Environmental Science

The world around us is changing dramatically; our environmental science degree will help you understand how and also the implications for natural ecosystems and human societies. You will learn the skills and knowledge to measure, model and assess environmental change and its multiple impacts. Developed in conjunction with employers, including environmental agencies and private businesses, this degree programme has real-world relevance, built around developing the techniques and expertise you will find in the national and international workplace.

The course combines aspects of physical and biological natural sciences, helping you build a detailed understanding of complex contemporary environmental issues. You’ll also gain a wide range of practical and analytical skills, including working in the lab and in the field. By the time you graduate, you will be able to collect, process and analyse data from a range of sources across different environmental science disciplines, giving you the understanding and confidence to make informed recommendations in a professional context.

This course is also available with a foundation year.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• 100% of our research impact in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences is world-leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework – REF – 2021).

• We are ranked 5th for Research Impact, with this research informing our teaching in environmental sustainability and climate change (REF 2021).

• We are proud to be a top five university for sustainability since 2013 (People and Planet League 2024).

• We are fully accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences and the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. This means that students are eligible for free membership and associated benefits.

• We’ve invested over £115 million to transform the way we teach and the way our students learn. The new Dalton building is equipped with dynamic learning spaces, world-class teaching and research facilities and collaborative study zones. This means you’ll graduate with the skills and experiences employers look for.

• We offer free Carbon Literacy training in person and online to our students, to build understanding of sustainability and enhance employability.

• You can transfer to our four-year study abroad route which, gives you the opportunity to study overseas during your third year, subject to availability.

• You also have the opportunity to transfer to our four-year placement year route, which offers the chance to spend your third year working on a placement with a relevant employer gaining the skills and experience that can boost your career prospects.

• Fieldwork opportunities in the UK or overseas are available during the first and second years of the Environmental Science degree progamme, subject to availability.

• Our laboratories and facilities are state-of-the-art and will give you first-hand experience of a wide range of manual and instrumental lab skills and techniques. Our analytical facilities include a comprehensive instrumentation laboratory, including inductively coupled plasma  optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and ion chromatograph (IC) for environmental sample measurements.