Environmental Science
UCAS code F750
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Duration
- 3 years
- Start date and application deadlines
-
- Start date
About this course
Our Environmental Sciences BSc (Hons) degree focusses on real-world issues such as climate change, pollution, and resource exploitation and will prepare you to play your part in tackling those challenges.
Introduction
Understanding the complex interactions between the physical and biological environment and how humans influence them both is essential if we are to find solutions to the increasing global environmental challenges that face us today.
Our degree is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences and will give you an in-depth understanding of both natural and human-induced environmental problems. All of our modules centre on real-world issues and application including climate change, pollution, and natural hazards.
The key strength of our programme is the unique breadth of staff expertise in the School of Environmental Sciences. This allows you to choose from an extensive range of modules delivered by experts in their field using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. Your choices are guided by one of five module pathways themes: digital environments, ecology, oceans, society, sustainability, and the environment, and earth and surface processes.
These pathways ensure that our students graduate with the specialist skills and knowledge needed for their future careers, while also having the benefit of a wide-ranging education in Environmental Science.
From your first week to your final year, field classes are an integral part of your learning, giving you a chance to experience the environments that you are learning about and practice using industry-standard sampling and surveying approaches. In addition to making the most of Liverpool’s coastal location, you will also have the opportunity to undertake fieldwork in locations such as Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire, and the Peak District as well as options in Portugal.
A number of the School’s degree programmes involve laboratory and field work. Fieldwork is carried out in various locations, ranging from inner city to coastal and mountainous environments. We consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same basis as all other students, and reasonable adjustments will be considered to address barriers to access.
What you'll learn
- Small tutor groups (typically six-eight students) through all years
- High levels of field and lab-based teaching within the School of Environmental Sciences and in Europe’s most advanced teaching laboratories
- An emphasis on active, problem-based learning (learning by doing)
- Hands-on experience with cutting-edge laboratory technologies
- Opportunities to study abroad
- Supervised independent and group project work, including a final year independent research-based dissertation supervised by a dedicated expert in the field.
Accreditation
Our Environment Sciences BSc (Hons) course is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences.
Accreditation in detail
Institute of Environmental Sciences
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year one
Year one is based on five core modules that provide key skills and knowledge across the School of Environmental Sciences in the classroom, online, field and laboratory. These are supported by two optional modules to allow you to begin to explore what interests you most.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year two
Year two is comprised of three core modules (including a week-long field class), two modules from your chosen pathway, and three optional modules that you can choose from any pathway.
Modules
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FIELD CLASS (ENVS285) | 15 |
| RESEARCH SKILLS AND EMPLOYABILITY (ENVS203) | 15 |
| STATISTICS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS (ENVS222) | 15 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year three
Your final year dissertation is the only compulsory module, where you conduct a piece of original research on a topic of your choice. You have the option to take one of our field courses, which recently have included destinations such as the Cairngorms and the Algarve. You will have two core modules from your chosen pathway and up to four optional modules.
Modules
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| DISSERTATION (GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE) (ENVS321) | 30 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Teaching and assessment
How you'll learn
You will be assigned an academic adviser in each of the three years who will provide pastoral care and help you develop your skills for your chosen career path.
To help you meet the intellectual and practical challenges of studying Environmental Science, our programmes are taught using a student-centred approach, involving a range of learning experiences. These include:
- Small tutor groups (typically six-eight students) through all years
- High levels of field and lab-based teaching within the School of Environmental Sciences and in Europe’s most advanced teaching laboratories
- An emphasis on active, problem-based learning (learning by doing)
- Hands-on experience with cutting-edge laboratory technologies
- Supervised independent and group project work, including a final year independent research-based dissertation supervised by a dedicated expert in the field.
How you're assessed
Assessment methods are tailored to the specific needs of each module, and student progression from year to year. A key consideration is that they are designed around the styles of communication, types of problems encountered, and the skills needed, in commercial, research and public sector jobs. Methods include exams, assessed essays, laboratory and computer practicals, online tests, field assignments including field notebooks, poster presentations, research reports and oral presentations. Many assessments involve group work. You will complete a compulsory research project (dissertation) in the final year on a topic of your choice. This is your opportunity to develop skills as an independent researcher, supported on a one-to-one basis by an expert in the field.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:
- Digital fluency
- Confidence
- Global citizenship
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
- Research-connected teaching
- Active learning
- Authentic assessment
All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.
Entry requirements
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| A levels |
BBC |
| BTEC Level 3 national extended diploma |
DDM |
| BTEC combinations |
BTEC National Diploma DM plus a science subject at A level grade B; BTEC National Extended Certificate M plus a science subject at A level grade B another A level grade B. |
| Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced |
C in the Welsh Baccalaureate, plus BB at A level including a science subject at grade B. |
| Access |
Pass relevant Access to HE Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits with 27 at Distinction and 18 at Merit |
Course options
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
Global opportunities
University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide. Choose to spend a year at XJTLU in China or a year or semester at an institution of your choice.
Year in China
Immerse yourself in Chinese culture on an optional additional year at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in stunning Suzhou.
- Learn Chinese
- Study in a bustling world heritage city
- Improve employment prospects
- Study Chinese culture
- 30 minutes from Shanghai
- Learn new skills
Year abroad
Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.
- Choose from up-to 26 countries
- Experience another way of life
- Inspire your future career or studies
- Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
- More likely to earn higher salary
- More likely to be employed after graduating
Where can I spend a year abroad on this course?
- Australia
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- USA
Semester abroad
Take a semester of your second year of study at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
- Inspire your future career or studies
- Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
- More likely to earn higher salary
- More likely to be employed after graduating
Summer abroad
Spend a summer abroad on a study placement or research project at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
- Spend a summer abroad in addition to your degree programme
- Study abroad without adding an extra year
- Choose any summer between your first and final year of study
- Get the chance to study subjects outside your discipline
Where can I spend a summer abroad on this course?
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- South Korea
Year in industry
Year in industry placements give you an in-depth workplace experience where you can develop your skills and apply your learning.
- Develop key employability skills that graduate employers are looking for
- Experience and understand workplace culture and discipline
- Understand the relationship between academic theory and real world application
- Begin your professional network
- Gain industry insight and insight into potential career options.
You don't need to decide now - you can choose to add a year in industry after you've begun your degree.
To spend a year in industry, you'll need to secure a placement with an organisation. If you're unable to find a placement, you'll continue with the standard version of the course without a year in industry.
Language study
Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree. You can choose:
- A dedicated languages degree
- A language as a joint or major/minor degree
- Language modules (selected degrees)
- Language classes alongside your studies
Study as part of XJTLU 2+2
Students studying Environmental Science BSc at XJTLU can study this course at the University of Liverpool. Read more about Environmental Science BSc (Hons) as part of the 2+2 programme .
The natural next step for ambitious XJTLU students who want to build a brilliant career.
- Spend two years at the University of Liverpool campus
- Improve your prospects of progressing to postgraduate study at a top 100 university
- Receive two degrees: one from XJTLU, one from the University of Liverpool
- Get support with visas, accommodation and your career.
Your experience
At Liverpool, we place a great deal of emphasis on learning through experience. You will be taught in Europe’s most advanced teaching laboratories and will participate in a strong fieldwork programme that will help to prepare you for solving real work problems. You will have access to excellent resources, including research-level analytical equipment and computing facilities, and will be trained in industry-standard methods using materials donated by companies. Our Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences programmes will provide you with specific scientific training and equip you with a wide range of transferable skills valued by employers. You will graduate as a practical, confident and employable earth scientist.
We have a very active Earth Sciences student society – The Herdman society. The society runs academic and social events from guest lectures and field trips to gala dinners, symposiums and sports events.
Explore where you'll study
Why Environmental Sciences?
Hear about why studying an environmental science courses with the University of Liverpool is unlike anything else.
Studying Environmental Science BSc (Hons)
Discover what you’ll study, the facilities and resources you’ll have access to, and how we’ll prepare you for your future career.
Virtual tour
Supporting your learning
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
- Careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
- A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
- Confidential counselling and support to help students with personal problems affecting their studies and general wellbeing
- Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
I have found that I am learning and understanding ideas in a more in-depth way and linking the theory we are taught about within our modules to everyday situations such as environmental crises on the news.
Chat with our students
Want to find out more about student life?
Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
Careers and employability
Environmental Science at Liverpool is focused on providing you with the key knowledge and practical skills to be successful within the environmental sector, such as report writing, field and laboratory practical skills, oral presentations, project planning, and coding and modelling skills.
Recent Environmental Science graduates have been employed in roles within the sector such as:
- Conservation management
- Environmental consultancy
- Geotechnical surveying
- Sustainability consultancy.
Other roles outside of our immediate sector have included Accountancy and Education.
As part of your degree the following work experience opportunities are available:
- Work-based dissertation in your final year, where you work with a local business on a project applied to environmental sciences
- Year two semester one: studying abroad with one of our exchange partners across North America
- ‘Year in China’ option: where you are taught about Chinese language and culture in addition to studying environmental science-related modules at Liverpool’s sister university, XJTLU.