Course summary
Take your first steps in your career as a professional Environmental Health Officer with UWS’s BSc (Hons) Environmental Health with Professional Practice programme. This programme has been developed with input from REHIS, local authorities and the Society of Chief Environmental Health Officers in Scotland and industry experts. You’ll explore how the natural and built environment impacts on human health and learn how to contribute to improving population health by using multiple tools and legislative powers whilst working in multidisciplinary teams. This programme will provide you with an underpinning of the sciences and environmental health principals before progressing to specialist subject areas. Programme highlights • This programme provides a direct pathway to allow you to become an Environmental Health Officer (EHO), by combining both the academics and professional practice placement within Local Authority (48 weeks) into the undergraduate degree, leaving students, upon completion of the degree, ready to sit the REHIS Professional Exams. • The Environmental Health with Professional Practice Honours Degree is completely unique. Nowhere else in the Scotland can you study to become an Environmental Health Officer. UWS is proud to be the only Undergraduate Environmental Health Degree in Environmental Health in Scotland accredited by the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland. Programme details This programme is structured around a wide range of core modules and offers in-depth study in the specialist area of environmental health. Within the modules, you will gain knowledge and understanding of ancillary subjects that enhance the theoretical and practical aspects of environmental health, such as legislative requirements, environmental management, communication skills and health and safety management. Careers This programme will prepare you for a successful career in Environmental Health. The starting salary for an Environmental Health Officer is roughly £35,000 which is exceptionally high. There is a wide variety of roles available to graduates of this programme. For example: • Environmental Health Officer in local authority • Government agencies – SEPA, FSS/FSA, HSE, PHS etc • Private industry / third sector • Academia • Environmental Specialist • Food Safety / Standards Officer / Consultant • Built Environment / Housing Officer Graduates have gone on to enrol on UWS postgraduate programmes, including MSc Waste and Resource Management, as well as Public Health and Business Management.
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
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 1
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 - 96 points
A level - CCC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMM
Scottish Higher - BBCC
Scottish Advanced Higher - BBC
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3
Scottish HNC - Pass
Scottish HND - Pass
T Level - Pass (C and above)
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 - 90 points
A level - CCC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMM
Scottish Higher - BCCC
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3
Additional entry requirements
Admission tests
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.
Institutions Own Test (IOT)
A literacy and numeracy test may be required to be eligible for entry to this programme.
Student Outcomes
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
Sponsorship information
Visit www.uws.ac.uk/scholarships
Provider information
University of the West of Scotland
Paisley Campus
High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BE