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The course application process is set to close on 12th August, 2025, but may close earlier if the course reaches full capacity.
Places are offered on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged to secure your spot.
| Item: | Details: |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Postgraduate Level 9 (30 ECTS) Special Purpose Award |
| Location | Some classes will take place online & some in person on the 1st floor of Trinity Business School. |
| Duration | 6 months, part-time |
| Course Fees | €375 for eligible applicants in employment. Free to eligible unemployed applicants. See eligibility criteria. |
| Course Content | Module 1: Systems Innovation for Positive Climate Action Module 2: Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Module 3: Climate Enterprise Development |
| Key Dates | Course starts: 27th September 2025. Course ends: 7th March 2026. |
Tackling climate change is a now a moral and economic imperative, as the scale and pace of climate change threatens both our environment and the business status quo.
In just 15 weeks, Portal’s Postgraduate Certificate in Climate Entrepreneurship - the first course of its kind in Ireland - will empower you to make a change for the greater good.
Climate entrepreneurs can be defined as change agents who see the creation of ventures as a way to address urgent environmental challenges. Co-delivered by Portal with Trinity’s School of Natural Sciences, this course is for change makers, innovators, business leaders, and community activists who recognise the need for change and are looking for guidance on how to best activate it.
Join a network of like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds invested in climate entrepreneurship and learn from leading industry and academic experts from Ireland’s number 1 university. Featuring practical coursework which can be tailored to your interests, challenge-based learning and peer-to-peer networking, this part-time course will allow students to explore the complex systems and levers of change involved in climate change, while learning how to communicate solutions effectively and make informed decisions that drive sustainable impact. Strong focus is placed on experiential and action-focused learning on the programme, which is taught via a combination of masterclasses, workshops and project-based learning. Funded under the Government’s HEA Springboard+ programme, the course is free to eligible candidates.
Understand your role in the global climate emergency to create a sustainable future and begin your climate entrepreneurship journey at Portal.
Climate Entrepreneurship: Postgraduate Certificate
Starting September. Apply Today!
View on Portal TVTackling the twin crisis of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss
Look back at our thought leadership session
View on Portal TV
Course Information
On this programme, you will learn the fundamentals of idea development, creative problem solving and innovation. You will be able to identify and respond to today’s climate action opportunities and value in a focused manner. You will be equipped with the entrepreneurial skills to introduce new and improved solutions to today's climate change impacts and the future environmental risks.
You will learn to approach problem solving in an innovative way, by using tools and techniques to brainstorm new ideas and applying lateral thinking. By engaging with entrepreneurs, academics, business leaders and industry mentors in an informal learning environment, you will learn the fundamentals of both and by availing of valuable peer-to-peer learning you will experience the process of bringing an idea through from development through to implementation.
This course will provide you with the opportunity to contribute to climate change goals as set out by government by equipping you with:
- a set of frameworks and tools to identify and generate entrepreneurial opportunities that will have a positive impact on climate change
- the skills to plan and develop strategies, action plans or sustainable ventures that contribute to climate change mitigation and drive economic development
- the ability to analyse theoretical concepts associated with systems innovation and entrepreneurship in relation to climate change
- the communication skills to interact with stakeholders and enable behavioural changeseract with multiple stakeholders, enable behavioural changes and explain their influence to drive position climate action
- the knowledge & skills to evaluate ethical, social, commercial and political factors in decision making to support climate entrepreneurship
Course Information
Module 1: Systems Innovation for Positive Climate Action (10 ECTS)
This module explores principles and practices associated with systems thinking in the context of climate change and how processes of systems innovation and creativity can support positive climate action.
Module 2 - Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Climate Adaptation and Mitigation (10 ECTS)
This module enables students identify opportunities for entrepreneurship that can positively impact climate change. You will gain an understanding of the value of entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialisation and its potential to positively impact climate change and sustainability.
Module 3 - Climate Enterprise Development (10 ECTS)
This module introduces the process involved in creating, leading and scaling an entrepreneurial start-up venture and developing a sustainable green business.
The programme incorporates a host of contributors both from academia and industry.
Funding eligibility is as outlined the Springboard+ website.
Applicants must be in possession of a level 8 honours degree (or equivalent) with grade 2.1 or higher, in any discipline from a recognised institution and supply an academic reference as one of the two references required. Those with demonstrated entrepreneurship aspirations will be prioritised.
Applicants who do not meet the entry requirements may still be considered if they can demonstrate their suitability for the course based on recognition of prior learning (RPL) under Trinity’s RPL policy and procedures.
All applicants whose first language is not English are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Information can be found at the following link: https://www.tcd.ie/study/english-language-requirements/ Per the table provided in the link, this course requires Trinity Band B (Standard entry). For your convenience please see pasted below the Band B details which include the standardised English proficiency tests accepted, with scores required. Please be mindful to read notes 1-3 below also.
- IELTS (Academic version) and IELTS Indicator : minimum Grade 6.5 overall - 6.0 in each band.
- TOEFL iBT : 90 overall 21 in each section.
- University of Cambridge: Advanced or Proficiency : minimum180 overall - no score bellow 170.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE Academic : minimum 69 overall - 59 in each section
- Duolingo English Test: minimum overall 120 - 100 in each subscore
- An award certificate with a minimum II.1 overall score from Trinity's Centre for English Language Learning and Teaching's Pre-Master's Pathway Programme. The Pre-Master’s Pathway Programme is an academic English course for international students with conditional offers for postgraduate study at Trinity. Passing the programme means you meet Trinity’s English language requirement and can progress to your postgraduate course without retaking IELTS or any other exam.
Please also note:
- For all proficiency tests, the results must be issued within two years prior to the start of your course.
- Applicants for postgraduate courses who have completed a primary degree through the medium of English may request an exemption from the requirement to present an English proficiency qualification. The applicant must provide a formal document from the awarding institution clearly stating their prior degree was delivered wholly through English.
- Requirements refer to Duolingo Integrated Scores. If presenting Duolingo Test of English, applicants must share their test score with institution "Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin" from the Duolingo website.
For further details on these English Language Proficiency Tests, please contact the appropriate organisation directly.
All students are required to have a laptop or a PC, a webcam and stable internet connection.
Applications are made through the Springboard+ website.
Springboard+ covers 100% of course fees for eligible, unemployed applicants who are successful in their application. Springboard+ covers 90% of course fees for eligible, employed applicants who are successful in their application. The remaining 10% course fee is €375.
For more information, please contact our Student Recruitment Team springboard@tcd.ie or call (086) 0 320 487.