Fungi, Soil Carbon & Climate
How fungi drive the formation, stabilisation and loss of soil carbon, and what this means for climate-smart land management.
Programme identification
- 1.1Programme name
- Fungi, Soil Carbon & Climate
- 1.2Type of qualification
- Course
- 1.3Provider / endorsing institution
- Fungaris – International Institute of Mycology, School of Fungal Ecology & Regenerative Agriculture. A Fungaris programme of its own, not endorsed by a university.
- 1.4Mode of study
- Online, with live sessions in a small group, recordings and a virtual campus.
- 1.5Duration (hours / ECTS credits)
- 3 months (12 weeks) · 72 hours in total · 6 modules of 12 hours · 12 live sessions of 2 hours. ECTS credits: not applicable (Fungaris own programme, not an official university degree).
- 1.6Language
- English
- 1.7Start and end dates / intake
- Next intake: 11 January 2027 to 2 April 2027. Enrolment closes on 4 January 2027. Following intake: 8 March 2027. How intakes work →
Overview
2.1Programme description
Soils hold more carbon than vegetation and the atmosphere combined, and fungi are central to how that carbon is gained, stabilised and lost. This course follows carbon from plant roots into mycorrhizal hyphae, through fungal necromass that can persist as stable organic matter, and back to the atmosphere through decomposition and priming. It explains current thinking on mineral-associated organic matter and why fungal residues have become a focus of soil carbon research.
Soil carbon now features in climate policy, farm support schemes and voluntary carbon markets, yet measurement and permanence remain contested. The course suits land managers, carbon project staff and researchers who need to understand the biology behind the claims. A practical module covers sampling design, measurement methods and verification, and the final module discusses where fungi fit within policy and market frameworks. In the final project, students critically review a real or described soil carbon project, assessing its assumptions about fungal processes, its measurement plan and the main risks to permanence.
2.2Why it matters / what need it meets
It meets a practical need: applied, up-to-date knowledge in ecology, useful in areas such as carbon markets and climate finance, agriculture and land management, environmental research, public climate policy.
Mycology is moving fast and good practical training is still scarce. This programme gives you a structured path, taught live by people who work in the field, so you can apply what you learn with judgement and safety.
Objectives and competences
3.1General objective
To finish the programme able to apply its content professionally and with judgement. In short:
How fungi drive the formation, stabilisation and loss of soil carbon, and what this means for climate-smart land management.
3.2Specific objectives
- Build the foundations: The Soil Carbon Cycle; Fungal Necromass and Stable Soil Organic Matter.
- Put them into practice: Mycorrhizal Carbon Flows Below Ground; Decomposition, Priming and Carbon Loss.
- Apply everything to a real case: Measuring and Verifying Soil Carbon; Fungi in Climate Policy and Carbon Markets.
- Complete a final project reviewed by your tutor.
3.3Competences you will gain
- Explain how fungal necromass contributes to stable soil organic matter.
- Describe carbon flows through mycorrhizal fungi below ground.
- Recognise processes such as priming that cause soil carbon loss.
- Evaluate soil carbon sampling and verification designs.
- Critically assess soil carbon claims in projects and markets.
Student profile
4.1Who it is for (entry profile)
Land managers, carbon project staff and researchers.
4.2Entry requirements
No prior soil science is required, though basic familiarity with ecology or agriculture is helpful. Comfort reading simple graphs and tables is assumed.
4.3Career paths (exit profile)
- Soil carbon project officer
- Land manager in climate-smart farming schemes
- Analyst for carbon market methodologies
- Research assistant in soil carbon studies
- Sustainability adviser for agri-food companies
Outcomes depend on your experience and on your local market.
Study plan
5.1Overall structure (modules and workload)
| Module | Title | Phase | Topics | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Soil Carbon Cycle | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 02 | Fungal Necromass and Stable Soil Organic Matter | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 03 | Mycorrhizal Carbon Flows Below Ground | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 04 | Decomposition, Priming and Carbon Loss | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 05 | Measuring and Verifying Soil Carbon | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| 06 | Fungi in Climate Policy and Carbon Markets | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 72 |
6 modules × 12 hours = 72 hours: 24 hours of live sessions, and the rest for campus study, exercises and the final project.
5.2Content by module
Hover or tap a module to follow the path from the first session to the final project. Open a module to see the topics it covers.
- Carbon inputs from plants to soil
- Soil organic matter pools
- Respiration and carbon outputs
- The microbial carbon pump concept
- Mineral-associated organic matter
- Fungal cell wall residues
- Carbon allocation to mycorrhizal fungi
- Arbuscular versus ectomycorrhizal systems
- Hyphal turnover and storage
- Decomposer fungi and litter breakdown
- Priming effects explained
- Land use change and carbon loss
- Sampling depth and bulk density
- Laboratory and sensor methods
- Verification and uncertainty
- Soil carbon in climate policy
- Carbon market methodologies
- Risks of overclaiming
5.3Company placement
This programme does not include a company placement. Practice is built into every module through exercises, case studies and the final project.
5.4Final project
A critical review of a soil carbon project focusing on fungal assumptions, measurement and permanence.
Methodology
6.1How it is taught
- Live online sessions, usually weekly, with a working professional and a small group.
- Recordings of every session, so you can catch up if work or time zones get in the way.
- Exercises and real case studies in every module.
- Tutoring: your tutor answers questions and gives feedback on your exercises and project.
6.2Platform and resources
A Moodle virtual campus with session recordings, readings, exercises and forums for each module. You need a computer, an up-to-date browser and a stable connection; a webcam and microphone are recommended.
Technical requirements →6.3Estimated weekly workload
About 6 hours a week for 12 weeks: one 2-hour live session on a weekday evening, plus study and exercises on the campus at your own pace.
Assessment
7.1Assessment system and weighting
Progress is assessed through participation in live sessions, module exercises on sampling and data interpretation and a final critical review evaluated by the tutor.
7.2Requirements to pass
- Complete every module, by attending the live sessions or watching the recordings.
- Hand in the module exercises.
- Have your final project approved by your tutor.
Teaching team
8.1Academic direction
At Fungaris, the Ecology school coordinates the content and quality of this programme. The academic director of each intake is named in the intake guide.
8.2Faculty
Taught by professionals who work in the field. The tutor for each intake is confirmed before the start.
Meet our faculty →Certificate
9.1Certificate awarded
Course Certificate
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Fungaris certificates are the institute's own. Whether an employer, school or authority recognises them depends on that organisation and on local rules in each country.
9.2Issuing body / recognition
Issued by Fungaris (operated by Nexora Generation, S.L.) as a digital certificate. It is a Fungaris certificate of its own: it is not an official university degree and does not award ECTS credits.
About our certificates →Admission and enrolment
10.1Admission process (steps)
- Send your request through the form or write to admissions.
- Admissions reviews your profile and confirms the start date, the session schedule and the fee.
- You secure your place with full payment or a 40% reservation.
- You receive your campus access and welcome guide before the first session.
10.2Documents required
- A valid identity document.
- Contact and billing details (personal or company).
10.3Deadlines
Enrolment for the intake starting on 11 January 2027 is open until 4 January 2027, or until the group is full (maximum 20 students).
10.4Fee and payment options
Fee: £340
- Full payment before the start: £272 (20% reduction).
- 40% reservation (£136) and 3 monthly instalments of £68.
10.5Grants, discounts and funding
Discounts: 10% for Fungaris alumni and 15% for groups of three or more people from the same organisation. Discounts cannot be combined with each other or with the full-payment reduction.
Your employer can pay for the programme and receive the invoice in the company name. Whether a public or employer training budget can cover the fee depends on your country, so check with them.
10.6Cancellation policy
The conditions for cancelling, withdrawing or moving to a later intake are explained in our cancellation policy and in your enrolment confirmation. Nothing there limits your rights under the consumer law that applies to you.
Cancellation and refunds →Additional information
11.1Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to study Fungi, Soil Carbon & Climate?
No prior soil science is required, though basic familiarity with ecology or agriculture is helpful. Comfort reading simple graphs and tables is assumed.
How is Fungi, Soil Carbon & Climate taught?
Live online, in 6 modules with a working professional, a small group and a final project.
How am I assessed?
Progress is assessed through participation in live sessions, module exercises on sampling and data interpretation and a final critical review evaluated by the tutor.
What is the final project?
A critical review of a soil carbon project focusing on fungal assumptions, measurement and permanence.
What certificate do I get?
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Fungaris certificates are the institute's own. Whether an employer, school or authority recognises them depends on that organisation and on local rules in each country.
What can I study after Fungi, Soil Carbon & Climate?
The natural next step is Diploma in Mycorrhizal Agriculture.
11.2Alumni testimonials
We only publish verified testimonials from real students. This programme does not have any published yet; they will appear here once its first intakes finish.
11.3Admissions contact
Write to info@fungaris.institute or use the contact form. Admissions answers in your language.
Read before you start.
Keep branching.
Join the next intake.
Pay in full with a 20% reduction, or reserve your place with 40% and pay the rest in monthly instalments. All prices are stated in pounds sterling (GBP).