Skip navigation
You are viewing our beta course page.

Environmental Science with a Year Abroad

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time with time abroad
  • 14/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site
Awarded by:
Queen Mary, University of London

Course summary

Interested in looking after our planet for future generations? From conserving biodiversity for sustainable development to tackling air pollution and flooding, you’ll be focused on finding solutions to the planet’s urgent problems.

Taught collaboratively alongside the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, you’ll have the unique opportunity to extend your interests in biology, ecology, and evolution. And you’ll apply your new knowledge to develop an understanding of the biological, physical, and chemical processes that drive change in the Earth’s system.

Surrounded by experts at every step
You’ll be driven to create a positive impact by our expert research-focused academics. Imagine being taught by leaders who’ve had research included in groundbreaking climate change reports, and others who’ve featured on BBC Panorama. Or how about being taught by academics who’ve worked inside government shaping UK climate policy?

After developing skills in our labs using our state-of-the-art instrumentation and modelling methods, you’ll have opportunities to apply your learnings during field trips. You could be exploring ecological interactions in Somerset. Or perhaps travelling to South Africa to study the savannah ecosystems.

All of this will prepare you for a range of careers. From contaminated land assessment to sustainable natural resource management, and conservation to geospatial analysis – where will this course take you?

Modules

Compulsory Modules
Year 1:
• Sustainable Transitions (Malta Fieldclass) *
• Ecology
• Evolution
• Earth Surface Science
• Exploring Physical Environments
• Introduction to Research Methods
Choose from
• Critical Geography: Environment and Society
• Planetary Emergencies: From Analysis to Action

For full details on all of our modules please go to the online module directory.

*Fieldwork module. Flights, shared accommodation, transport in Malta and meals will not cost you anything extra on this compulsory module. Students are responsible for securing their own visas, if required.

Assessment method

Modules are assessed through a combination of coursework and examination. Coursework may include extended essays, short reports, posters, oral presentations and group work.
Students must also complete a final-year independent study project of 10,000 words, based on an original study of their choice.

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
F851
Institution code:
Q50
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - ABB

Including at least one of the following A levels Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Psychology, Environmental Studies or Environmental Science. Excluded subjects - General Studies. Please note: You will also be expected to achieve a Pass grade in the practical endorsement for any of the following A levels - Biology, Chemistry, Physics - if taken with one of the Awarding Bodies in England.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Queen Mary University of London welcomes applications from students currently studying Level 3 BTEC qualifications and will consider you for entry to the majority of our undergraduate courses. The typical entry requirements will vary according to the course you are applying for. Some of our courses require specific subject knowledge which you may not be able to cover as part of a Level 3 BTEC qualification and we may therefore require additional Level 3 qualifications to ensure that you are suitably prepared for relevant courses. A small number of our courses do not accept BTEC qualifications for entry, either as a standalone qualification, or in combination with other qualifications at Level 3. Information on our typical entry requirements and guidance for applying can be found at http://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/btec/ If you are at all unsure about the acceptability of your BTEC qualification for entry, please contact the Admissions team for individual advice (admissions@qmul.ac.uk).

Access to HE Diploma - D: 15 credits M: 15 credits

We consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall, with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 15 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. Applications are considered on a case by case basis. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not make offers of study purely on the basis of meeting grade requirements.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points

6,5,5 in HL subjects, to include at least one of the following at HL Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Psychology, Environmental Studies or Environmental Science.

Extended Project

We consider applications from students offering an EPQ and may make an alternative offer to include three A levels, one grade lower than our usual requirement, along with a specific grade in the EPQ.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

A minimum of five GCSE passes to include English at grade C or 4 and Maths at grade C or 4 or an acceptable equivalent will be required.

English language requirements

All applicants to Queen Mary must show they meet a minimum academic English language standard for admission and to be successful on the course. Please refer to the website below for details on our English Language requirements by course and acceptable alternative qualifications. You will also find important information regarding UKVI's English requirements if you are applying as an international student and will require a Student Visa to enter the UK.

Queen Mary University of London: English Language Requirements https://www.qmul.ac.uk/international-students/englishlanguagerequirements/undergraduate-and-postgraduate-programmes/

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Our standard contextual offer: Grades BBC including at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Psychology, Environmental Studies or Environmental Science at A-Level.

Our enhanced contextual offer: Grades BCC including at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Psychology, Environmental Studies or Environmental Science at A-Level.

General Studies and Critical Thinking excluded.

Learn more on the Queen Mary University of London website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Scotland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please visit and search for your chosen course on our A-Z course finder at http://search.qmul.ac.uk/s/search.html?collection=queenmary-coursefinder-undergraduate&query=&sort=title - here you will find further details on fees and funding.
Please also visit our A-Z course finder to view the amount of fee you would need to pay if you are an International fee paying student.

Like this page