MSc Environmental Consultancy

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

The course is flexible and therefore suitable for part time and full time students. You will select two optional modules, complete a three-month placement and undertake a dissertation. The key taught areas include business skills for environmental management, environmental assessment and options in renewable energy, carbon management, air quality, water management and law, and GIS.

You will study:

• Environmental Business Skills covers the key topics and skills needed for successful environmental consultancy practice management.
• 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.
• Professional Practice in Environmental Sciences gives you the opportunity to complete at least 48 days of work/based learning in a placement at an environmental consultancy setting. This will give you an insight into the responsibilities of the profession and offer a real-world context to your learning.
• Dissertation (research project) - you will investigate, tackle and report on a specific issue in current environmental consultancy practice, with supervision from specialist subject tutors.

Plus, two optional modules from the list below, the nature and content of which is in line with current and future trends in environmental consultancy:

• 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.
• 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 programme. The module covers the history of GIS, issues about GIS and society, an introduction to spatial data formats and a technical introduction to ArcGIS
• 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. 

Throughout the course, we review future projections in the environmental consultancy sector, take advice from the course's Steering Committee, and reference the Environmental Data Service's annual survey.

You will normally start your research project or dissertation alongside or following the professional practice element of the course. You may base the research project or dissertation on a problem identified through your placement.

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 across the course are designed to ensure you develop a range of valuable professional skills as well as subject expertise.

The learning approach is one of collaborative learning, where you will learn during traditional lectures as well as through practical sessions, small group tutorials and field trips.

See our full glossary of teaching and learning terms.

Study time

Full time

One year, starting in September. Full-time students normally begin the academic year with a three-month coursework block followed by a three-month professional practice placement, before finishing with a research project.

Part time

Up to three years, starting in September. The course is structured to allow a flexible approach to study for those with personal and professional commitments.

Part-time students can take modules in an order that suits their circumstances. As already mentioned, the research project can be based on a problem in your workplace. This is particularly attractive to employers sponsoring your studies.

Assessment

We assess through coursework, project work and group work. You may also be assessed through viva voce.

See our full glossary of assessment terms.