Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Year one
You'll study:
- Life on Earth
- The Earth
- Field Skills (includes residential field trip, where possible)
- Environment and Society.
Year two
You'll study:
- Environmental and Field Techniques (includes residential field trip, where possible).
Plus, optional modules from (the number depending on credit requirements):
- Earth Science
- Environmental Impacts and Mitigation
- Atmosphere and Climate
- Ecology and Ecosystem Protection
- Hydrology to Oceanography
- Plant Growth and Survival
- The Microbial World.
Placement year (if applicable)
If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two.
You'll complete a placement learning module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
Final year
You'll study:
- Research Dissertation Project
- Energy, Carbon and Climate
- Sustainable Futures
Plus, optional modules from (the number depending on credit requirements):
- Tropical Expedition
- Environmental and Ecological Consultancy
- Marine Ecosystems (including field trip)
- Environmental Forensics
- Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- Global Forest Systems
- Science Communication
- Professional Practice in Applied Sciences
- Sustainable Food Production
- Environmental Microbiology.
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'll inform you.
This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.
"The focus on employability skills on my course helped me to feel prepared to work in the field after graduating. I had the opportunity to complete regular field experiences and residential trips, plus the contacts I gained enabled me to complete three placements." Molly, Environmental Science graduate.
Learning and Teaching
Get a strong grounding in each topic in lectures, seminars and tutorials. Then enrich and deepen your understanding through laboratory workshops, fieldwork exercises and case studies.
Learn about everything from geology to climate science. Study the problems and solutions linked to our changing environment. Develop the science communication skills to help you stand out from other environmental graduates.
Learn in diverse environments with regular fieldwork and residential field trips (where possible).
Benefit from teaching linked with world-class environmental research.
You'll learn from field leaders, working in areas such as the conservation of bird's nest ferns in rainforests, the decontamination of water in Third World countries and the use of plants to measure radiation levels.
Carry out your own research project, working with an academic supervisor in your chosen area of interest.
Identify and develop the skills you'll need for your ideal career.
Receive one-to-one guidance and feedback from our team of environmental science specialists.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Assessment
We'll assess your work using a mix of coursework and exams including unseen, open-book and practical exams, essays, practical reports, individual and group projects, oral and visual presentations, case-study analysis, taxonomic collections and problem-solving exercises.
We use different types of assessment to reflect the range of theoretical concepts, knowledge and practical skills we cover on the course.
Learn more about assessments.