Course content

Our Environmental Science course at Keele draws on the expertise of scientists within the disciplines of life sciences, chemical sciences and geosciences to emphasise the role and importance of scientific understanding and practical skills in the analysis and management of environmental problems.

The course emphasises the role and importance of scientific understanding and practical skills in the analysis and management of environmental problems, ensuring a course which is targeted at employment in the environmental sector.

Alongside studying topical global environmental issues, you will have the opportunity to develop a broad range of practical, laboratory and field-based skills to take into future employment. You’ll also have the opportunity to do fieldwork overseas, gain valuable work experience or study abroad at one of our partner institutions. This course is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), meaning students can gain free membership of the IES to support their personal and professional development in the environmental sector.

• Accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).
• Available with Work Placement and Study Abroad options 
• Includes UK and overseas field course options 

Combinations

Environmental Science is also available as a Combined Honours degree. It can be studied in the following combinations:

• Environmental Science and Astrophysics
• Environmental Science and Biology
• Environmental Science and Chemistry
• Environmental Science and Data Science
• Environmental Science and Geography
• Environmental Science and Medicinal Chemistry
• Environmental Science and Physics

Other Related Courses You May Be Interested In:

• Environmental Science with Work Placement Year
• Environment and Sustainability
• Environment and Sustainability with Work Placement Year

Detailed course information

Year One

The first year of the programme establishes a firm grounding in the core sciences underpinning the field of environmental science (i.e. Biology, Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, Geology and Statistics) and builds an understanding of the environmental issues faced by the world today. You will have the opportunity to put these skills into practice through a residential field course (e.g. to North Wales, UK). In addition to the core modules, students choose an option or elective module such as People and the Environment, Global Warming, Entrepreneurship or a modern language.

Year Two

In the second year, you will develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and of the analytical and investigative skills demanded of today’s environmental scientists. You will learn how to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and will participate in a residential field course (with UK and overseas options) that provides you with ‘real world’ and ‘hands-on’ experience of investigating and evaluating a range of topical environmental problems. Alongside the core modules students choose a number of option modules from a broad range spanning the disciplines of life sciences, chemical sciences, geography and geosciences. Examples include: an environmentally-focussed Work Placement module, Dynamic Geographies, Geoscience and Society, Health and the Environment, Research and Analytical Skills, Regional Landsystems, and Reconstructing Past Environments.

Year Three

The third year enables you to develop advanced level Environmental Science skills and knowledge and provides the opportunity to specialise in your areas of interest. You will carry out an independent research project, with support from a highly skilled research advisor, that is tailored to your individual research interests. You will also take the core modules of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment and The Science of Soils. In addition to the core modules you will choose multiple option modules from the broad range available, previous examples of which include Conservation Biology, Clean Technology, Natural Hazards, Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Environmental Change, Coastal Environments and Water Resources.

This course is also available as a 4-year option with the addition of either a work placement year or International year.

Entry requirements

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.

A Level requirements

• A Level requirement BBC

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course with 64 UCAS points via a Foundation Year.

GCSE requirement

• English at C (or 4) OR equivalent qualification, please contact us for advice

BTEC

• BTEC requirements DMM

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course with 64 UCAS points via a Foundation Year.

International Baccalaureate

• 30 points 

Access to HE Diploma requirements

• Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction. 

Foundation year

You may choose to study this course via foundation year.

If you’re returning to education following a break, wish to study a new subject or don’t have the grades or sufficient equivalent experience for direct entry to this course, a foundation year may be a good option for you.

Following successful completion (including any additional progression requirements) of the foundation year you can progress on to this course.

The foundation year offers September starts across all subjects, and January starts across all science, humanities, social sciences and business routes.

The January intake excludes the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree with Foundation Year and other health-related foundation Year degree

For more details visit our foundation year webpages.

Foundation year

Fees and funding

Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.

For more information visit our money, advice and guidance section.

Career prospects

96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (DLHE, 2017)

All organisations, from private business to local government, increasingly need to engage with environmental issues; hence this is one of the fastest growing areas of employment opportunities. Through completion of a reflective portfolio, you will also have the opportunity to gain accreditation from the Institute of Leadership and Management alongside your Keele degree.

You will be in an excellent position to pursue a career in many areas including environmental consultancy and regulation, water resource management, geospatial analysis, conservation, or to become a scientific writer, research scientist or teacher. This course also provides excellent training for further postgraduate study and research. If you take our work placement year you’ll graduate with a significant level of environmental work experience. 

To ensure you’re prepared for a range of work, the course utilises case studies based on work in the real world including environmental impact assessments and technical reports mimicking work in different areas of environmental employment. Environmental Science can be studied as a single honours or combined honours and with a work placement option.

Recent employers

• ESF Consultants
• Mott MacDonald Bentley
• LGSS

Regardless of which career you pursue after Keele, employers will want evidence of the range of skills and personal qualities you possess and which are required for the job. Your degree is clearly important in this respect but don’t forget the extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility, jobs and voluntary work you may have been engaged in while studying at Keele. These activities allow you to demonstrate the skills and personal qualities required by employers and will be vital in your attempts to secure graduate employment.

It is estimated that 60% of jobs are open to graduates of any discipline. This demonstrates the flexibility of many graduate employers when setting out their academic requirements and that students are not necessarily restricted to careers related to their degree.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

Fieldwork

Field courses are a vital and very enjoyable part of our environment degree programmes, as they provide ideal settings for focused training, skills development and practise. And, importantly, all our compulsory field courses have no additional costs to students.

Through these field courses students gain skills and experience in environmental survey design, plant and invertebrate identification, water quality assessment, soil assessment, sample collection and preservation, and social science research techniques. Our field courses also facilitate interaction between students and environmental experts outside of the university, providing further insight into the world of employment and careers.

One-day field trips and associated outdoor field work feature in multiple modules across all of our environment programmes and residential field courses (e.g. 5-8 days) are held in each of the first and second year. The first year residential fieldcourse is held in north Wales (Snowdonia and Parys Mountain), while for year two the options are for a UK (e.g. Lake District) or overseas (e.g. south of France) location.