Course summary
OVERVIEW UWS's BSc (Hons) Environmental Health with Professional Practice is a unique four-year degree within the UK. Nowhere else in the UK has the academic and professional practice in local authority elements of training being incorporated into one seamless learning experience. This professionally-accredited degree has been developed with input from industry experts, local authorities and the Society of Chief Environmental Health Officers in Scotland and is the only one of its kind in the UK. You’ll explore how the natural and built environment impacts on human health and learn how to keep people safe and healthy using science, technology, law and professional practice. This degree will provide you with an underpinning of the basic sciences and environmental health before allowing you to focus on specialist subjects of your choice. PRACTICAL FOCUS One of the roles of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) is to accredit University courses, as being the academic element of the professional qualification required to practice as an Environmental Health Officer in Scotland. It is an EU/UK Competent Authority for Environmental Health. A key component of training to become an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) is Professional Practice. Within the degree, this will be completed as placements and will comprise of 39 weeks in terms 1, 2 and 3 of year 3 with a further 9 weeks in Term 2 of year 4 of your studies. You will engage with the placements to provide them with the practical training in accordance with the REHIS Scheme of Professional Practice. PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION This degree is professionally accredited by the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) and provision of this course resides exclusively in UWS. CAREER PROSPECTS The BSc (Hons) Environmental Health with Professional Practice provides a direct pathway for you to become an Environmental Health Officer (EHO), by combining both the academic and professional practice requirements of training into the undergraduate degree, leaving students, upon completion of the degree, ready to sit the REHIS Professional Exams. Jobs This degree will prepare you for a successful career in Environmental Health, providing you meet the requirements of the employer and employment opportunities, and lead to the following roles after graduation: // Environmental Health Officer // Public Health Specialist // Noise Consultant // Environmental Specialist // Food Safety - Standards Officer // Built Environment Officer / Housing Officer // Health and Safety Officer // Consultant Further Study BSc (Hons) Environmental Health with Professional Practice graduates have gone on to undertake taught master's studies (MSc/MPH/MBA) in Environmental Health, Waste and Resource Management, Public Health, Business Management. Some have progressed to research studies for PhD in Environmental Health.
Modules
Year 1 is the foundation year of your studeies and you will explore a range of topics including biodiversity of life, foundations of life and investigation and communication. In Year 2 you will begin to specialise in environmental health, with detailed consideration of the legislative framework, managing risks, entomology and parasitology, introduction to microbiological analysis, health and hygiene and environmental protection. In Year 3 you will undertake a 39-week placement with a local authority (professional practice 1) and a module on food inspection and food safety. In your final year of study you will complete modules in advanced food inspection, housing, acoustics and health, public health microbiology and a detailed study of pollution control. You will also undertake the second placement of 9 weeks with a local authority (professional practice 2). You will also complete a supervised research dissertation in a subject area of your choice.
Assessment method
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and workshops. You will also have the opportunity to take part in group work and independent learning to develop your transferable skills such as research, presentation, communication and working as part of a team. This degree is assessed using a variety of assessment methods including: // Written examinations // Coursework // Practical assessment // Portfolio
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- Environmental Health Institute of Scotland, Royal
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
How to apply
31Jan
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:
- B911
- Institution code:
- U40
- Campus name:
- Lanarkshire Campus
- Campus code:
- I
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 2
- Year 3
Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)
Year 2 Entry: Scottish Advanced Highers: BBC including Biology, plus Chemistry at least at National 5 Grade C A Levels: BBC including Biology International Baccalaureate: 30 points including Biology at Higher Level and Chemistry at Ordinary Level SQA HND: Appropriate Environmental Health-based subject
International applicants
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS: For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. These are shown below.
Entry requirements
Standard Qualification Requirements
UCAS Tariff - 114 points
A level - BCC
Scottish Higher - ABBB
Scottish Advanced Higher - BBC
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H1, H2, H2, H2
Scottish HNC - Pass
Scottish HND - Pass
T Level - M
Year 1 entry: SWAP (BBB) Access to Medicine; Access to Science; Access to Biological and Chemical Science; Access to Chemistry and Biology; Access to Health and Biological Science; Access to Dietetics; Access to Health and Life Sciences; Access to Radiography.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
UCAS Tariff - 108 points
A level - BCC
Scottish Higher - BBBB
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H1, H2, H2, H2
Additional entry requirements
Interview
Other
Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Please note: Although this is not a requirement to gain a place on the programme, some Local Authorities may require a PVG check before offering a student placement or employment as an Environmental Health Officer.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Scotland | £1820* | Year 1 |
| England | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9250 | 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
TUITION FEE INFORMATION - SCOTTISH STUDENTS:
Eligible Scottish domiciled students can usually apply to have their tuition fees paid for them each year of their studies by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). If you're not sure about your eligibility, you should contact SAAS. You need to apply to SAAS each year of study to have your tuition fees paid directly to UWS.
TUITION FEE INFORMATION - UK, IRISH & GIBRALTARIAN STUDENTS:
Eligible students who are domiciled in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland as well as from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar or the Republic of Ireland will qualify for tuition fees of £9,250 per academic session of study to a maximum of three years if you are studying on a four year bachelor degree course (eg. BAcc (Hons) / BA (Hons) / BEng (Hons) / BSc (Hons)). So, if your degree is four years' duration, you will only be charged tuition fees for three years. Similarly, if you are studying a five year integrated master's degree course (eg. MEng (Hons)) the you will only be charged tuition fees for four years.
TUITION FEE INFORMATION - INTERNATIONAL (NON-EU) & EU STUDENTS:
This course is not open to non-EU, EEA, or EU students (excluding those from Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar, whose fee level is as per UK (non-Scottish) students - see section above for more details).
ADDITIONAL COSTS:
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.
In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs such as consumable study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms. You may also want to purchase some core texts and technology such as a new laptop etc. Some of these additional costs are optional, some, such as uniforms or safety equipment may be mandatory.
Check the course entry on our website for more more information.
Sponsorship information
Visit www.uws.ac.uk/scholarships
Provider information
University of the West of Scotland
Paisley Campus
High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BE