Environmental Science with Foundation Year
University of Southampton
UCAS Code: F903 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
University of Southampton
UCAS Code: F903 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
ABB at A-level to include no more than one science subject relevant to your application.
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits overall with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 at Merit.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
D3, M2, M2 to include no more than one science subject from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Psychology and Geography. Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A Levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer, where D3 can be used in lieu of A Level grade A or grade M2 can be used in lieu of grade B.
Extended Project
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: BBB to include no more than one relevant science subject and grade A in the EPQ
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Pass with 32 points overall with a minimum of 16 points at Higher Level, to include no more than one relevant science subject. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP): The University of Southampton accepts the IBCP for entry to their degree programmes, recognising the value of combining academic skills with practical skills, providing a solid preparation for university level work. Offers will be made on the individual components of the IBCP. Applicants not taking the full IBCP but presenting with a combination of a Level 3 vocational qualification and IB Certificates may still be considered. Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H1, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3 to include no more than one science subject from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Studies, Geography and Geology.
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
DD + B at A-Level (or equivalent), to include no more than one relevant science subject.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
D + AB at A-Level (or equivalent), to include no more than one relevant science subject.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
to include Distinctions in the majority of modules.
Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
to include Distinctions in the majority of modules
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DD + B at A-level (or equivalent) to include no more than one relevant science subject
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
D + AB at A-Level (or equivalent), to include no more than one relevant science subject.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
to include Distinctions in the majority of modules
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information. Applicants are also required to have achieved a pass in Maths and English at Standard Grade Grade 3 or National 5 Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/Grade 4.
We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject). Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4.
T Level
An overall distinction with grade A in the core element
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
ABB from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate and two A-Levels, to include no more than one relevant science subject.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
The Science Foundation Year can be your route onto a science degree at Southampton if you haven’t studied the necessary subjects to meet our direct entry requirements. If you can achieve ABB at A Level, or are a mature student with relevant skills and experience, then this course can be your way into the sciences.
Our foundation year offers you a rapid introduction to biology, chemistry and mathematics, equipping you with the knowledge, skills and attributes that are needed to meet the challenges of your chosen undergraduate degree. You will undertake laboratory work and a variety of assignments to develop your critical thinking and problem solving.
This programme may suit you if you are studying for A Levels in subjects different from those normally required for our science degrees. It may also interest you if you are a mature applicant, with skills and experience from employment and can show recent study, or if you come from a part of the world where the education system is different from the British A level system.
Please see our website for entry requirements and the full list of degree programmes you can automatically progress on to after successful completion of the Science Foundation Year.
Modules
Whatever degree course you are aiming for, you will take all the modules listed below. All modules are studied for the whole year. The coursework module integrates elements from the different disciplinary modules and is assessed by a range of approaches.
Modules:
GSCI0008 Fundamentals of Biology,
GSCI0009 Fundamentals of Chemistry,
GSCI0011 Laboratories and Coursework,
GSCI0010 Mathematics for Scientists,
GENG0014 Routes to Success.
For more information, visit the course page.
Please note: information included was correct at time of publication, March 2024.
Assessment methods
Your learning is delivered, and assessed, through a wide range of methods to ensure you develop a broad variety of skills that will set you up for success after graduation.
You will be assessed through unseen written exams, short tests, assessed coursework in the form of laboratory log books and reports, problems and other set assignments.
Throughout, you'll be supported by a personal academic tutor, your peers, and have access to a senior tutor.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Main Site - Highfield Campus
FELS Central
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.
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
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
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.
Top job areas of graduates
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.
£22k
£28k
£31k
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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Lower entry requirementsSame University
Higher entry requirements
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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?
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