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Environmental Science at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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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

University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

7Dec
University of Portsmouth Open Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. 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. 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. You'll gain an understanding of the human threats to the natural world and develop the skills to reduce impacts and find solutions needed for a sustainable future.

  • Work in our labs using the same technology as the world's leading environmental researchers – including plasma spectrometry and electron microscopy
  • Boost your professional experience by doing a work placement
  • Acquire key environmental monitoring and laboratory skills in our highly equipped analytical labs – including nutrient autoanalysers and heavy metal analysis via ICP-OES and ICP-MS
  • Develop research skills – learning from world-leading environmental science experts
  • Gain essential skills on field trips across various settings, including terrestrial and freshwater habitats in Somerset, rocky shore ecology at Lulworth Cove, island environments in Malta and tropical ecosystems in 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
  • Develop additional practical skills through RYA power boating and PADI-certified scientific and technical diving courses
Accredited by: This course is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). Careers and opportunities 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. 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. 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

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)
  • How the Earth Works (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Marine Ecology and Oceanography (20 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year. Year 2 Core modules in this year include:
  • Environmental Chemistry and Monitoring (20 credits)
  • Environmental Fieldwork and Professional Skills (20 credits)
  • Research Skills (20 credits)
Optional modules in this year include:
  • Developing Professional Skills (20 credits)
  • Energy Resources and the Science of Zero Carbon (20 credits)
  • Environmental Change (20 credits)
  • Gis and Remote Sensing (20 credits)
  • Hydrogeology and Fluid Flow (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Teaching (20 credits)
  • Overseas Study (Segg) (60 credits)
  • Practical Boating Skills (20 credits)
  • River Processes (20 credits)
  • Scientific Diving Techniques (20 credits)
  • Sustainable Environmental Management (20 credits)
  • Wildlife Crime: Threats and Response (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: 
  • Environmental Assessment and Management (20 credits)
  • Environmental Pollution and Waste Management (20 credits)
  • Research Project (40 credits)
Optional modules in this year include:
  • Analytical Methods for Earth and Environmental Sciences (20 credits)
  • Climate Change (20 credits)
  • Conservation in a Changing World (20 credits)
- Surveying Terrestrial Habitats (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

29Jan

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

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

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.

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.
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.
PTE Academic62An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
50%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
80%
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

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £19200 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

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2024/25): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship) International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Environmental Science at University of Portsmouth - UCAS