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2023 - 20242024 - 2025
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Make sure you check on the university, college or conservatoire website for any updates about course changes as a result of COVID-19.

Course summary

Overview Environmental scientists deal with the big questions facing humanity. If you want to tackle climate change and preserve Earth's natural resources, this BSc (Hons) Environmental Science degree, accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), will prepare you for the challenges ahead.

  • Work in our labs using the same technology as the world's leading environmental researchers – including plasma spectrometry and electron microscopy – and use teaching and research facilities at our internationally renowned Institute of Marine Sciences
  • Take advantage of our waterside location, with boats available for marine excursions and the option to learn power boating with the RYA or PADI-certified scientific and technical diving
  • Have the chance to go on field trips to destinations such as Malta, Portugal, Belize and Malaysia
  • Build experience on a one-year work placement in industry, or study abroad at one of our partner universities in Canada, Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain, Malta, Slovakia, Hungary or France
Accredited by: This course is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). Careers and opportunities Environmental science is at the forefront of our efforts to preserve and protect the natural world. As our understanding of environmental cause and effect continues to develop, environmental scientists are in high demand, including within the many sectors and industries tasked with reducing their environmental footprint. On this BSc Environmental Science, you’ll explore how the environment is changing and discover new ways to minimise our impact on the planet. You'll examine the physical and social aspects of environmental issues and develop practical skills to carry out your own environmental research, including analysing pollutants, soil structure and water quality. Once you graduate, you'll be ready to go after jobs in academia, business or government in a wide range of environmental specialties, including conservation, pollution control, waste management, sustainability, climate change and energy resources. You'll be able to apply for Associate Membership of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and with more experience, you could work to become a Chartered Scientist (CSci) or Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv). Chartered Membership of the IES is required in many environmental careers. You could also continue your studies at postgraduate level, such as on our MSc Geological and Environmental Hazards or MSc Environmental Geology and Contamination. What jobs can you do with an environmental science degree? Roles our graduates have taken on include:
  • environmental chemist
  • environmental technician
  • environment and sustainability coordinator
  • geographic information scientist
  • hydrologist
  • climate change modeller
  • chemical risk advisor
  • marine scientist
  • ecologist
  • conservation officer
  • environmental policy officer
Graduate roles Organisations our graduates have gone on to work for include:
  • Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
  • Alcatel Submarine Networks
  • Rentokil Initial
  • Eurofins
  • Network Rail
  • Portsmouth Water
Placement year After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. Placements give you the opportunity to apply what you've learnt so far in a real workplace, boosting your employability and making you attractive to employers after graduation. Students have completed work placements at top organisations, including:
  • Leap Environmental
  • Mott MacDonald
  • Enitial
Whichever route you choose, you'll receive support and guidance. Our specialist team of Science and Health Careers advisors can help you with finding a work placement and improving your employability skills.

Modules

Year 1 Core modules in this year include:  Analysis of the Earth and Environment – 20 credits Ecology, Plants and Human Impact – 20 credits Environmental Processes and Hazards – 20 credits Global Environmental Challenges – 20 credits Introduction to Marine Ecology and Oceanography – 20 credits Planet Earth – 20 credits There are no optional modules in this year. Year 2 Core modules in this year include: Environmental Chemistry and Monitoring – 20 credits GIS and Remote Sensing – 20 credits Research, Fieldwork and Professional Skills – 40 credits Optional modules in this year include: Energy Resources and the Science of Zero Carbon – 20 credits Environmental Change – 20 credits Hydrology and Geoenvironmental Risk – 20 credits Introduction to Teaching – 20 credits Institution Wide Language Programme – 20 credits Overseas Study – 60 credits Overseas Study Research and Fieldwork Skills – 20 credits Practical Boating Skills – 20 credits River Processes – 20 credits Scientific and Technical Diving Techniques A – 20 credits Scientific and Technical Diving Techniques B – 20 credits Sustainable Environmental Management – 20 credits Transport and Sustainability – 20 credits Placement year On this course, you can do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in industry. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year. Year 3 Core modules in this year include:  Dissertation – 40 credits Environmental Assessment and Management – 20 credits Environmental Pollution and Waste Management – 20 credits Optional modules in this year include: Analytical Methods For Earth and Environmental Sciences – 20 credits Climate Change – 20 credits Conservation Biogeography – 20 credits European Study Tour – 20 credits Tropical Study Tour – 20 credits

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through:

  • field work or lab notebook recordings
  • reports
  • site surveys
  • computer-based exercises
  • oral presentation and essays
  • posters
  • presentations
The way you're assessed will depend on the modules you select throughout your course. Here's an example from a previous academic year of how students on this course were typically assessed:
  • Year 1 students: 52% by written exams, 8% by practical exams and 40% by coursework
  • Year 2 students: 40% by written exams, 12% by practical exams and 48% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 33% by written exams, 4% by practical exams and 63% by coursework

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Environmental Sciences, Institute of

How to apply

25Jan

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:
F900
Institution code:
P80
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
PTE Academic54An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components

Unistats information

Operated by the Office for Students
85%
Student satisfaction
55%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
Go onto work and study

The student satisfaction data is from students surveyed during the Covid-19 pandemic. 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

EU £9250 Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
International £17200 Year 1

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad: UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £925 | EU – £925 (including Transition Scholarship)| International (Non-EU) – £1,900. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/ug-tuition-fees The cost of travel or accommodation for compulsory fieldwork is included in the course fee, but you will need to pay for meals and other subsistence costs (typically £10-15/day). For compulsory project work, normally in the UK in the summer between course years 2 and 3 of study, you will be expected to pay for any travel, accommodation and meals if you choose to do project work that requires travel. Costs will depend on your chosen location. For optional fieldwork, costs of travel, accommodation, meals and other subsistence are in the region of £2000 - 3000 (Malaysia/Belize) and £800 (Portugal). For optional diving skills units: The Scientific and Technical Diving A unit is available if you have not dived before. It includes a PADI Open Water course, Dry Suit course, combined with the Scientific and Technical Diving course, and costs around £1000 for tuition, transport and diving costs. The Scientific and Technical Diving B unit is available if you hold a PADI Open Water certificate. It includes an advanced diving course (e.g. PADI Advanced Open Water), Dry Suit course, combined with the Science and Technology Diving course, and costs around £900 for tuition, transport and diving costs. The Practical Power Boating Skills unit will cost in the region of £750. On a sandwich year, you will be expected to pay for travel, accommodation and subsistence associated with placement. These costs will be in the region of £50 - £1000.
Environmental Science at University of Portsmouth - UCAS