MSc Environmental Management

Entry year
2024/25
Course code
F1N21
Application
University
Level
Postgraduate
School
School of Architecture and Environment
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
One year full-time, two years part-time
Delivery
September start, full-time, part-time
Programme leader
Dr Jo Barnes and Dr Ben williams

This course is open for applications

Page last updated 6 February 2024

Introduction

The holistic nature of this course gives you the knowledge and skills to prepare you for your chosen career in a range of environmental management roles.

Accreditations and partnerships:

Environmental and sustainability issues are at the forefront of global concerns. Consequently, globally there is increasing demand for competent, qualified environmental managers. Managing the environment is of increasing importance to governments and industry. By choosing to study this course at UWE Bristol (two-time winner of the International Green Gown Awards) you will develop expertise in key areas which will enhance your employability.

Developing skills for wide-ranging applications

The MSc Environmental Management is an opportunity to study a professionally focused course in line with your own interests and ambitions. On completion, you'll be ready to take on a number of roles, for example, working in the environmental arm of a large private company, or with a public sector body such as the Environment Agency. You'll find possibilities across the world in areas as diverse as civil engineering, sustainable development, water security, or research. You may find yourself developing policy or getting involved in major projects.

Be at the forefront of helping solve some of the world's biggest environmental and sustainability issues, including climate change, air pollution, biodiversity loss, food and water security, sanitation and safe water access. Your expertise could help shape the future of our planet, and really make a difference.

The Masters in Environmental Management has been designed to create a well-rounded environmental management professional that is able to apply their skills holistically in developing solutions to address the major challenges of our global future.

Your degree will provide you with skillsets and expertise in managing water, air, carbon and energy, alongside a grounding in environmental assessment, sustainable development and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) that will enhance the applicability of your knowledge. In addition, the course gives you the opportunity to put your learning into practice in a workplace setting through undertaking a project on behalf of an organisation of your choosing, helping you to get a foothold in your environmental management career and increasing your subsequent employability.

You will also have an opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills through your choice of Masters Project. This could allow you to specialise in an aspect of environment management that interests you, or expand on and develop your work-based learning project.

Structure

Content

You will study the follow modules:

  • Environmental Assessment will enable you to understand how to do an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) within the framework of current best practice, through hands on case studies. Related areas such as Strategic Environmental Assessment will also be explored to consider how to build sustainability into the whole development lifecycle.
  • Sustainable Development: Principles and Practice explores the fundamental nature, causes and consequences of sustainable and unsustainable development. Practical exercises and projects give you first-hand experience of putting key concepts, frameworks and tools for implementing sustainable development into practice.
  • Renewable Energy and Carbon Futures allows you to look at technologies and the ways in which they can be implemented that potentially provide the basis for a fundamental re-shaping of how society works. This is especially in the field of energy supply and use, through technologies such as biogas digesters, wind power, solar power and the opportunities for bio fuels and greater energy efficiency. It also examines carbon accounting and management, and emissions trading, and the code for sustainable homes.
  • Water Management and the Law will introduce you to a range of topics relating to water management in a challenging future, including governing legal frameworks. The module considers the major political, economic, regulatory and policy issues facing water managers in two broadly conceived world regions: the Western capitalist world and the so-called "developing world". The module will include a series of lectures addressing these topics as well as invitations to attend relevant external events and presentations by visitors to the university.
  • Air Quality Management covers an introduction to air quality management from UK and European perspectives, focusing on pollutants of concern, their sources and health effects. You will also study ways of monitoring and modelling air pollution and the implications of air quality assessment in development control, as well as mitigation strategies through Air Quality Action Planning.
  • Introduction to Applied GIS introduces fundamental concepts related to GIS and its application, and develop the basic practical skills that are extended across the rest of the course. The module covers the history of GIS, issues about GIS and society, an introduction to spatial data formats and a technical introduction to ArcGIS
  • Work-Based Learning in Sustainability and Environmental Management builds on theories and concepts developed through directed independent study, the student's own research and from other modules on the Masters course through undertaking a modest but meaningful professional project for a host organisation.
  • Masters Project gives you the opportunity to investigate, tackle and report on a specific issue in current environmental management practice, with supervision from specialist subject tutors.

Please also note this structure is for the full-time course delivery only. For part-time delivery, the same modules will be studied. However, the structure will differ.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.

Learning and Teaching

The teaching and learning methods used across the course are designed to ensure you develop a range of valuable professional skills as well as subject expertise.

You learn collaboratively through practical sessions, small group tutorials and placements, and we encourage you to form independent study groups and support one another. This ensures you benefit from each other's experiences as well as the taught content.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

"The course has been incredible and the learning experience has been great (if busy at times), I love that the lecturers are experts in their field and take the time to encourage and engage in interesting discussions. Coming from a Zoology undergrad I was a little concerned about the subject area being overwhelming, but it's been brilliant, and support is there if you need extra clarification. I am so glad that I chose the course as it has opened up opportunities for me and helped me to explore career options and now I look forward to getting stuck in on the dissertation. So a massive thank you to you and the team!" Victoria, MSc Environmental Management

Assessment

We want you to realise your full potential. So we expect you to participate in debates and discussions, prepare professional reports and presentations, and write traditional academic essays. There is a strong emphasis on reflective learning, which will allow you to monitor, assess and evaluate your progress. There will be plenty of opportunities for feedback before your work is assessed more formally.

See our full glossary of assessment terms.

Features

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES), the education committee of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).

You can apply for free Student Membership and for a fast-track route to membership once you graduate, starting you on a route towards becoming a Chartered Environmentalist or Chartered Scientist.

This course is also accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).

Placements

This course offers opportunities for professional placements or work-based learning. We provide support for finding placements, but we expect you to be a proactive partner in finding and pursuing opportunities.

A good example of our industry links is the International Water Security Network, a global research network led by UWE Bristol and funded by Lloyd's Register Foundation.

Study facilities

We have a range of well-equipped laboratories, each with specialist technicians supporting teaching and research. Our audiovisual facilities provide resources for photography, digital imaging, filming and sound recording.

Frenchay Campus library is the largest in the south west, with a huge range of resources for background reading and research. The library operates various systems that offer access to its resources at any time suitable to you.

Our Study Skills pages provide information on online help, workshops and individual support. Also, for international students or any student who uses English as an additional language, there is information on our English language pages.

You are eligible to apply, if you:

  • have been accepted on a UWE Bristol course
  • have a valid UWE Bristol Welcome ID.

Watch our pre-sessional English Language film and hear students talk about the course and life in the UK.

Learn more about our facilities and resources.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Geography and Environmental Management facilities and see what's on offer here for you.

Life

Postgraduate support

Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

Environmental Management is a diverse field encompassing roles that seek to assess, evaluate and improve our impacts on the natural world. Environmental Management issues are high on many international political agendas. Indeed, given the existential threats of over-population, resource security and environmental pollution and climate change, the importance of professionals to help address these issues has never been greater. As a result, there is a global demand for highly-skilled environmental managers and our graduates have gone on to many varied and rewarding roles in consultancy, regulatory, NGOs, and the public, private and third sectors.

In addition to preparing you for an exciting career in a growing industry, your studies will also prepare you to pursue a PhD, if you choose.

Fees

Supplementary fee information

For information about funding for postgraduate courses see our funding pages.

Entry

Entry requirements

We normally require an honours degree of 2:2 or above. This course is generally suitable for graduates of degrees from any academic background, but particularly social sciences, sciences, environmental, geography and planning.

If you do not meet the above grade requirements but have at least 12 months relevant professional experience and/ or equivalent qualifications, we will consider you on an individual basis. You may also wish to give us a portfolio or sample of your professional output that you think is relevant; we may ask you to attend an interview.

Personal Statement

You are required to complete a personal statement for this course. Please read the personal statement guidance carefully and make sure that you answer the questions on the postgraduate application form within the personal statement tabs, keeping to the advised word count.

UWE Bristol's International College
International students who do not meet the academic or English language requirements to study this course can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.

English language support

If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.

Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.

Deferred entry

We are not able to offer deferrals for this programme. However, we appreciate there may be extenuating circumstances to consider and therefore we will consider requests on a case by case basis.

English Language Requirement

International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

*The University accepts a large number of UK and international qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section.

How to apply

Read more about postgraduate applications

Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.

For further information