Skip navigation
Environment and Sustainability with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
Apply

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

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

Course summary

Birkbeck's BSc Environment and Sustainability gives you a deep understanding of what drives environmental change and how to manage natural systems under unprecedented pressure. Led by internationally recognised researchers, you will discover the core scientific principles you need to understand key environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and biosecurity. You will become familiar with fundamental dimensions of environment and sustainability, including adaptation, mitigation and corporate responsibility. You will learn to collect, analyse and interpret environmental data to improve management practices.  Core modules taught on this degree will give you a grounding in the ecological and social dimensions of environment and sustainability. You can then tailor your degree by choosing option modules on themes like:

  • the global food crisis
  • nature conservation
  • climate and society
  • geographic information science (GIS).
You will benefit from our mix of classroom and field-based teaching. This environment and sustainability degree will also help you develop the social and technical skills you need for both academic research and the modern workplace. If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. This course has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening. There is also some weekend attendance and field trips. Highlights
  • We offer a range of core modules in the ecological and social dimensions of environment and sustainability. You can also choose option modules on pressing themes like climate change, nature conservation, storms and flooding, and urban studies.
  • You will develop the social and technical skills you need for both academic research and the workplace, including data collection and analysis, and GIS.
  • We offer a range of local and international field trips, exploring a range of themes in human and physical geography.
  • Graduates of the BSc Environment and Sustainability find employment in local government, conservation agencies, businesses and environmental NGOs, working in areas like corporate responsibility and compliance, pollution and waste management.
  • The Managing Environments module enables you to apply for the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) Graduate membership. This is a requirement for many environmental management jobs.
Careers and employability Graduates can pursue career paths in corporate environmental roles, countryside management, conservation, tourism or planning. Possible professions include:
  • environmental manager
  • nature conservation officer
  • town planner
  • landscape architect.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

A mix of coursework and formal examinations. The final-year independent literature review and research project are assessed purely by project work.

Professional bodies

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

  • Environmental Management and Assessment, 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:

  • Foundation

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
65%
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 £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
International £18060 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 are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Environment and Sustainability with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS