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Earth and Climate Science

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site
Awarded by:
Queen Mary, University of London

Course summary

Study how Earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems interact with human activity, combining fieldwork, lab and geospatial skills to tackle climate change, geohazards and environmental challenges.

This Earth and Climate Science programme explores how our planet works and how human activity is reshaping its future. You’ll study the physical, chemical and biological processes that have shaped the Earth, its oceans, climate and the diversity of life, from deep geological time to today’s environmental challenges.

The programme places strong emphasis on hands‑on learning. You’ll gain practical experience through UK and overseas fieldwork, laboratory analysis and geospatial data techniques, developing the core skills used by Earth and environmental scientists. Alongside studying past environmental change, you’ll examine contemporary issues such as climate change, geohazards, and sustainable responses including policy and nature‑based solutions.

Through a wide range of assessments, research projects and optional work placement opportunities, you’ll build the scientific understanding, technical expertise and transferable skills needed for careers in environmental science and related fields.

Modules

Compulsory Modules
Year 1:
Earth System Science

Planet Earth: 4.5 billion years in the making

Evolution

Sustainable Transitions

Core Skills for Earth and Environmental Scientists

Planetary Emergencies: From Analysis to Action

Introduction to Research Methods

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

Compulsory fieldwork will not cost you anything extra. Optional UK and overseas fieldwork trips in the second- and third-year cost approximately £450-£1,500 (based on 2022-23 costs) depending on destination, including flights, accommodation and expenses on location.

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:
F640
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

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
ABB

Excluded subjects - General Studies.

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

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 Requirementshttps://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 at A-Level.

Our enhanced contextual offer: Grades BCC at A-Level.

Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered.

More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page below.

Learn more on the Queen Mary University of London website

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 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

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

* 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.

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