BSc (Hons) Environmental Science

If you haven’t applied to the University of Plymouth for September 2019 entry, prior to the UCAS deadline, there may still be vacancies on your chosen course.

It’s not too late to apply

• In the 2018 National Student Survey (NSS), 90 per cent of students agreed that the course was intellectually stimulating 93 per cent of students agreed that staff were good at explaining things and 95 per cent were satisfied with the quality of the course*.
  
• Benefit from enthusiastic, supportive staff and teaching informed by our renowned research.
• Take part in regular UK and overseas fieldwork in destinations such as Dartmoor National Park, Malaysia and Malta, where you will explore and study terrestrial and marine environmental systems.
• Experience in-depth coverage of natural sciences in the context of cultural and economic systems.
• Learn about the latest actions and technological developments in the struggle against climate change.
• Deepen your knowledge through our international exchange programme with the USA, Canada, Australia and various European countries.
• Hone your skills and knowledge with a wealth of facilities, including our marine research vessel Falcon Spirit, high specification laboratories and analytical facilities, LABplus and our new Marine Station. 
• LABplus is a unique open access laboratory and resource centre designed for students studying science and engineering courses. The lab provides a flexible workspace, computing facilities, specialist software, access to microscopes, microscope cameras and bespoke resources. 
• Develop your employability with placement opportunities in the UK and abroad, with organisations such as Kew Gardens, Pell Frischmann, The National Trust and Hyder Consulting Ltd.
• Qualify as a professional diver (HSE SCUBA) as part of your second year of study. 
• Increase your confidence with support from student mentors in our externally recognised peer assisted learning scheme, PALS.

• Year 1
• In your first year, you'll establish solid foundations across a range of scientific, legal and economic subject areas in order to explore environmental challenges and enable you to propose solutions. Field and laboratory work are key, and our residential field course promotes team building and provides you with an opportunity to gain experience with scientific equipment and data interpretation. Your personal tutor will support and guide you throughout the course.

  Core modules

  • ENVS1002 The Physical Environment

    Introduction to the earth's lithosphere and hydrosphere and investigation of geochemical cycles.

  • ENVS1003 The Biosphere

    This module will describe, illustrate and explain principles, processes and concepts relevant to understanding life on Earth and human impacts upon it.

  • ENVS1007 Environmental Pollution

    Introduction to chemical properties and environmental behaviour of priority pollutants and training in the skills of scientific research by way of planning, field, laboratory work and data interpretation.

  • ENVS1008 Environmental Management and Protection

    Introductory aspects of environmental sustainability. Critical evaluation of social, environmental and economic aspects of the environmental issues faced by our planet and how they may be solved by using regulation, the law, corporate social responsibility, specific European Union directives, impact assessments and environmental management systems.

  • ENVS1009 Sustainability Science

    Students are introduced to environmental systems and sustainability at a variety of scales. Training in the skills of environmental investigations is delivered through field and laboratory work. Personal and professional development are supported through tutorials and workshops focusing on transferable skills and professionalism.

  • ENVS1010 Global Environmental Challenges

    Students will consider contemporary global sustainability challenges in the context of social, economic and environmental systems. Within this inter-disciplinary framework, students explore and formulate solutions to a range of complex problems and consider the role of environmental sector professional operating across a variety of scales.

• Year 2
• Year 2 covers core themes including economics and resources, sustainable development, environmental law and policy. Your scientific knowledge and research skills will develop through a residential field course in Malaysia, Malta or Cornwall. Our optional diving module will qualify you for underwater work with the HSE SCUBA certification. You'll also have the opportunity to study the following topics: biodiversity and conservation; climate change; marine conservation; environmental management.

  Core modules

  • APIE215 Placement Preparation for Environmental Science

    This module is designed to assist students in their search and preparation for a work placement and careers. It is aimed at students who would like to undertake the work placement to enhance both programme specific and employment-related skills during Stage 3 and preparation for future careers.

  • ENVS2001 Environmental Field and Research Skills

    A range of professional skills, including report writing, GIS, statistics and field and laboratory techniques are developed. Generic principles of scientific research are explored and subsequently applied to a range of environmental settings.

  • ENVS2002 Environmental Expedition

    Students engage in the full cycle of a scientific project: literature research, hypothesis development, experiment planning, field-laboratory work, health & safety issues, data analysis and presentation. Personal development planning and professional skills are advanced in preparation for and during a residential field course through contact with professionals in the environmental sector.

  • ENVS2003 Environmental Management and Sustainability

    The module covers areas of knowledge essential for all environmental science graduates: ecological economics, life supporting resources and environmental law.

  Optional modules

  • ENVS2004 Environmental Issues and Communication

    Through immersion in contemporary environmental issues, this module develops the knowledge and skills necessary to locate, analyse, evaluate and communicate scientific information in a range of contexts and to a range of audiences. Students develop their professional skills, as well as the skills to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and decision makers, from scientific experts to the general public.

  • ENVS2005 Weather and Climate

    Understanding weather and climate is essential for developing in-depth knowledge on how climate is changing today and will change in the future. This module will develop intellectual and practical skills in critical analysis of weather and climate data. In addition, an examination of the scientific evidence for current and predicted effects of weather and climate will be addressed.

  • ENVS2006 Natural Ecosystems and Their Conservation

    This module introduces students to natural ecosystems, including (but not limited to) biological adaptation, diversity, conservation, restoration and management.

  • ENVS2007 Environmental Pollution

    This module introduces students to the science, management and regulation of environmental pollution including contaminant sources, pathways and impacts.

  • OS205 Managing Human Impacts in the Marine Environment

    This module will introduce how human activities (such as fisheries, energy supply and mineral extraction) can impact the marine environment, including through pollution and biodiversity loss. The concepts of marine management and conservation will be introduced and methods of preventing and managing anthropogenic impacts will be introduced and evaluated and their role in marine conservation discussed.

  • OS207 Scientific Diving

    This module allows suitably qualified students (HSE SCUBA or equivalent) to develop industry and research-relevant skills in measurement and monitoring in the underwater environment using professional SCUBA and related techniques. These will then be applied in a multi-disciplinary context to the planning, execution, analysis and reporting of a field-based sampling activity.

• Optional placement year
• You can take an optional placement year before completing your degree, an invaluable opportunity to gain workplace experience from research institutes, companies and government organisations. Previous placements have included the Marine Biological Association (marine ecology, surveying and conservation), Pell Frischmann (environmental consultancy), the National Trust (landscape and habitat conservation), Kew Royal Botanic Gardens (species inventories), and the Eden Project (ecological studies).

  Core modules

  • APIE317 Work Placement in Environmental Science

    This module provides an opportunity for professional training of at least six months duration with an approved company or host organisation between stage 2 and 4. While on placement, students will gain experience of how environmental science is used in the workplace, be able to apply their environmental knowledge and expertise, and learn further skills and relevant techniques.

• Final year
• In the final year, you will develop an understanding of concepts and practice of environmental impact assessment. You’ll learn how to debate and evaluate contemporary environmental issues, and your research project will see you working alongside world-leading scientists in state-of-the-art facilities. A choice of modules across four pathways allows you to pursue interests within the areas of climate change, environmental management and sustainability, biodiversity and conservation, and marine conservation.

  Core modules

  • ENVS3004 Interdisciplinary Approaches to Environmental Science

    This module provides an introduction to the process of environmental impact assessment, including planning and best practice guidance. It provides critical evaluation of political and legislative aspects of EU environmental policy. It examines the fate and regulation of chemicals in the environment and provides an insight into selected aspects of environmental economics.

  • ENVS3005 Global Environmental Perspectives

    A series of contemporary issues in environmental science will be considered in an objective, scientific and interdisciplinary manner with opposing viewpoints being debated by the learner. The material will be supported with guest lectures, seminars and workshops.

  Optional modules

  • ENVS3001 Research Project

    An independent research project in a specific aspect of environmental science.

  • ENVS3003 Research Project with English Language Support

    An independent research project in a specific aspect of environmental science. Students will attend English language support sessions that apply scientific language in a research context and that aid adaptation to a different culture/ethos of research and plagiarism. Available to non-UK direct entrant Stage 4 students.

  • ENVS3009 Waste Management

    The module covers all aspects of waste management, including policy and regulation, and centres on the EU Waste Framework Directive, technology used to treat wastes and their long term sustainability. Critical evaluation of today's waste management practices are provided taking account of statutory, voluntary and economic measures, drawing on case studies from the UK, EU and the rest of the world.

  • ENVS3011 Climate Change: Adaptation and Mitigation

    The module introduces climate change adaptation and mitigation. Biotic and technological mitigation will be explored and evaluated in the context of different geographical settings.

  • GGP3204 Biological Conservation

    This module examinee the pursuit of biological conservation. Drawing on a wide range of case study material, in temperate and tropical, terrestrial and aqueous environments, the module examines the drivers and rationales for biological conservation, and the role of stakeholders, policies, legislation and practices in achieving it.

  • OS307 Marine Conservation Policy and Planning

    This module explores issues surrounding the maintenance of a healthy marine environment. It will develop an understanding of marine governance, including policy frameworks and agencies responsible for implementing marine conservation strategy. Topics include the range of measures and approaches for successful marine conservation and the importance of taking holistic approaches to management, including policy and planning

  • OS309 Marine Pollution and Environmental Change

    This module will consider the sources, transport, sinks and impacts of a wide range of pollutant types (including nutrients, trace elements, sediments, anthropogenic pollutants and carbon dioxide). Practical field techniques will be introduced and used to assess the environmental condition of estuarine waters. Emphasis will be placed on critical evaluating the links between human activities and marine water quality.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc Environmental Science programme specification 4704

UCAS tariff

104 - 112