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Environmental Science - BSc (Hons)

Year of entry: 2021
Course type: Single Honours; Combined Honours
Duration of study: 3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

Location: Keele University campus
Subject area / School: School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
UCAS code: F901

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Course overview

Environmental Science at Keele equips you with the scientific knowledge and practical skills needed for a future career tackling environmental issues such as climate change, soil security, water resource protection, pollution and biodiversity conservation. The degree can be undertaken as a single honours or a combined honours course.

Keele Undergraduate Enquiries Form

Please submit your question in the form below and a member our enquiries team will be in touch with you shortly.

Your Name

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

Please provide a contact telephone number *

Country of Residence

Year of Entry

Please Select a Course

Are you interested in a Foundation Year

YesNo

Please enter your question below:

Your Preferences

Please keep me informed using email

YesNo

Please keep me informed using phone

YesNo

Please keep me informed using messages/texts

YesNo

What we’re going to do with your data and why?

We will securely store your data and send you essential information (examples include updates on an application or booking confirmations for events such as Open Days).

How long are we keeping it?

We will keep your data for the year that you first enquire with us plus 6 subsequent years. This is to ensure that you are legally protected should you have any issues with the use of your data.

Unsubscribe

What to do if I change my mind?

Gold

In the Teaching Excellence Framework Also Top 5 in the UK (THE ranking, broad-based universities)

Top 3

in England for overall Student Satisfaction NSS 2019 (broad-based universities)

97%

of research world leading, or of international importance Research Excellence Framework, 2014

Student testimonials

Christopher Willison, Applied Environmental Science and Physics

"The field work that I conducted during my degree helped reinforce what I had learnt in lectures and gave me valuable experience that is applicable to my current job" - read more about Christopher Willison, Applied Environmental Science and Physics

Colin Nye, Applied Environmental Science with Biology

"Keele is more than a place to study, it's an environment focused on helping you to achieve your potential, and you'll enjoy yourself whilst doing so!" - read more about Colin Nye, Applied Environmental Science with Biology

Amy Collier, Applied Environmental Science with Physical Geography

"At Keele you are treated as an individual – not a student number or a face in a lecture theatre. Keele really is one of a kind." - read more about Amy Collier, Applied Environmental Science with Physical Geography

Christos Evangelides, Applied Environmental Science & Physical Geography

"Keele feels like a home away from home. It is truly a unique place to study and the staff at GGE provide the foundations and expertise which allow you grow and kickstart your career in the best way possible. Make the most out of your time at Keele and everything that it offers – trust me, you will not regret it!!" - read more about Christos Evangelides, Applied Environmental Science & Physical Geography

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

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

You may also be interested in:

Variations to 2020/21 courses

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.

Foundation year

Foundation Year Overview

If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into the BSc (Hons) Environmental Science course, our Foundation Year can provide an alternative route into your degree.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years’ experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you’ll study on campus, joining our community from the outset, and you will have access to a range of support.

Read on to find out about:

Foundation Year indicative modules for the September intake
Foundation Year entry requirements
How to apply
UCAS code for this course

The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course Content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

This Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Environmental Science degree. For example, the Advancing Geography, Geology and the Environment module takes the knowledge built in 'Foundations of Geography, Geology and the Environment' module and applies it to a variety of human interactions, such as exploitation of the Earth’s resources, rural and urban development, monitoring and management of natural hazards, and environmental change. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course Structure

The module details given below are indicative and will give you a good idea of the range of subjects that we teach. We regularly review our teaching to ensure that the modules we offer are up-to-date; therefore, the modules available to study are liable to change.

Semester One Modules

FYO-00185	Practical and Academic Skills in Science	15 credits
FYO-00211	Foundations in Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Scientists	15 credits
FYO-00193	Foundations of Geography, Geology and the Environment	15 credits

Semester Two Modules

FYO-00195

Advancing Geography, Geology and the Environment

30 credits

Option Modules In Semester One and Two

In addition to the modules above, students will study an additional 15 credits in semester one and 30 credits during semester two from a range of modules.

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.

Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

AND

GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above

How to Apply

UK or EU students will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Environmental Science with Foundation Year (UCAS code F913) through UCAS at www.ucas.com

Direct Entry Students

If you are a UK or EU student, already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

International Entry

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

All applications for the International Foundation Year and International Degree Programme can be made through UCAS using the UCAS codes below.

Y002 - International Foundation Year (IFY)
Y008 - International Degree Programme (IDP)

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.