Environmental Science

Want a career that changes the world? Environmental Science puts you on the front line of the planet’s biggest challenges, from climate change and pollution to biodiversity loss and the race for clean energy, food, and water.

The environmental consultancy market is booming. The UK environmental consulting market size is expected to reach £2.92 billion ($3.9 billion) by 2033 (IMARC Group).

Develop skills employers want

Our environmental science degree equips you with analytical, field and laboratory skills needed to tackle environmental challenges.

• Learn about the complex interactions between people and the environment.

• Explore the science behind the global geological, physical, chemical and biological processes that shape our natural environment.

• Learn computational skills such as programming in R, data management, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing.

• Gain practical skills to prepare you for laboratory and field-based careers.

• Get specialist training in environmental policy and management. Utilise the methods and applications in environmental science.

Gain an environmental science specialism

In years 3 and 4 you can opt to specialise in one of these areas:

• Environmental Science with Ecology and Biodiversity

• Environmental Science with Sustainable Environmental Management

• Environmental Science with Climate Change and Environmental Monitoring

Extensive hands-on fieldwork training

Our degree in environmental science gives you lots of opportunities to get practical experience.

We regularly use the wide range of habitants on our biodiverse campus. We also go to locations close to campus to investigate various species. Skills you'll gain include:

• environmental monitoring,

• fauna and flora identification,

• plant identification,

• landscape history and management.

The course also offers the choice of two residential field trips:

• A 10-day field course to South Africa to develop your field research skills. You'll explore different physical and environmental processes and ecosystem functioning. You’ll also learn about managing international landscapes.

• A 7-day residential experience in the Scottish Highlands. It’s a unique opportunity to study geological, geomorphological and environmental processes at work.

Travel, accommodation, and subsistence on residential field courses are not included in the course fees.

We know that residential field courses can be difficult for some students to attend. They can also have an environmental impact. To widen participation and reduce this impact, we offer non-residential field-based modules. This focuses on day trips around the University.

Get industry experience

You can take an optional conservation placement module. You’ll get practical experience with an organisation such as environmental charities, government agencies and industry partners. Previous students have completed placements with:

• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

• Highland Wildlife Park

• Butterfly Conservation

• Bumblebee Conservation Trust

• Scottish Water

• Bat Conservation Trust

• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

• Water of Leith Conservation Trust

• The Conservation Volunteers

• Forest Research

Accredited course

Our environmental science course is accredited by the Community for Environmental Disciplines in Higher Education (CEDHE). They are the education committee of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). University of Stirling environmental science students can join the IES with a free student membership. This is a first step towards chartered status.

https://www.stir.ac.uk/courses/ug/environmental-science-bsc/#panel_1_3

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Environmental Sciences, Institute of