Environmental Management and Ecology

Hertfordshire’s BSc Environmental degree has been in existence for nearly 50 years and our graduates are to be found working in many prestigious institutions including the United Nations, the British Museum, Mott McDonald, Lloyds of London, water companies, environment agencies and wildlife groups.

Our friendly programme offers an applied approach to studying Environmental Management and Ecology and we provide some of the best facilities in the UK for students interested in wildlife and conservation with our Bayfordbury campus and field station. Bayfordbury covers over 40 hectares of amenity grassland, semi-natural woodlands (secondary and ancient), grasslands, ponds, a lake, scrubland and hedgerows.
Current student projects include working with wildlife cameras (badger sets and hedgehogs); bat sound recording; bee health and pollen work with our apiary; moth trapping, using fish in an aquaponic setting to grow food; new invasive species such as demon shrimp; floral surveys; river restoration projects; small mammal and amphibian and reptile surveys. There are opportunities to develop the survey skills required by wildlife and conservation organisations and we work closely with both county and national experts in conservation.

Following a common first year of interdisciplinary modules that tackle broad issues, we offer a range of more specialist modules in the second and final years along with opportunities to work with specialists on field projects. You can opt to study the course over 4 years by including a sandwich placement or a year studying at one of our many overseas partners.

Our Environmental managers and ecologists are dedicated and personable, and we treasure our informal, ‘family’ reputation and sense of community. Our staff know our students, and our regular small-group tutorials in first and second years set us apart from many larger departments.

Why choose Hertfordshire?
• Our Environmental Management and Ecology degree is accredited and recognised by professional bodies such as the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES)
• We've achieved the top Gold ranking in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2018
• We emphasise fieldwork learning and practical application of knowledge, supported by our own specialist environmental field station, dedicated laboratories. Inspiring first and second-year field courses in the UK and Swiss Alps free of charge, and further field courses to a range of exciting overseas destinations.
• High student satisfaction, excellent student-to-staff ratios, and a strong study community
• In addition to Bayfordbury we enjoy a beautiful, leafy campus and excellent facilities, less than 30 minutes from London
• Cutting-edge £50 million Science Building and outstanding learning resources, computing and online library facilities
• Regular opportunities for students to assist staff with research and to undertake fieldwork in pursuit of final year dissertations. Opportunities to work towards obtaining wildlife licenses.
• Working with employers in Hertfordshire to address pressing environmental challenges, helping them save energy, reduce waste and put effective strategies in place to manage their environmental impact.