Skip navigation
Environment and Sustainability with Foundation Year at Royal Agricultural University - UCAS

Course summary

Course overview People, society and governments are becoming increasingly aware of environmental problems, many of which are now becoming critical, such as a range of problems linked to climate change. In order to address these pressing issues, a framework of supporting policy, funding and hence employment, is developing, requiring graduates who have the right skills and knowledge in environmental sustainability, and who can make a difference after securing professional work in this sector. The BSc/BA Environment and Sustainability will help students and to ‘make a difference’, giving them the contextual overview of key issues from the global to local scales, and examining the various factors at play and how these interact. In turn, the suite of modules will allow for a more detailed examination of specific aspects, with some flexibility for students to tailor their study towards their own areas of interest, helping bolster career pathways etc. In the final year, students can choose either a BSc or BA award depending on which modules they select. • The BSc award focuses on how all things environmental work and why, exploring the science, process and mechanisms behind this, optimizing sustainable management decisions. • The BA award considers how environmental things work, but places emphasis on the role of society and people, policy and frameworks, and how each of these can act as drivers of change. The Royal Agricultural University has a sustained and exemplary history of teaching students, dating back to 1845. The BSc/ BA Environment and Sustainability course benefits from this, particularly so from the land-based perspective where it is able to integrate important elements of agriculture, food production and retail into sustainable environmental management systems. Work placement In the third year of the degree programme, you will apply and develop your expertise during a 15-week work placement. Not only could you find yourself working for prestigious companies in the UK or across the world, you will also develop your confidence and make a range of industry contacts. ** The Integrated Foundation Year is suitable for applicants who have taken level 3 qualifications (A levels, BTEC etc.) in the UK. Overseas students who have not studied in the UK and completed their secondary education in their country, should look at taking an Interanational Foundation Programme in order to meet the entry criteria for the degree programmes offered by the RAU. Please note that a foundation year is not the same as a foundation degree (FdSc). A foundation year will usually lead onto a three-year degree course, whereas a foundation degree is a standalone qualification generally studied over two years(FT).

Modules

Foundation year The Foundation year will provide a common core of academic and study skills sufficient to prepare you for subsequent study and academic success at undergraduate level. It will give core underpinning knowledge, skills and understanding in key areas of contemporary issues, provide underpinning subject-related skills and knowledge in key areas required for undergraduate study, including Mathematics, Numeracy and IT. It will also provide generic skills and academic knowledge to support your confidence and discipline as appropriate for higher education study and give subject-specific grounding, in terms of research topics and study focus, to support progression into degree level study in your chosen degree. 0IFY1 Managing Landscape 0IFY2 Digital Skills 0IFY3 Rural Business Skills 0IFY4 Land Related Studies 0IFY5 Change in the Countryside 0IFY6 Enterprise and Marketing 0IFY7 Environment and Conservation Data Handling 0IFY8 Agriculture and Farming Year one 1007 Soil and the Environment 1044 Agriculture for Land Management 1421 Species Identification & Ecosystems 1422 Ecosystems Services and Sustainability 1430 Wildlife Ecology & Survey 1434 Introduction to Environmental Change TBC Geographies of Food 1440 Personal Development Skills Year two 2136 Landscape Conservation 2267 Research & Evidence 2317 Industry Placement 2337 Professional Development 2361 Habitat Classification & Management 2365 Education, Recreation & Engagement 2369 Resilience of Agro-ecosystems TBC Energy, Waste Pollution Management Year three BSc course 3098 Countryside & Environment Management 3223 Ecological Consultancy 3329 Climate Change & Natural Resource Challenges 3332 Specialist Study (shell module) TBC Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the Environment 3300 Research Project / Dissertation Year three BA course 3098 Countryside & Environment Management 3329 Climate Change & Natural Resource Challenges 3332 Specialist Study (shell module) TBC Sustainability Consultancy TBC Advocacy & Activism in Food & Farming 3300 Research Project / Dissertation BSc and BA to choose one elective selected from: 3090 Forestry and Woodland Management 3330 Technology & Agroecological Innovations TBC Sustainable Farm Management TBC Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the Environment (BA only) The availability of electives to individual students will be dependent on timetabling considerations and on sufficient students electing to take part.

Assessment method

A range of assessment techniques are applied throughout the programme to test learning outcomes of each module. These will be clearly identified on the VLE/ Gateway pages for each module, and could include: • Essays  • Reports – either academic research or professional  • Case studies  • Group work exercises  • Oral presentations  • In-class / in-lab / in field tests – e.g. multiple choice, short answer 

  • Exams
• Skills observation  • Peer review  • Professional practice report  • Subject specific exercise  • Academic poster  • Research proposal  • Dissertation


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
L8N3
Institution code:
R54
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

This course version is not suitable for International students who have not taken UK level 3 qualifications

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.rau.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bsc-ba-environment-sustainability-foundation-year


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6none of the four elements below 5.5

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
80%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
EU £15300 Year 1
International £15300 Year 1

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

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Environment and Sustainability with Foundation Year at Royal Agricultural University - UCAS