Environmental Management with Professional Placement

BSc Environmental Management with Professional Placement is a four-year degree that explores the Earth’s natural resources, how human societies interact with them, and how they can be managed sustainably.

Understanding both scientific principles and policy frameworks is essential to tackling global environmental challenges, including the climate and biodiversity crises and sustainable development.

This course has a strong focus on practical and applied skills. You will study environmental processes and their management through a combination of small-group, classroom-based learning and fieldwork.

Professional Placement Year

Your third year will normally be spent working in the environmental sector on a paid placement lasting 9–12 months. This is an opportunity to gain real-world experience and apply your learning in practice. You could work:

• for an environmental consultancy in the private sector

• for local government in the public sector

• for an environmental charity in the third sector

What You’ll Gain

By the time you graduate, you will have:

• an advanced understanding of environmental systems and processes

• knowledge of the policies and practices involved in their management

• insight into the challenges and opportunities of addressing environmental issues at global, national and local levels

You will be prepared for careers across a range of sectors, including private, public and charitable organisations.

Skills You Will Develop

You will gain practice-based skills that enhance your employability, including:

• measuring environmental impacts in the field

• conducting ecological surveys

• applying contemporary approaches to biodiversity enhancement

• undertaking environmental impact assessments (EIA)

• using digital tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

You will also acquire transferable skills such as:

• project management

• presenting complex information in different formats and styles

• professional report writing

• effective team-working

Why Manchester?

Manchester is an ideal place to study environmental management. As a major UK city undergoing rapid urban change, it offers real-world examples of balancing development pressures with environmental impacts.

The city is also perfectly located for exploring a variety of rural environments. Within easy reach are:

• three spectacular National Parks

• areas of intensive and sustainable agriculture

• impressive coastlines

We are part of a Living Lab, which harnesses the power of students to create change through applied research with external organisations on campus, in Manchester and beyond.

The city and its surrounding environments are key resources for field teaching throughout your degree.

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2027/12662/bsc-environmental-management-with-professional-placement/

We place strong emphasis on coursework and continuous assessment.

Coursework takes a variety of forms - from essays and reports, to posters, oral presentations, and project demonstrations (sometimes to practising professionals).

We also incorporate lots of opportunities for feedback on non-assessed work so that you can be confident about your progress.

Your professional placement year will be assessed on completion, through a reflective report about your experiences and the implications of the placement on your desired career trajectory and overall employability.

Your dissertation, which takes place in the third year, will draw together the different strands of the course and allow you to study a subject that really interests you.

You will work with an individual supervisor to conceive, plan, execute and write up an independent and novel piece of research.