce their carbon footprint, while others may prioritise online or local alternatives to traditional international study.

Choosing a study destination

Choosing a study destination is an opportunity to experience a different environment and climate. This works both ways. Some students may opt to move to a more favourable climate area to enjoy perks that they missed at home – e.g. a sunny seaside or skiing in the mountains. Others may need to adapt to gloomier and cooler weather in their dream country of study.

However, current climate change can additionally affect the students’ study abroad experience, with the increase of unexpected extreme weather conditions. In recent years, some of these conditions have become recurring in some seasons and destinations, and should be taken into consideration – e.g. heatwaves, hurricanes, wildfires, or air pollution.

So, climate change is altering both the practicalities and the educational opportunities. Universities and students are rethinking how they approach international education in a changing world. Prospective Master’s applicants have many options to reach out to universities and explore details that matter for their decision-making. Education events, fairs, and online meetings are helping students explore their local or study abroad options, enabling them to talk directly to school representatives, alumni, current students and education advisers on all aspects of the student experience.