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Environment and Sustainability - BSc (Hons) or BA (Hons)

Year of entry: 2021
Course type: Single 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: FD84

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Course overview

This course crosses the traditional divide between the natural and social sciences, providing the necessary holistic perspective to understand environment and sustainability issues, and to develop strategies to work towards a more sustainable future.

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

Tam Bowyer, Environment and Sustainability

"The whole environment at Keele is really geared up to facilitate you achieving above and beyond your maximum potential" - read more about Tam Bowyer, Environment and Sustainability

Ajeet Panesar, Environment and Sustainability

"The flexibility in essay topics for many of the degree’s modules allowed me to explore my interests in electric vehicle technology" - read more about Ajeet Panesar, Environment and Sustainability

Rosemary Ward, Environment and Sustainability

"My BSc Environment and Sustainability provided me with a good sound basis for writing essays and in the work life, writing reports." - read more about Rosemary Ward, Environment and Sustainability

Chloe Robison-Smith, Environment and Sustainability

"Keele is a great place to study. I spent the best three years of my life there, made lifelong friends and got a career out of it too!" - read more about Chloe Robison-Smith, Environment and Sustainability

Benjamin Wallbridge, Environment and Sustainability

"The work placement module proved to be invaluable, as it laid the groundwork for a job offer once I graduated." - read more about Benjamin Wallbridge, Environment and Sustainability

Gemma Needham, Environment and Sustainability

"Keele University is such a welcoming and exciting place to study and work. I gained so much more than a degree during my 3 years at Keele." - read more about Gemma Needham, Environment and Sustainability

Alex Davies, Environment and Sustainability

"As soon as you arrive, you’re in the Keele bubble and you’ll never want to leave. It’s a great place to learn, live and make lots of friends." - read more about Alex Davies, Environment and Sustainability

Detailed course information

Year One

The first year is a broad-based introductory programme that provides a platform from which knowledge, understanding and skills are developed. During the first year, you will gain an understanding of different environmental problems and sustainability issues through both natural and social science perspectives. In addition, you will develop skills in the practical application of this understanding, including how these issues are tackled within different business environments. Two residential field courses at UK destinations are typically held in year one, during which students investigate environment and sustainability case studies and develop field skills.

In addition to the core modules you have a wide range of option modules to choose from which have previously included: Global Warming or a New Ice Age, Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Introductory Environmental Chemistry, Entrepreneurship, Living together: Behaviours, Cooperation and Conflict, or you can learn a language, or take any other free elective run by the University.

Year Two

In the second year a more in depth understanding of specific environmental and sustainability disciplines is gained, including a more detailed examination of corporate social responsibility, the links between health and the environment, the politics and international relations of the environment and the scientific study of human impacts on the environment. You will also take a 2-week work placement with personalised intended learning outcomes to gain invaluable workplace experience and professional development. In addition, you will continue to develop practical-based research skills to help prepare you for your third year independent research project and learn about environmental and sustainability impact assessments. The second year also includes a residential field course e.g. to the Lake District or Bordeaux (see ‘Field Courses’), providing exciting opportunities to study environment and sustainability issues in the ‘real world’.

Year Three

The third year facilitates greater specialisation in your areas of interest. With support from a research project advisor, you will undertake an independent research project worth two modules, tailored to your individual research interests. You will also conduct a group-based research project on a topical area of environment and sustainability research, and an interdisciplinary investigation on aspects of different environmental and renewable technologies.

In addition, you have a broad range of taught modules to choose from, spanning topics which have previously included Applied Geographic Information Systems, Natural Hazards, Water Resources, Conservation Biology, Global Environmental Change, Environmental Politics in the US, Environmental Crimes, Happiness and Wellbeing, Education for Global Citizenship. Your module and dissertation topic choices will determine whether you get a BSc or BA degree.

This course can also be taken as a 4-year with Work Placement degree programme, or a 4-year with International Year degree programme.

Foundation year

Foundation Year Overview

If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into the BA/BSc (Hons) Environment and Sustainability 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.

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 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 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 BA/BSc (Hons) Environment and Sustainability with Foundation Year (UCAS code F750) 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 can be made through UCAS using the UCAS codes below.

Y002 - International Foundation Year (IFY)

Career prospects

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

Keele’s Environment and Sustainability programme is a leader in its field in the UK, offering an exciting way to look at a subject of major relevance to today’s society and to put it into different global contexts. Graduates in Environment and Sustainability might go on to further study, or enter careers in a wide range of disciplines and organisations – perhaps in business or industry where sustainability concerns are becoming ever more part of core business, or with a non-governmental organisation; charity; local, regional or central government; environmental consultancy; or an environmental regulatory body.

All organisations, from private business to local government, increasingly need to engage with environmental and sustainability issues; hence this is one of the fastest growing areas of employment with a wide range of employment opportunities. Previous students have progressed to careers in environmental and sustainability consultancy and regulation, conservation, science writing, national government policy, environmental charities, teaching, transport planning, environmental education and environmental health. This course also provides excellent training for postgraduate study and research.

To make sure you’re prepared for a range of work, you’ll carry out a work placement and engage with environmental professionals and real world case studies including environmental impact assessments and technical reports, mimicking work in different areas of environmental employment. You also have the opportunity to complete a Work Placement Year to develop further experience as part of your degree.

Jobs that a graduate of this course could go on to do:

Waste Management Officer
Recycling Officer
Nature Conservation Officer
Environmental Education Officer
Logistics & Distribution
Environmental Health Manager Practitioner
Local Government Officer
Primary Teacher
Trading Standards Officer
Town Planner

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.