Environmental Science and Sustainability
Award
BSc (Hons)
Duration & study mode
4 years full-time
School
Health & Life Sciences
Location
Lanarkshire
Ucas code
B913
Course starting dates
-
Lanarkshire: September
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Our BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Sustainability will prepare you for a career where you will address some of the most challenging and important issues of our time in terms of sustainable development, particularly with respect to the protection of the environment.
Environmental Scientists must overcome these challenges through creative, innovative and more sustainable solutions to local and global challenges.
Through your studies, you will receive a solid grounding in core scientific disciplines biological and chemical and earth system to build your knowledge and understanding of fundamental environmental systems, principles of sustainability and the role of policy and regulation. You will gain a deep understanding of the environmental challenges facing the world today, and be able to identify potential threats to our environment. You will also study more specialised and advanced topics, focused on applied environmental governance and sustainability. This degree will allow you to contribute to the process of advancing knowledge and strategies for a sustainable future.
Our global population is growing at an alarming rate, with the United Nations suggesting an excess of 9 billion people by 2050. This dramatic growth requires increased industrial activity relying on unsustainable systems of production and consumption, resulting in considerable environmental damage. To reduce the impact of human activity on the environment, we need more sustainable approaches to all aspects of life creating globally relevant policies and regulations through science-based evidence.
The combined impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable resource management has critical implications for the future stability of life support systems on our planet. Do you want to be part of the solution? If so, then our BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Sustainability is for you.
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience.
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
* for more information on standard and minimum entry requirements, see our Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage
SQA Advanced Highers: BBC including Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics (136 UCAS Tariff Points)
GCE A-Levels: BBC including Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics (112 UCAS Tariff Points)
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 30 points including Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics at HL and another at OL (136 UCAS Tariff Points)
SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC: Applied Science; Biomedical Science/Applied Biomedical Science; Industrial Biotechnology
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.
General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see section below for more details).
SOCIAL WORK DEGREES
For our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to, or require professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.
For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:
* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).
For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
Subjects covered include laboratory based biological and chemical analysis, statistical methods, geographical information systems (GIS), legislative frameworks, earth systems, health and safety, ecology and microbiology, field skills.
These concepts will be explored through fieldwork and practical exercises analysis.
Work-related learning is available on this programme, including an optional 12-week placement.
A general introduction to biological and chemical disciplines from cell and molecular aspects to ecological and environmental topics. You will be introduced to the role of an environmental scientist and research specific careers and projects. Additionally, you will receive an introduction to the University’s Virtual Learning Environment.
Modules includes:
In this year we start to look at Fundamentals of Environmental Science and Earth system to provide students with the core knowledge to develop in this field.
Students are also offered an array of optional modules in which they can focus their environmental interests on:
In this year we start to explore the interdisciplinary nature of environmental sciences including developing an awareness of the political and social implications.
Core modules include:
Optional modules include:
In the final year, students refine their subject areas of choice as well as developing.
an over-arching understanding of key aspects required in Environmental Science and Sustainability, with core modules:
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical workshops and field exercises, and guided laboratory work.
There will also be group work, literature reports and research projects in order to ensure our degrees provide a strong set of additional skills, such as presentation and communication skills.
Across our programmes we use a variety of assessment methods. The below list provides a guide to the types of assessment methods you can expect:
£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750
£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750
£15,500 per year of study
£305 per module (20 credits)
£1,550 per module (20 credits)
£1,550 per module (20 credits)
£2,580 per module (20 credits)
All UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The on-time application deadline for 2024/25 entry is 31 January 2024, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2024. Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.
Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide for domestic & EU/EEA to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.
Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries can apply directly to UWS via our dedicated online application system. The latest we can process your application is 6 weeks before the course start date to allow for visa processing times. For more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS please refer to our International Undergraduate Application Guide.
For part-time & online study, you should apply directly to the University through our online application system, not through UCAS. Please select the part-time mode of study when submitting your application. Before you begin your application, it is important to read the part-time application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.
To come to UWS as a visiting student on a study abroad or exchange programme, you must apply entirely through our online system.
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
We will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.