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Environmental Science

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B-B,B,C

112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, with 32 points from a Science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics).

112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma (Science).

Cambridge Pre-U score of 46-50, to include a Principal Subject in Science (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics) at M3.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English, Mathematics and Science at grade C or above, or equivalent/GCSE English, Mathematics and Science at grade 4 or above, or equivalent.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

25

25 points from the IB Diploma, to include 3 Higher Level subjects, with 5 points from a Higher Level in a Science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics). 4 points from Standard Level English and Mathematics (if not passed at GCSE grade C or above).

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H3,H3,H3,H4-H3,H3,H3,H3,H3


To include a Higher Level Science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics) at H3.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM-DMM

Must be in a Science based subject.

112-120 Tariff points to include a minimum of 2 Advanced Highers, to include a Science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics) at grade D.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

T Level

M

Acceptable T Level Subjects: T Level in Health, T Level in Healthcare Science, T Level in Science

UCAS Tariff

112-120

112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent, with 32 points from a Science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics).

112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 1 A level with 32 points from a Science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics), plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Environmental sciences

**This is a Connected Degree**
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

**Overview**
Environmental scientists deal with the big questions facing humanity.

If you want to tackle climate change and preserve Earth's natural resources, this BSc (Hons) Environmental Science degree, accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), will prepare you for the challenges ahead.

If you want to tackle climate change and preserve Earth's natural resources, this BSc (Hons) Environmental Science degree, accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), will prepare you for the challenges ahead. You'll gain an understanding of the human threats to the natural world and develop the skills to reduce impacts and find solutions needed for a sustainable future.

- Work in our labs using the same technology as the world's leading environmental researchers – including plasma spectrometry and electron microscopy

- Boost your professional experience by doing a work placement

- Acquire key environmental monitoring and laboratory skills in our highly equipped analytical labs – including nutrient autoanalysers and heavy metal analysis via ICP-OES and ICP-MS

- Develop research skills – learning from world-leading environmental science experts

- Gain essential skills on field trips across various settings, including terrestrial and freshwater habitats in Somerset, rocky shore ecology at Lulworth Cove, island environments in Malta and tropical ecosystems in Malaysia

- Build experience on a one-year work placement in industry, or study abroad at one of our partner universities in Canada, Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain, Malta, Slovakia, Hungary or France

- Develop additional practical skills through RYA power boating and PADI-certified scientific and technical diving courses

**Accredited by:**
This course is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).

**Careers and opportunities**
As our understanding of environmental cause and effect continues to develop, environmental scientists are in high demand, including within the many sectors and industries tasked with reducing their environmental footprint.

You'll examine the physical and social aspects of environmental issues and develop practical skills to carry out your own environmental research, including analysing pollutants, soil structure and water quality.

Once you graduate, you'll be ready to go after jobs in academia, business or government in a wide range of environmental specialties.

You'll be able to apply for Associate Membership of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and with more experience, you could work to become a Chartered Scientist (CSci) or Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv). Chartered Membership of the IES is required in many environmental careers.

You could also continue your studies at postgraduate level, such as on our MSc Geological and Environmental Hazards or MSc Environmental Geology and Contamination.

**What jobs can you do with an environmental science degree?**
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- environmental chemist

- environmental technician

- environment and sustainability coordinator

- geographic information scientist

- hydrologist

- climate change modeller

- chemical risk advisor

- marine scientist

- ecologist

- conservation officer

- environmental policy officer

**Graduate roles**
Organisations our graduates have gone on to work for include:
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)

- Alcatel Submarine Networks

- Rentokil Initial

- Eurofins

- Network Rail

- Portsmouth Water

Modules

Year 1

Core modules in this year include: 

Analysis of the Earth and Environment – 20 credits
Ecology, Plants and Human Impact – 20 credits
Environmental Processes and Hazards – 20 credits
Global Environmental Challenges – 20 credits
Introduction to Marine Ecology and Oceanography – 20 credits
Planet Earth – 20 credits

There are no optional modules in this year.

Year 2

Core modules in this year include:

Environmental Chemistry and Monitoring – 20 credits
GIS and Remote Sensing – 20 credits
Research, Fieldwork and Professional Skills – 40 credits

Optional modules in this year include:

Energy Resources and the Science of Zero Carbon – 20 credits
Environmental Change – 20 credits
Hydrology and Geoenvironmental Risk – 20 credits
Introduction to Teaching – 20 credits
Institution Wide Language Programme – 20 credits
Overseas Study – 60 credits
Overseas Study Research and Fieldwork Skills – 20 credits
Practical Boating Skills – 20 credits
River Processes – 20 credits
Scientific and Technical Diving Techniques A – 20 credits
Scientific and Technical Diving Techniques B – 20 credits
Sustainable Environmental Management – 20 credits
Transport and Sustainability – 20 credits

Placement year

On this course, you can do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in industry.

We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.

Year 3

Core modules in this year include: 

Dissertation – 40 credits
Environmental Assessment and Management – 20 credits
Environmental Pollution and Waste Management – 20 credits

Optional modules in this year include:

Analytical Methods For Earth and Environmental Sciences – 20 credits
Climate Change – 20 credits
Conservation Biogeography – 20 credits
European Study Tour – 20 credits
Tropical Study Tour – 20 credits

Assessment methods

You’ll be assessed through:
- field work or lab notebook recordings
- reports
- site surveys
- computer-based exercises
- oral presentation and essays
- posters
- presentations

The way you're assessed will depend on the modules you select throughout your course. Here's an example from a previous academic year of how students on this course were typically assessed:
- Year 1 students: 52% by written exams, 8% by practical exams and 40% by coursework
- Year 2 students: 40% by written exams, 12% by practical exams and 48% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 33% by written exams, 4% by practical exams and 63% by coursework

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£9,250
per year
International
£19,200
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Portsmouth

Department:

Faculty of Science and Health

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

84%
Environmental sciences

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Environmental sciences

Teaching and learning

80%
Staff make the subject interesting
97%
Staff are good at explaining things
79%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
68%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

84%
Library resources
95%
IT resources
83%
Course specific equipment and facilities
63%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

87%
UK students
13%
International students
53%
Male students
47%
Female students
73%
2:1 or above
14%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Environmental sciences

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£20,500
med
Average annual salary
95%
med
Employed or in further education
43%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

21%
Other elementary services occupations
10%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
10%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Environmental sciences

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£19k

£19k

£24k

£24k

£28k

£28k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here