Course contact details
Student Recruitment & Admissions
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Email:futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
Phone:0131 650 1000
The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Old College
South Bridge
Edinburgh
EH8 9YL
Environmental Geoscience
- BSc (Hons)
- 4 Years
- Full-time
- 14 September 2026
- Undergraduate
- Central area campus
Course summary
Earth's environmental conditions are approaching a critical state.
We are facing issues such as:
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global climate change
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deoxygenation and acidification of our oceans
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pollution in various environments
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environmental degradation
If you want to learn more, and help solve these challenges, this degree is for you.
What is environmental geoscience?
Environmental geoscience helps you understand the factors that affect Earth's environmental conditions.
Environmental geoscientists play a valuable role in assessing environmental challenges from local to global scales. This expertise is important in the framework of a sustainable environment.
With our BSc Environmental Geoscience degree, you will:
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explore the conditions of Earth's past so you can protect its future
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evaluate the risks related to global environmental issues
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use your knowledge in discussions on environmental challenges
This degree also offers you flexibility in your studies. You can build your degree around topics you are interested in. Our staff can also help you design an interdisciplinary curriculum, where you can choose option courses from other subjects.
Programme benefits
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Learn from one of the UK's largest and most successful groups of geographers, and Earth and environmental scientists.
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Be taught by leading national and international Earth scientists across a range of fields.
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Study a degree that has real-world relevance and enhances your employability.
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Gain valuable networking and potential employment opportunities through our connections. You can meet and interact with professionals from different sectors, and work with practitioners and industry experts to gain valuable experience during your studies.
How to apply
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
- EU has vacancies
- Wales does not have vacancies
- England does not have vacancies
- International has vacancies
- Scotland does not have vacancies
- Northern Ireland does not have vacancies
- Republic of Ireland does not have vacancies
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:
- F630
- Institution code:
- E56
- Campus name:
- Central area campus
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
UCAS TariffNot accepted
A levelAAA - ABB
AAA - ABB. These grades should be achieved in one set of exams. Required subjects: A levels: two from Biology* at B; Chemistry* at B; Environmental Science at B; Geography at B; Geology at B; Mathematics* at B; Physics* at B. *include at least one of these subjects GCSEs: English at C or 4; Mathematics at A or 7. We accept combinations of Mathematics and Physics, both at B, or Mathematics, Science and Additional Science, all at B, in place of Mathematics at A.
Scottish HigherABBB
ABBB by end of S5 or AABB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: two from Biology* at B; Chemistry* at B; Environmental Science at B; Geography at B; Mathematics* at B; Physics* at B. *include at least one of these subjects
Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. National 5s: English at C; Mathematics at A. We accept combinations of Mathematics and Physics, both at B, in place of Mathematics at A.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme34 - 32 points
from 34 points with 666 at HL to 32 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: two from Biology at 5; Chemistry at 5; Geography at 5; Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 5; Physics at 5. SL: English at 5; Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 5 (if not at HL).
Direct entry to second year is available; see our website for entry requirements. We normally make offers to the highest qualified applicants. If competition for places is high this may mean that offers will only be made to applicants who are predicted, or who have achieved, above the single set of grades or the upper grade level in a range. Any conditional offer made may require you to achieve grades above the upper grade level. Therefore, achieving the top of our standard entry requirements does not guarantee a place on the relevant degree.
Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply. You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference.
Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
UCAS Tariff Not accepted
A level ABB
ABB. Required subjects: A levels: two from Biology* at B; Chemistry* at B; Environmental Science at B; Geography at B; Geology at B; Mathematics* at B; Physics* at B. *include at least one of these subjects GCSEs: English at C or 4; Mathematics at A or 7. We accept combinations of Mathematics and Physics, both at B, or Mathematics, Science and Additional Science, all at B, in place of Mathematics at A.
Scottish Higher ABBB
ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: two from Biology* at B; Chemistry* at B; Environmental Science at B; Geography at B; Mathematics* at B; Physics* at B. *include at least one of these subjects
Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. National 5s: English at C; Mathematics at A. We accept combinations of Mathematics and Physics, both at B, in place of Mathematics at A.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme 32 points
32 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: two from Biology at 5; Chemistry at 5; Geography at 5; Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 5; Physics at 5. SL: English at 5; Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 5 (if not at HL).
Find out more about minimum qualification requirements for this course.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 92 | total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | total 176 with at least 162 in each component. | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | total 176 with at least 162 in each component. | |
| Trinity ISE | ISE II with distinctions in all four components. |
You must prove that you can read, write, listen and speak in the English language at a level that will allow you to succeed in your studies. This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals. You can meet our English language requirements with qualifications from school or an English language test. We accept any of the following, at the specified grade or higher: SQA National 5: English at C;
GCSE: English at C or 4; Level 2 Certificate: English at C; International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level: English at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry). Before you apply, check the required subjects for this programme, as you may need a higher English grade to meet the academic requirements. We also accept other qualifications from around the world. If you don’t have school qualifications that meet our requirements, we accept any of the English language tests, at the specified grade or higher, as detailed above. Qualifications from the following English language tests must be no more than two years old from the start date of your programme, regardless of your nationality: IELTS, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT. All other types of English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of your programme. If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country or region, as defined by UKVI, there is no time limit on how old these other types of English language qualifications can be.
Full details of our English language requirements can be found on our website:https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language
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.
The University of Edinburgh welcomes students from the UK and all over the world. We accept a wide range of qualifications and our policies support students with diverse backgrounds and experience. UCAS entry grade data is currently not available for our degrees but we publish admissions statistics on our website. We also provide information on widening access offers and entry requirements.
Historical entry grades data
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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 available
Historical entry grades data is not currently available for The University of Edinburgh - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|
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
Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.
England/Wales/Northern Ireland - The Rest of UK (RUK) students commencing or continuing their studies in September 2026, the tuition fees will be £9,790. This is subject to Parliamentary approval and is an increase of £255 on the fee rate for academic year 2025-2026.
EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees.
Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme
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