Environmental Science BSc (Hons)
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UCAS Code: F750|Duration: 3 years|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Accredited|Work placement opportunities|International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
If you're passionate about tackling climate change, protecting wildlife and creating a more sustainable future, our Environmental Science degree gives you the knowledge, practical experience and industry skills to make a real impact.
You'll explore the science behind today's biggest environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, habitat conservation, renewable resources, pollution and environmental management. Through fieldwork, laboratory sessions and hands-on projects, you'll develop practical skills in ecological surveys, habitat assessment, recording animal behaviour and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), highly valued by employers across the environmental sector.
You'll study in inspiring landscapes across the Northwest, including the Sefton Coast, the surrounding uplands, with opportunities for residential and international fieldwork including the University's field centre in Snowdonia. During your degree, you'll also complete experiential learning through work-based projects, fieldwork or laboratory activities, helping you apply your knowledge to find solutions to current environmental issues.
Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), this Environmental Science course combines environmental geoscience, ecology and sustainability to prepare you for a career protecting people, places and the planet. Whether you're interested in conservation, environmental consultancy or sustainable development, you'll graduate ready to help shape a more sustainable future.
Course structure
Fieldwork and practical laboratory sessions are a significant part of this degree. Fieldwork destinations include local and regional sites of national and international conservation importance along with opportunities for international field trips. The course makes use of the university’s own field centre, Plas Caerdeon, set within Snowdonia National Park on the banks of the beautiful Mawddach estuary and overlooking Cader Idris National Nature Reserve.
Fieldwork and practical sessions provide opportunities for you to engage with contemporary issues and improve employability through skill development, including the ability to use geographical information systems (GIS). Lectures teach the theories and concepts associated with Biogeography. Seminars are student-led sessions taught in smaller groups of around 20-25 students, while tutorials are tutor-led and typically have no more than 10 students. There are weekly opportunities to have one-to-one meetings with your tutors.
Teaching on this degree is structured into lectures, where all students are taught together, seminars of smaller groups of around 20-25 students, and tutorials which typically have no more than 10 students. There are also a number of fieldtrips each year, as well as the opportunity to have a one-to-one meeting with your tutor each week.
In your first year there are approximately 12 teaching hours each week, which changes to approximately 10 teaching hours in your second and third years as students grow in competence to conduct independent but supported study. In addition to these teaching hours, you are also expected to spend time studying independently each week, as well as engaging in group study to prepare for some group assessments.
During your second year you will undertake a block of ‘experiential learning’. This is a block of independent learning that is practical in nature, the form of which you negotiate and agree with a supervising tutor. It can take the form of work-based learning, fieldwork or laboratory activities. It may be undertaken within the university or working with an external client such as an environmental consultancy, a planning authority or a non-governmental organisation
Accreditation
Our BSc Environmental Science degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. If you successfully complete this accredited degree you are eligible for graduate membership of CIEEM and use the letters Grad CIEEM after your name. Visit the CIEEM website for further details.
Assessment and feedback
Throughout your three years of study, you will be assessed in a number of ways, including written exams, coursework (consisting of both essays and reports), portfolios, a literature review, academic posters, and presentations. In your final year you will also complete a dissertation.
You will be given written feedback on your assessments, and you will have the opportunity to discuss this with your tutor in more detail.
Year One
Global Governance and World Regions
This module explores the interconnected nature of our world and examines how decisions made at local, national, and international levels influence global governance and shape opportunities and it is constructed in two sections. One section focuses on globalization, governance, citizenship, and sustainable development, with particular attention to climate policy and tourism. The other section emphasis shifts to Understanding the World—analysing different regions, including Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. Students will explore how the environment, geography, tourism, and culture intersect, and how global policies are experienced in diverse regional contexts.
Academic and Professional Skills
This module is designed to equip students with the skills needed to succeed at university and beyond. It builds confidence in academic reading, writing, and research, while providing practical tools such as data analysis and mapping, and guidance on the responsible use of AI. The module also strengthens time management, teamwork, and presentation skills, while encouraging students to explore career pathways and plan their future goals.
Earth and Ecological Systems
This interdisciplinary module provides a framework for exploring the natural systems and processes that shape a complex and dynamic Earth. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of the major Earth spheres—lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere—through flows of mass and energy, illustrated by examples such as the rock cycle and ecological systems. The first part of the module introduces geological processes and products, while the second part focuses on ecosystems and ecological processes. A strong emphasis is placed on the practical investigation of selected Earth materials (including minerals, rocks, and sediments) and biota (plants and animals).
Global Challenges
This module explores the major environmental and societal challenges of the 21st century, encouraging students to approach global issues from multiple perspectives and providing a strong foundation for future studies. Students investigate key environmental issues—including food production, land use, pollution, water resources, and sustainable energy—through case studies, interactive activities, and group discussions. The module also examines social and governance perspectives, focusing on vulnerability, resilience, activism, environmental justice, gender, Indigenous knowledge, digital inequality, and climate migration. Through debates, mapping exercises, and major assessments, students develop critical thinking skills and learn to integrate environmental and social insights in order to design sustainable and equitable solutions.
Year Two
Principles of Ecology
You will develop your understanding of the underlying theories and principles of Ecology such as sustainability, biosphere cycles, natural resources, evolution and distribution of organisms (including abiotic/biotic dimensions).
Habitat Management
You will explore habitat management practice with the aim to conserve, protect and restore natural and semi-natural habitats. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of species action plans (SAPs).
Biodiversity Conservation
You will develop an in-depth and critical understanding of the value, importance and urgency of protecting species and their habitats from key threats including extinction.
Environmental Policy, Planning and Management
An exploration of, for example, legislation; policy; planning; environmental impacts and management.
Landscape Assessment
An exploration of applied dimensions of environmental geoscience through landscape assessment (eg. Landscape Character Assessment).
Geospatial Data Analysis and GIS
An exploration of geospatial data analysis/GIS that includes practical applications.
‘Experiential Learning Block’
An applied project based study block that can be undertaken as one of several formats e.g. fieldwork based (residential and/or non-residential); problem-based task; work placement related; or a block of work-based learning.
Fieldwork (residential and/or non-residential)
Year Three
Applied Ecology
Advanced studies of ecology through investigations of specific examples of applied ecological practice. This may cover, for example, ecological legislation, policy and guidance; ecological fieldwork methodologies and techniques; and, advanced approaches to the analysis and interpretation of ecological data.
Current Research and Practice in Ecology and Conservation
An exploration of the current knowledge, research and practice in ecology and/or conservation, for example, current research in conservation biology, terrestrial coastal ecology and palaeoecology.
Sustainable Futures
A consideration and evaluation of themes and debates surrounding the human-environment nexus, for example, sustainability; sustainable development; environmental resource management; climate change; and the Anthropocene.
Environmental Change
A consideration and evaluation of environmental change throughout Earth history. A key focus will be on environmental change in the Quaternary.
International Fieldwork
You will undertake fieldwork internationally. Past countries have included Malta. Following a brief introduction to the international fieldwork destination, this will comprise the design and execution of individual project-based fieldwork involving data collection relating to a negotiated topic of relevance to the destination.
Honours Project (dissertation)
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BBC |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 112 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications.
Find out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth, by using the Tariff calculator. |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access to HE | 112 Tariff Points |
| IB | 26 points |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 112 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| T-Levels | Merit |
| Subject Requirements | No specific subject requirements |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (with reading and writing at 6.0) and no individual score lower than 5.5. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page. |
Careers
An Environmental Science degree opens the door to careers tackling some of the world's biggest environmental challenges. Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), the course gives you the practical, technical and professional skills employers are looking for across the growing environmental sector.
Graduates work in environmental consultancy, sustainability, conservation, renewable energy, environmental management and the public sector. Career opportunities include Environmental or Sustainability Consultant, Nature Conservation Officer, Environmental Manager, Environmental Education Officer, Waste and Recycling Officer, GIS and Data Analyst, and roles within organisations such as local authorities, the Environment Agency, DEFRA and Natural England.
Throughout your degree you'll build experience through fieldwork, GIS, ecological surveying and experiential learning, helping you graduate with real-world skills alongside your academic knowledge.
Many of our graduates have gone on to secure roles with leading employers including Buro Happold, Ayesa Engineering and the NHS, while others continue their studies on our professionally accredited MSc Ecology and Environmental Management.or other postgraduate programmes in environmental science, sustainability and conservation. Whether you choose employment or further study, you'll graduate prepared to make a positive difference to the future of our environment.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
During your second year you will undertake a block of ‘experiential learning’. This is a block of independent learning that is practical in nature, the form of which you negotiate and agree with a supervising tutor. It can take the form of work-based learning, fieldwork or laboratory activities. It may be undertaken within the university or working with an external client such as an environmental consultancy, a Wildlife Trust or a planning authority.
In your final year, your Honours Project can be completed through a work placement. This placement enables you to gain relevant biogeographical work experience so that you can apply your environmental and geographical knowledge and experiences into a work setting. Please note that you must organise this work placement yourself.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are £9,790 for full-time undergraduate courses.*
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,790.
The tuition fees for the 2027/28 academic year will be £10,050 for full-time undergraduate courses.*
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £10,050
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Home students (UK)
*Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Additional costs
As well as your tuition fees, you need to consider the costs associated with compulsory and optional residential and other fieldwork trips. Cost depends on the nature of the fieldwork or location, but we estimate you will need around £400. You also need to budget for key textbooks (£200) and around £100 for fieldwork equipment such as boots and a waterproof coat.
There is a small cost for Student CIEEM membership, and once you graduate, there is a registration fee and annual fee thereafter for Graduate Membership – full details of costs can be found on the CIEEM website.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2026/27 are £15,225.
The International Tuition fees for 2027/28 are £16,000
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course Enquiry
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