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

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

Open days

26Apr
Birkbeck, University of London - Undergraduate open day
Undergraduate
28Jun
Birkbeck, University of London - Undergraduate open day
Undergraduate

Course summary

Led by internationally recognised researchers, this BSc Environment and Sustainability will equip you with a deep understanding of what drives environmental change and how to manage natural systems under unprecedented pressure. Why choose this course?

  • It gives you the opportunity to discover the scientific principles you need to understand key environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and biosecurity.
  • It offers you a range of core modules in the ecological and social dimensions of environment and sustainability, as well as option modules on pressing themes like nature conservation, the food system and urban studies, so you can tailor your degree to your interests.
  • This course allows you to develop valuable social and technical skills that will help with both academic research and establishing a successful career in the field, including data collection and analysis, and geographic information systems (GIS).
What you will learn This course will help you to acquire theory and knowledge, practical skills, and research and project management experience, all of which can enhance your employability. Core modules are designed to ground you in the ecological and social dimensions of environment and sustainability, including adaptation, mitigation and corporate responsibility. You will also learn to collect, analyse and interpret environmental data to improve management practices.  You can then follow your interests by drawing from a range of option modules in the fields of human, physical and environmental geography, sustainability, GIS and international development. How you will learn This BSc Environment and Sustainability combines classroom-based activities, such as seminars and workshops, with online learning resources, computer-based practical sessions and field teaching. You will study in small classes, interacting with classmates keen to share their experience and expertise, some of whom are already working in relevant sectors. You can study this course full- or part-time and it follows an evening timetable, with some weekend attendance and field trips, so you can balance your studies with other commitments, such as family and work. Foundation Year 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. Highlights
  • 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.
  • We are proud of our vibrant research culture, powered by a shared passion for learning and intellectual engagement among our academics and students.
  • Our staff are actively involved in the Birkbeck Centre for Environment and Sustainability, and host annual events such as the Birkbeck Climate Festival.
  • Our campus in central London offers students the chance to explore one of the world’s great multicultural cities, and access to world-class libraries and institutions like the British Museum and the British Library.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this BSc Environment and Sustainability you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including in:
  • workload management
  • critical thinking
  • written and oral presentation skills
  • hands-on experience with GIS
  • project management and reporting.
Some of our graduates from this course have gone on to be employed in local government, conservation agencies and businesses and environmental NGOs working in areas like corporate responsibility and compliance, pollution and waste management.

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 £5760 Year 1
Northern Ireland £5760 Year 1
Scotland £5760 Year 1
Wales £5760 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

Home students: Year 2+: £9,535 per year International students: Year 2+: £18,060 per year 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