BSc (Hons) Environmental Science with Foundation Year

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

Our graduates have excellent career prospects; currently they work in over 50 countries e.g. UK, China, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America and South East Asia. 

Your core skills, subject specialisms and transferable skills equip you for a wide range of occupations, for example in industry using environmental management to mitigate climate change impacts or environmental consultancy working on projects ranging from habit surveys, air pollution, water quality, contaminated land, flood defence through to impact assessments of renewable energies or being involved with Crossrail in London.

Other potential work areas could include marine/terrestrial conservation with, for example, Natural England, a local Council environment officer, the Environment Agency, media, the UN, universities, teaching, research and many other sectors.

Fieldwork – as there is no substitute for learning by ‘seeing and doing’ you will take part in a substantial amount of fieldwork through each degree in the UK and overseas Malaysia, China and Malta when you will apply the latest techniques in the laboratory and the field. 

These four year degrees incorporate a foundation year and progression into either degree. Great if your current qualifications don’t allow you direct entry to the course or if you have been out of education for some time.

Tutorial support – benefit from a full tutorial support programme being taught key soft transferable skills as well as having the opportunity to ask questions about the degrees. Running alongside this is Peer Assisted Learning (PALS) lead by students ahead of you so you can ask questions and get a student’s perspective.

Subject specialisms – as part of your BSc Environmental Science degree you can stand out in subject specialisms in your future careers by choosing from the optional pathways, marine conservation, climate change, biodiversity and conservation and environmental management. If you are studying BSc Environmental Management and Sustainability degree you will be able to also stand out in your subject area by studying, for example, the impact of the built environment and society, or sustainability, environmental education and global environmental politics as well as e.g. climate change. 

A further option in both degrees is to qualify as an HSE scuba diver and utilise your marine skills in this exciting arena. Whichever degree you will apply the latest lab and field techniques, integrating extensive fieldwork in the UK and overseas (Malaysia, Malta in Year 2), as there is no substitute for learning by ‘seeing and doing’.

Work placements – really enhance your employability by gaining real world work experience via an optional, 6 week or 6–12 month work placement in the UK, EU or further overseas such as Australia, Madagascar, Costa Rica, Ecuador, choosing from exciting opportunities in e.g. consultancy, conservation, NGO’s, EA, marine sectors. You will benefit from an Environmental Science Careers Fair specific to your sector to see how previous students gained a job in their area as well as build your all important employer networks.

• Foundation Year

• We'll provide you with an introduction to environmental science and an overview of key issues and solutions. You'll also develop independent, reflective and self-managed approaches to study, being taught for example, scientific writing, time management and mathematical skills as well as other key soft skills that enhance your employability. You will study the two core modules Environmental Science and Study and Mathematical Skills for Science and also choose two of the optional module pathways, these being biology, chemistry, physics or mathematics and statistics for science with the requirement that to study e.g. Chemistry 2 in semester two you will need to have taken Chemistry 1 in semester 1.

  Core modules

  • ENVS001 Environmental Science

    To provide an Introduction to environmental science and an overview of the key issues and solutions

  • GEES001 Study and Mathematical Skills for Science

    This module is designed to enable learners to adapt to the Higher Education Learning Environment by the development of a more independent, reflective and self-managed approach to study, learning, scientific writing, time management and mathematical skills for the study of science.

  Optional modules

  • BIO012 Biology 1

    This module introduces students to the study of biology and its fundamental importance as a cornerstone of modern science. No prior knowledge is required or assumed. The emphasis is on understanding some of the core principles of biology, and applying these across the breadth of the subject. To ensure that key practical skills are developed, the module will incorporate many hands-on learning experiences.

  • BIO013 Biology 2

    This module builds on the core ideas introduced in BIO012, introducing a range of additional biological concepts. There will be a strong emphasis on applying scientific principles to a wide range of topics in biology, including many hands-on learning experiences to ensure that key practical skills are developed.

  • CHM009 Chemistry 1

    This module introduces students into the world of chemistry and its fundamental importance as a cornerstone of science. No prior knowledge of science is required and the emphasis is on applying the principals of chemistry across a wide subject area, with many hands-on learning experiences.

  • CHM010 Chemistry 2

    This module is designed to build on the knowledge, understanding and skills inculcated in CHM009 and to provide an introduction to the fundamentals of organic Chemistry at a level sufficient for entry to the degree programmes offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering, including the Chemistry Degree programmes.

  • MATH019 Mathematics and Statistics for Science

    This module provides the basic mathematical background to enable learners to progress to honours degree programmes in science.

  • PHY009 Physics 1

    This module introduces students into the world of physics and its fundamental importance as the cornerstone of science. Little prior knowledge of science is required and the emphasis is on applying the principals of physics in all areas of science with many hands-on learning experiences.

  • PHY010 Physics 2

    This module is designed to build on the knowledge, understanding and skills inculcated in PHY009 and to provide an introduction to the fundamentals of thermodynamics, environmental physics, nuclear physics, AC Theory and magnetics, at a level sufficient for entry to the degree programmes offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

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 With Foundation Year programme specification 5475

UCAS tariff

32 - 48

A level: 56 points including at least one science A level, excluding general studies.

BTEC: 18 Unit BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma MMP in a science related subject.

BTEC National Diploma modules
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.

Access: pass an Access to HE Diploma (e.g science/combined studies/natural sciences). 

International Baccalaureate: 24 points overall to include 3 at Higher Level science subject. English and mathematics must be included.

GCSE: English and mathematics grade C / 4 or above.

For all admission information and queries please contact our admissions tutor John Bull or Richard Sandford who is the Environmental Science Foundation Year lead who will be pleased to discuss options.

Applications from students with non-standard qualifications, including those without science qualifications at Level 3, are welcomed and are assessed on an individual basis. This course is also suitable for those returning to study who can offer work or other related experience in place of formal qualifications and who have the equivalent of basic mathematical, English and science skills (i.e. the equivalent of a grade C at GCSE level).

For a full list of all acceptable qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.