Environmental Science (Taught)

The MSc in Environmental Science equips students from diverse scientific backgrounds with the practical and theoretical skills needed to tackle the biggest environmental challenges of our time. The degree includes training in analytical sciences and data analysis, modelling techniques, remediation practices, and reconstruction of biogeochemical processes from the atmosphere to soils, rivers and oceans.

The course includes a capstone field-based exercise in to a globally recognised environmental disaster site, such as Rio Tinto, Spain, and concludes with a dissertation centred around an independent environmental impact assessment project. The course is suitable for motivated graduates with a background in biology, chemistry, physics or natural sciences such as geology, environmental science or geography who seek employment in the professional environmental sector or research opportunities at PhD level.

Highlights

• Field excursion to a real-world site of extensive pollution (currently planned to be in Rio Tinto, Spain).

• Dissertation project centred around an environmental impact assessment.

• Training in industry-standard software packages, including GIS, R, Python, Geochemist’s Workbench, PHREEQC.

• Year-long training in field skills and sample analyses.

• Preparation for employment in the private or public sector.

• Small class sizes with frequent inperson interaction with your lecturers.

For further information please see the Course Details section: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/earth-environmental-sciences/environmental-science-msc/

The MSc degree requires two semesters of full-time (or four semesters part-time) coursework, normally equivalent to a total of nine taught modules, and a 10,000-word dissertation, usually completed over the summer semester.

The assessment for the taught modules is based on coursework and written examinations.