Outdoor Adventure and Environmental Studies

Harness your passion for the outdoors to learn the environmental, societal and therapeutic benefits of nature and the environment.

Nestled in a UNESCO World Heritage site, our Ambleside Campus, located in the scenic Lake District, provides an unparalleled environment for studying biodiversity and immersing yourself in nature. Here, surrounded by therapeutic landscapes, you'll develop the skills needed for a fulfilling career in the great outdoors, using local fells, valleys and waters as your classroom.

Utilise the stores, where a plethora of equipment stands ready for your exploration. From climbing equipment to kayaks, where once validated you will be able to loan the equipment, ensuring an enriched experience in the stunning Lake District, and propelling your studies to new heights.

You will learn from academics with a passion for the environment and adventure, they will offer personalised support to guide you through your academic journey and ensure you make the most from your time in Ambleside.

Course Overview
Where better to study Outdoor Adventure and Environmental Studies than at the heart of nature itself? As a student at our Ambleside campus, you'll be surrounded by mountains, woodlands, rivers and lakes – making for a truly immersive learning experience.

Our course blends adventurous outdoor lifestyles with social and environmental awareness, tackling the ecological and cultural challenges of our time. You'll develop practical outdoor skills while investigating the environmental, ecological, and geographical processes that shape natural landscapes.

You’ll also explore how outdoor experiences can support health and wellbeing, with opportunities to engage in work-based projects in both outdoor and environmental settings. Field trips across the UK are a core part of the course, and you’ll have the chance to travel independently to Picos de Europa in Spain, gaining valuable international experience.

This immersive approach to learning prepares you for a variety of careers in environmental education, conservation, environmental management, or therapeutic outdoor practice.

On this course you will...

• Learn outdoors experientially to develop outdoor skills and explore contemporary environmental questions.

• Work with and for different outdoor and environmental organisations to gain hands-on experience and contacts with potential future employers.

• Explore how the outdoors has heath and wellbeing benefits and therapeutic applications.

• Learn in inspiring locations like the Lake District National Park, North Wales, Scotland, British coastline, and Spain (including a shared international expedition with Spanish students).

• Meet some of the most inspiring people and students, and have unique once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

What you will learn

In the context of this degree, environment has a broad meaning, for example: built, outdoor, indoor, ecological, geological, geographical, social, political, and historical as well as perceived, individual and emotional.

This programme immerses you in outdoor experiences as a vehicle to develop outdoor skills, environmental knowledge, contemporary and creative practice, communication and facilitation skills (working with people), personal ethics, and values. You will gain an understanding of not just the environment, but wider practices and management styles that occur within the UK and the wider world.

You will explore how people, places, and environments interact and develop curiosity, ideas, and a lifelong passion for learning. Our degree is a way of life that fully immerses you in outdoor learning, both theory and practice.

Year One

• Ecological Knowledge, Interactions and Change

• Outdoor Adventure Skills and Learning (Water)

• Exploring Lake District Landscapes

• Living and Working in Groups Outdoors

• Outdoor Professional Development

• The Earth System

Year Two

• Habitats and Ecosystem

• Outdoor Living Learning and Adventure

• European Mountains: Ecology, Culture and Tourism (domestic travel when restricted by Covid regulations)

• Health and Wellbeing and Environmental Health

• Research Design

• Catchments: Summit to Sea (Optional)

• Traditional and Innovative Approaches to Outdoor Education (Optional)

• Exploring Coastal Environments (Optional)

Year Three

• Dissertation

• Contemporary Global Conservation

• Adventure and Environmental Ethics

• Cold Environments (The Cryosphere) (Optional)

• Outdoor and Environmental Education (Optional)

• Therapeutic Opportunities (Optional)

Assessments will take place throughout each year to support the development of academic and employability skills.

Key areas such as literacy, numeracy, communication, presentation, critical thinking, problem-solving, and solutions are developed as part of the assessment package. The assessment briefs are written so the student can make choices and individualise the context, knowledge and skills they need to develop.

Assessments are an opportunity to demonstrate your learning, creativity and critical perspectives. Your assessment load will be spread throughout the year to avoid “bunching” of submission deadlines. The students’ journey through the assessments will be facilitated and appraised by their personal tutor.