Environment and Sustainability

Environment and Sustainability - BSc (Hons)

Gain a broad and deep understanding of global environmental problems, such as loss of biodiversity and depletion of resources, to become familiar with strategies to drive sustainability. Our accredited programme enables you to cross the traditional natural science-social science divide, arming you with a diverse skillset to work in a range of sectors.

Year of entry

2023

Course type

Single Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

School of Geography, Geology and the Environment

UCAS code

FD84

Duration of study

3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

Enquire about this course Book an open day Chat to students

Why study Environment and Sustainability at Keele University?

Top 20 in the UK for Geography and Environmental Studies (Guardian University League Table, 2022)

Tackle a real-world sustainability project and contribute to positive change

Personalise your degree with a variety of optional modules

Enhance your employability with our study abroad and work placement options

Course overview

Overview

The world is under huge environmental threat. From climate change and depletion of resources to species extinction - we need to find solutions to counter the devastating impact humans are having on the planet.

Our Environment and Sustainability degree draws on the sustainability expertise from across the university to provide you with an understanding from both the natural science and social science perspectives. From environmental science to sustainability within the political sphere, the programme aims to equip you with a broad knowledge base and the strategies to drive sustainability forward in many contexts. The programme may lead to either a BA or BSc award based on the nature of the modules and dissertation carried out in the final year.

Year one

The first year of the programme is carefully designed to bring together the diverse learning experiences across the cohort, enabling common understanding of environment and sustainability issues. Core first year modules will examine topics such as the environmental and social responsibilities of organisations to green their operations, the politics of sustainability and the causes and impacts of climate change.

To ensure you have the appropriate skills to succeed on this programme, you will study a 'core skills' module that aims to provide you with a suite of study skills and subject-specific practical skills.

Skills you may acquire in the module include:

Fieldwork in both laboratory and field-based environments
Risk assessment and research ethics
Programming
Statistics
Techniques of data capture
Writing and communication

Optional modules

Throughout your studies you will have the opportunity to study optional modules. The number of optional modules you can choose will increase as your progress through your degree. This will add breadth and depth to your learning and enable you to personalise your degree towards your careers aspirations or interests.

Year two

Year two builds on the information you have acquired in your first year and sets it in an applied context. From carrying out research in the real world through an environmental impact assessment to advancing your fieldwork skills - our curriculum offers multiple opportunities to apply your learning to environments similar to those you may encounter in your career.

Final year

Your studies will culminate with the opportunity to unleash your creativity and apply the techniques you have acquired during your studies to create positive environmental change. Core modules will include a real-world sustainability project, final year dissertation and clean technology research. You will also have the flexibility to choose from a wide variety of optional modules.

Fieldwork

From mapping habitats and sampling invertebrates to social science approaches, fieldwork and engaging with outside people's perspectives is embedded into core modules throughout your studies to ensure you graduate with key sustainability research skills.

Fieldwork activities may include:

Environmental survey design
Plant and invertebrate identification
Sample collection and preservation
Social science research techniques
Soil assessment
Water quality assessment

Learn from our campus - our own 'living laboratory'

Our unique 600-acre campus offers a fantastic experimentation environment to perform fieldwork, test new ideas and discover solutions to real-world problems. From our lake system and extensive woodlands to the mining and industrial heritage of the local area, there are many opportunities to study in an authentic environment whilst practicing sustainably.

Enhance your employability

Employability is at the heart of our curriculum and we aim to equip you with the necessary theory and practice to support your graduate journey. Our year two employability module offers a variety of work relevant experiences. From project-based learning to research opportunities - you will learn about and experience a variety of career paths and identify skills that are essential in these roles. Between years two and three of your degree, there is also the opportunity to spend a year gaining work experience with an environmentally-related company or organisation. This will benefit you by providing familiarisation with the professional working environment and the opportunity to apply the skills and theories you have learnt.

International year

In between years two and three of your studies you can choose to spend a year studying abroad. This exciting opportunity enable you to experience different cultural perspectives and to establish international networks. It also shows you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences which can enhance your employability. We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.

Support

We offer a multi layered support structure to help you meet your academic and personal needs. Our open-door policy enables you to engage with us directly, meaning you can seek support, gain feedback or discuss any matters on a regular basis. You will also benefit from the support of an academic mentor and have access to Keele's Student Experience and Support team.

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society related to the field, is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies. This is another excellent way of demonstrating your genuine interest for the environment and sustainability and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles.

Next Steps

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Related Courses

Professional accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

Our Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) accreditation means you will graduate with the right knowledge, skills and tools to deliver value in a global economy.

‌ IEMA and IME accreditation logos

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Placement year International year Study abroad GCP Elective Pathways Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

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 and International students.

A Level requirements

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

GCSE requirements

Mathematics and Science at C (or 4)
English Language/Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

International Baccalaureate

29 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.

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

Preparation programmes for international students

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.

Next Steps

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Sector-leading in environmental education

At Keele we're leading the sector in sustainability, not just in our ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2030 but also through our teaching and our ground-breaking research into climate change and renewable technologies.

We are proud to be named Global Sustainability Institution of the Year (International Green Gown Awards, 2021), which demonstrates our commitment to embedding sustainability into all that we do.

Find out more about Keele’s commitment to sustainability.

Tam Bowyer, Environment and Sustainability student

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Central Science Laboratories

Develop your practical skills in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

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 undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

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.

The Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BA/BSc (Hons) Environment and Sustainability 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, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

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
FYO-00276	Foundations of Science and Sustainability	15 credits

Semester two modules

FYO-00195	Advancing Geography, Geology and the Environment	30 credits
FYO-00271	University Research Portfolio	30 credits

Entry requirements

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

Students will need to apply for BA/BSc (Hons) Environment and Sustainability with Foundation Year (UCAS code F750) through UCAS at www.ucas.com

Direct entry students

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

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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