Please note there are no vacancies on this course for September 2024
Page last updated 23 September 2024
Make a difference in the world. Learn about environmental systems, the human impacts on them and how to manage those interactions sustainably - and gain a strong grounding for an environmentally-focused career.
Environmental challenges, such as climate change and plastic waste, are big on the global agenda.
What's more, the urgency surrounding these issues means that there is now a growing need for competent, qualified environmental managers.
As government bodies, organisations and communities place an increased focus on sustainability, your skills will stand you in good stead for many environmentally-focused careers.
The BSc(Hons) Environmental Management will appeal to you if you're passionate about the environment and want to make a difference in the world.
You'll study the core environmental challenges affecting the world today, such as the impacts arising from climate change, rapid urbanisation and insecurities surrounding water, waste management and energy.
Explore the often-competing demands placed on global environments and trace the growth of environmentalism and green politics.
Learn about wide-ranging interventions, including policy and legislation, including those designed to make business and development activity more sustainable.
Unpick the science that lies behind key environmental challenges, and identify the stakeholders, tools and techniques needed for brokering and delivering positive, lasting change.
Bristol has a reputation as a global leader in sustainability and place leadership. Studying this course in Bristol has particular appeal, with the city working towards the One City Climate Strategy (2019-23).
Drawing on our strong links with employers, you'll benefit from placements, live project briefs, site visits and guest lectures throughout.
There's also a focus on the emerging discipline of environmental psychology, which means you'll look closely at how peoples' attitudes, relationships and behaviour can help, or act to frustrate, environmental action.
Building strong skills in research, data analysis, geographical information systems, project management, presentations and report writing, you'll leave in a confident position to pursue your career.
With skills well suited to many positions within the environmental sector, you could also go onto work with charities, NGOs or local government, or pursue sustainability or energy management-type positions.
For those keen to take their studies further, postgraduate study is another option, such as our MSc Environmental Management or MSc Sustainable Development in Practice.
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
You'll study:
All pathways
You'll study:
All Pathways
Biodiversity Pathway
Climate Change Pathway
Rivers and Coasts Pathway
Sustainability Pathway
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 also complete a placement learning module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
You'll study:
All Pathways
Plus:
*If you complete the placement year you won't study these modules.
Biodiversity Pathway
Climate Change Pathway
Rivers and Coasts Pathway
Sustainability Pathway
One of the following optional modules:
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.
With experiential learning and problem-solving at its core, the course includes plenty of interactive sessions, practical content and exercises built into the modules.
Gain essential knowledge and skills for working in the environmental field, such as:
Study the relationship between people and the environment, and consider the human factors involved in environmental management strategies.
Learn to use a wide variety of research, management and assessment tools, including those designed to make business and development activity more sustainable.
Connect with internal and external experts and future employers, engage with the department's research centres and go on field trips to link your learning to real life experiences.
As well as networking events and live client briefs, you'll study professional development modules to build your knowledge and skills, and engage with future employers.
Peer support and learning is encouraged and you'll have many opportunities to link up with your cohort, to build a strong team spirit.
Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:
| Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent study | Placement study |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24% | 76% | 0% |
| 2 | 29% | 71% | 0% |
| 3 | 27% | 73% | 8% |
*calculated from compulsory and option module choices (where applicable) each year.
You'll spend at least 12 hours in scheduled contact time a week, as well as time with your personal tutor.
The Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme is also available, offering you extra support from students in the year above.
We want you to build, and be able to, showcase a wide range of skills, so we use varied assessments, including blogs, podcasts, reports, presentations and working on real-life environmental, case-based problems.
Much of the work has an applied focus, so you will be working on the kind of tasks demanded of you in practice.
Learn more about assessments.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
| Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10% | 74% | 16% |
| 2 | 0% | 68% | 32% |
| 3 | 7% | 49% | 44% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.
This course is accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).
Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought after graduate.
If you choose the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study abroad placement after year two.
We also offer summer internships through our many links with Bristol's well-established environmental sector.
You'll get help to find your placement and support throughout from department staff and our award-winning careers service.
Field trips are an important part of this course and you'll go on two residential trips one in the UK in year one, and another in Europe in year two.
The trips offer a fantastic opportunity to understand the nature of environmental challenges in different locations, and to see first hand the mitigation and management tools applied in response to them.
We have world-class teaching rooms, labs and computer facilities, and computer-based resources to support your learning. You'll have access to computer rooms that run a range of professional industry-standard software, supported by large-format printers and scanners, and a team of expert and friendly technical support staff who can provide specific help if needed.
The Department of Geography and Environmental Management has access to four specialist laboratories: Earth sciences; Environmental change; Surveying technology; and Spatial analysis. Each laboratory contains modern equipment and facilities allowing our students to test water quality and soil mechanics, investigate historic environments, carry out level surveys and much more.
Frenchay Campus library is the largest in the south west and is open 24 hours a day, as are many of our computer labs.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Geography and Environmental Management facilities and see what's on offer here for you.
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
We provide support in the way you need it.
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
As a graduate of this course, your skills will be particularly well suited to working in environmental consultancy.
You will also be in a strong position to work with charities, NGOs or local government, or to pursue sustainability or energy management-type roles.
You could opt to take your studies further with apostgraduate course, such as our MSc Environmental Management or MSc Sustainable Development in Practice.
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on.
Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee.
These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 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. Please visit our English language requirements page.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our pre-sessional English Programme.
Read more about entry requirements.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.