University of Brighton
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Environmental Sciences
BSc(Hons)

  • Course summary and entry requirements

    Course duration Help

    Full-time: 3 years

    Part-time: 6 years

    Sandwich: 4 years

    UCAS code F901

    About the course

    One of the major challenges for human society is to understand and address environmental issues resulting from population growth, global climate change and ecosystem degradation. This course applies both theory and practice to produce graduates with a breadth of skills relevant to a career in the environmental sector. Within the course structure students have the flexibility and choice to develop personal programmes of study which suit their interests and ambitions.

    Typical entry requirements Help

    The entry requirements listed here are for students starting their course in 2013. Individual offers may vary

    UCAS tariff:
    BBB. Must include a relevant science. Applicants with only two full A-levels or a double award will be considered on an individual basis.

    General Studies will count towards the tariff score.

    ND/C (Level 3):
    MMM.

    International Baccalaureate:
    32 points, specified subjects.

    QAA-approved access course:
    acceptable, subject-specific units.

    GCSE (minimum grade C):
    at least three subjects including English language and mathematics or a science.

    Foundation degree/HND
    /HNC direct to year 2.

    For non-native speakers of English:
    IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

  • Course content

    Course structure

    There is an emphasis on practical and applied learning in a supportive environment. Year 1 provides a foundation for understanding environmental sciences. This introduction underpins a wide range of module options in years 2 and 3, allowing you to focus on areas that interest you most. Emphasis is placed on transferable skills, including a choice of international fieldwork and training for research and careers.

    In year 1 fieldwork in Greece examines ecology, environmental management and hazards. Recent destinations in year 2 have included Sicily for geomorphological, vegetation and pollution studies, North Africa for relationships between humans and the environment or South Africa for wildlife conservation and management.

    The dissertation project is a major part of the final year and further develops independence in research, analytical and documentation skills. Option modules in each semester provide opportunities to study languages or related sciences. Job-related skills can be enhanced by taking a year-long work or community placement, as well as by studying volunteering and community engagement option modules.

    Areas of study

    The course is structured around four pathways - environmental management and sustainability; environmental hazards; ecology and conservation, and environmental pollution.

    Syllabus

    Year 1
    Ecological Processes
    Field work
    Physical Geography
    Global Environmental Issues and Management
    Environmental Chemistry
    Environmental Hazards
    Skills for Independent Learning
    Data Presentation and Analysis for Environmental Scientists

    Options
    Citizenship for the Environment
    Elements of Chemistry
    Evolutionary Biology
    Fundamentals of Geology
    Human Physiology
    Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks
    Interpreting Geological Maps
    Mathematical Skills for Scientists
    Mineralogy and Petrology
    Physiological Ecology
    The Global Earth System
    The Ocean Planet: an introduction
    Modern languages

    Year 2
    Advanced Data Analysis
    Skills for Research and Careers
    Biology Fieldwork (Sicily)
    Geography Fieldwork (North Africa)

    Options:
    Alternative and renewable Energy
    Applied Palaeontology
    Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology
    Climate Change
    Community Participation and Development
    Contemporary Rural Geography
    Ecological Techniques
    Environmental and Spatial Planning
    Environmental Conservation and Management
    Environmental Hazards
    Environmental Pollution and Control
    Evolution and Diversity
    Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry
    Fundamentals of Environmental Microbiology
    Geographic Information Systems
    Geographies of Everyday Life
    Ice Age Earth
    Independent study module
    Introduction to Marine Biology and Ecology
    Introduction to Remote Sensing
    Sedimentology
    Soil and Water Analysis
    Structure of the Earth and Global Processes
    Sustainable Development
    Water in the Landscape

    Optional placement year

    Final year
    Independent Geography or Ecology project

    Options
    Advanced Analytical Methodology
    Air Quality Management
    Applied Ecology & Conservation
    Applied Remote Sensing
    Biogeography
    Case Studies in Environmental Pollution
    Coastal Environments
    Community Participation and Development
    Environmental Assessment
    Environmental Change in Low Latitudes
    Evolution and the Fossil Record
    Freshwater Processes and Ecosystems
    Geohazards
    Geographical Information Systems 2
    Hydrogeology
    Independent study module
    Introduction to Remote sensing
    Medical Geography
    Molecular Ecology
    Oceanography
    Planetary Geology
    Plant and Animal Interactions
    Political Ecology
    Water and Health
    Wetland Environments
    Biology Field Skills
    Modern languages

    You can view the programme specification for this course as a PDF file by clicking on the link below:

    Programme Specification

  • Fees and costs

    The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

    The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

    What's included in the fee?

    When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

    You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

    Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

    BSc Hons Environmental Sciences  [P2EG001]
    UK/EU (Full Time)9,000 GBP
    Island Students (Full Time)9,000 GBP
    International (Full Time)12,500 GBP

  • Location

    Location Help Moulsecoomb

    Located to the north of Brighton city centre, the Moulsecoomb campus offers students an excellent learning environment and a wide range of facilities. It is the largest of our five campuses with over 8,000 students.

    View campus maps and directions

    Living in Brighton

    Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.

    Social scene

    Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.

    Music event on the beach

    Arts

    The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.

    Burning the Clocks winter solstice festival

    Sports

    Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.

    Playing volleyball on the seafront

  • Staff profiles

    Dr Graeme Awcock

    Graeme's research interests are centred on image acquisition and processing, specifically remote sensing technology and its wide-ranging applications to environmental monitoring.  He also has interests in well engineered solutions for distributed micro-generation.

  • Student views

    Hollie Walker

    There's a great range of choices and you can steer towards geology, geography, ecology or biology.

    This degree enabled me to discover my passion for conservation, ecology and environmental hazards. By my final year I was able to specialise in environmental management and conservation.

    Now I am the Red Squirrel Officer for the North East of Scotland, giving me the opportunity to make a real difference to the survival of an iconic native species in Scotland. My job is to raise awareness for the red squirrels’ plight, advise landowners on the best habitat management techniques to help red squirrels thrive and lead a co-ordinated and strategic approach to grey squirrel control.

  • Career opportunities

    There is an increasing demand for numerate, environmentally aware graduates, who are able to adapt quickly and communicate their results effectively. Graduates play immediately relevant roles in nature conservation, recycling and waste management, environmental planning, consultancy and management, or proceed to further study and research.

    Visit the careers service website.




Application process
Book your open day place
Find out more

01273 642288
Email entec@brighton.ac.uk

If you are an international student, contact us on:

+44 (0) 207 250 6749
international@brighton.ac.uk

 

Visit the school that delivers this course

Read the subject brochure

Six reasons to study geography, geology and environment at the University of Brighton