Make a positive difference to our natural world
BSc Environmental Science
Taking care of our planet for future generations is our most important responsibility.
By studying Environmental Science at Ulster you will gain the knowledge and skills to address issues such as climate change, conserving animal and plant diversity, environmental impacts of development and the management of water and air quality.
If you enjoy science or geography and have an interest in environmental issues, this course is for you.
Why do Environmental Science with us?
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
In this section
In Year 1 students start with a field school and then study modules related to environmental sustainability, understanding environmental systems, climate change and data analysis skills relevant to the environmental scientist.
In Year 2 students study geographic information systems and remote sensing, environmental planning, land and water ecology, atmospheric processes, freshwater systems and pollution, enterprise, business and employability and attend a residential field school.
In the final year students continue their study of geographic information systems and remote sensing. Other modules focus on environmental change, environmental challenges and management, applications of water science, remediation of pollution and a research project on a specific environmental problem.
Students also have the option to extend their academic studies by electing to study abroad for a year or by working in industry/business. This additional year spent away from Ulster University is taken in the third year.
UCAS Code F900: BSc Hons Environmental Science (3 years)
UCAS Code F901: BSc Hons Environmental Science with DPP/DIAS (4 years, including placement)
Study abroad options
You will have the opportunity to study for a year at a university abroad. Options include a range of European countries and North America. On successful completion you will be awarded an additional diploma (DIAS).
Industrial placements
The industrial placement scheme gives you the opportunity to work for 10 months within an organization developing skills and applying knowledge. On successful completion you will be awarded an additional diploma (DPP).
Diploma in Professional Practice DPP
Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS
You are on campus five days per week. The contact time average is 16 hours per week; on average 24 hours per week should be allocated to independent study including academic assessment.
Teaching is delivered through a range of methods such as lectures, seminars and tutorials but with an emphasis on practical and field work. Student learning is assessed through a combination of coursework and examinations. The type of assessment depends on what is most suitable for the individual module content. It may include one or more of the following: essays; literature reviews/critical reviews; laboratory reports; fieldwork reports; field notebooks; individual and group project reports; problem analysis; research projects/dissertations; individual and group oral and poster presentations; class tests; web-site design and examinations.
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10, 20, or 40 credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate courses typically 15 or 30 credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Teaching and learning activities will be in-person and/or online depending on the nature of the course. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study.
In Masters degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
Your lecturers on the course are active researchers. This ensures that the content they teach remains current and relevant.
They are nationally and internationally recognised experts in their fields, e.g.
Professor Andrew Cooper, Coastal Environmental Change
Professor Phil Jordan, Catchment Science
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
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Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.
Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.
In this section
Year: 1
Status: C
This module is designed to introduce level 4 students of environmental science and geography to a range of practical skills related to investigative work in these areas of science. This encompasses data gathering (particularly related to mapping, questionnaires, interview techniques, and focus groups), data summary and analysis, and the use of software packages for data display and analysis (Excel and SPSS). The module also provides study and writing skills, data presentation, report writing, and the use of information resources.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module introduces the theories, ideas and issues associated with the study of sustainability, spatial inequality and the environmental challenges facing society. It adopts a multi-scale approach, examining many of the environmental and developmental issues operating at the global, international, national, regional, local scales The module focuses on patterns of disparity, development and environmental degradation in the less developed world, in western Europe, and the island of Ireland.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module is an introduction to general geological materials, processes and concepts. Students will learn to identify rocks, minerals and fossils, study the structure of our planet, learn to read and analyse maps, and interpret geological processes and structures in the field.
Year: 1
Status: C
The biosphere provides an overview of the constituent parts of the living component of the planet, beginning at the level of the individual organism. Starting with an introduction to the history of life on earth and several general concepts, this material will move into the diversity of form in plant divisions and animal phyla in light of taxonomic classification, systematics and phylogeny. These concepts will be outlined with reference to specific case studies and the current state of scientific literature on the subject. These concepts will be demonstrated through a series of practical exercises which will give an appreciation of the diversity of external and internal anatomical form of a range of different organisms and their approaches to life.
Year: 1
Status: C
The hydrosphere provides an overview of fundamental physical, chemical, hydrological and ecological concepts and processes in aquatic environments. Practical exercises in laboratory and field demonstrate and explore these concepts and processes. Accompanying lectures introduce the theoretical concepts and provide the context for practical applications.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module is designed to introduce students to the theory of environmental systems and provide an understanding of systems behaviour using various environmental systems as examples. The theoretical component of the module will be provided by lectures, which will cover a contemporary thinking into concepts of environmental systems and the practical part of the module will consist of a laboratory exercises.
Year: 2
Status: C
This two-part module is compulsory and allows students to practise, in the field, a range of methods appropriate for work in many areas of Environmental Science. This will take place within the context of an integrated 8-day residential field course in Portugal. The second part is a detailed preparation for the dissertation module, which is undertaken in the final year.
Year: 2
Status: C
This module is designed to allow students to gain a good understanding of weather phenomena, atmospheric circulation and our climate. In addition, impact of human activity such as pollution and climate change on the atmospheric conditions and circulations will be explored. Global events such as El Nino and the Monsoon will be discussed as case studies.
Year: 2
Status: C
Ecology is a broad discipline involving biology, chemistry and physics of the environment, geography and human impacts. Concepts of ecology, including the interactions between individuals and populations, and the structure and resilience of communities and ecosystems, will be examined with reference to specific case studies and in the context of the biosphere as a whole. A range of different ecosystems will be studied in terrestrial, freshwater, marine and microbial environments, from which case studies will be drawn. These case studies will include the key production processes in each ecosystem, in addition to model organisms at a range of trophic levels and relevant publications detailing the current state of knowledge for each system. The role of applied ecology, in relation to conservation and environmental management will also be emphasised.
Year: 2
Status: C
This module offers students the opportunity to study the principles and applications of terrestrial and underwater remote sensing and GIS and develop links between remote sensing and GIS. Students are expected to become familiar with theoretical foundations of these technologies and to demonstrate technical principles through a series of software-based practical exercises and projects.
Year: 2
Status: C
Through a variety of teaching methods this module provides students with a range of environmental, geographical and generic employment-orientated skills and practices to help them enhance their employability potential and to integrate more effectively into the workplace. Continued development of regions and the expansion in the use of the environment and its resources requires planning and management of often complex and diverse issues and stakeholders. This module examines the relationship between society, planning and environment and explores a range of decision making approaches and the wider social implications of these. It considers the concepts and requirements of environmental impact assessment and outlines the methodology of planning an EIA.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module provides a general introduction to the physical, chemical and biological processes occurring in freshwater, including water balance processes, their management and relevance to society.
Status: O
Year: 2
This module is optional
This module is designed to introduce students to the interaction between coastal and marine processes and forms, and how these relate to the human use of the coastal zone and the deep sea. It examines various parameters within the coastal zone, shallow and deep water, and outlines the basic fundamentals of coastal and marine processes. Current state-of-the-art techniques used in modern coastal and marine research are described. Use is also made of the www to add supplementary material to that given in lectures.
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to gain structured and professional work experience, in a work-based learning environment, as part of their planned programme of study. This experience allows students to develop, refine and reflect on their key personal and professional skills. The placement should significantly support the development of the student's employability skills, preparation for final year and enhance their employability journey.
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module is a requirement of the Diploma in International Academic Studies and is mandatory for those students of Environmental Science and Geography studying in a European or International University teaching in a foreign language. It is not available to any other students. Students on this programme are required to achieve at least 50 ECTS while abroad and complete a reflective portfolio concerning their experience while at the host University.
The pass mark for the module is 40%.
The Board of Examiners may award a Pass with Commendation to a candidate who achieves an overall mark between 60% and 69% and a Pass with Distinction to a candidate who achieves an overall mark of at least 70%.
Status: O
Year: 3
This module is optional
This module is a requirement of the Diploma in International Academic Studies and is mandatory for those students of Environmental Science and Geography studying in a European or International University where teaching is (mostly) carried out in English. It is not available to any other students. Students on this programme are required to achieve at least 50 ECTS while abroad and complete a reflective portfolio concerning their experience while at the host University.
The pass mark for the module is 40%.
The Board of Examiners may award a Pass with Commendation to a candidate who achieves an overall mark between 60% and 69% and a Pass with Distinction to a candidate who achieves an overall mark of at least 70%.
Year: 4
Status: C
This module involves the completion of an individual research project conducted on an Environmental Science, Marine Science or Geography topic of students' own choice in conjunction with help from an academic member of staff (supervisor).
Year: 4
Status: C
The module examines temporal and spatial signatures of environmental change with the aim of developing an understanding of landscape evolution at Quaternary to historical timescales. A range of proxy evidence (sedimentary and biological) is used to explore the links within the ice-atmosphere-ocean system in global context.
Year: 4
Status: C
The module offers students the opportunity to study a variety of spatial and statistical techniques relevant to the GI Industry. Techniques from GIS and remote sensing are applied to the measurement and monitoring of spatial patterns and processes. A number of software programs are available, especially ArcGIS 10.*. Practical experience will be gained using Global Positioning Systems.
Year: 4
Status: C
This module uses real life case studies to examine how landscapes may be managed and conserved. Examples are drawn from across a range of contexts and challenge the students to consider the complexity of decision making in environmental management. It is available to final year students in Environmental Science and Geography.
Year: 4
Status: C
Through a variety of teaching methods this module provides students with a clear focus on professional career opportunities and assists them in enhancing their environmental and geographically specific employability skills. Particular emphasis is given to the translation of the specific research skills of project planning, critical literature review and methodological and analytical techniques that they employed in the dissertation project. Students will gain an understanding of the various sources of postgraduate study and professional job opportunities available to Geography and Environmental Science graduates and will provided with the opportunity to experience a full job application, interview and selection process.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
This module applies theory and techniques relevant to current issues in catchment management, water pollution and toxicology.
Status: O
Year: 4
This module is optional
This module is designed to examine the physical and biological aspects of the ocean environment. It provides an understanding of physical oceanic environments behaviour using various examples covering the deeper to nearshore zones. The theoretical component of the module will be provided by lectures, which will cover a contemporary thinking into physical and biological concepts of ocean science while the practical element of the module will consist of a laboratory and field exercises.
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
In this section
BCC
A Level Preferred Subjects:
Geography, Economics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Environmental Technology/Science, Physical Education, Single Award Science, ICT, Nutrition and Food Science, Software Systems Development, Single Award Life & Health Sciences. Applied Science Double Award also acceptable.
A Level Preferred Subjects are not required but may be helpful to you as you progress on this course and may be considered should you not achieve the required grades.
RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma (2016 suite)
Award profile of DMM
We will also accept smaller BTEC/OCR qualifications (i.e. Diploma or Extended Certificate / Introductory Diploma / Subsidiary Diploma) in combination with A Levels or other acceptable level 3 qualifications.
To find out if the qualification you are applying with is a qualification we accept for entry, please check our Qualification Checker - our Equivalence Entry Checker.
We will also continue to accept QCF versions of these qualifications although grades asked for may differ. Check what grades you will be asked for by comparing the requirements above with the information under QCF in the Applied General and Tech Level Qualifications section of our Entry Requirements - View our Undergraduate Entry Requirements
104 UCAS Tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects (four of which must be at higher level) to include English and Maths at a minimum of H6 if studied at Higher Level or minimum of O4 if studied at Ordinary Level.
The Scottish Highers requirement for this course is BCCCC
English & Mathematics required at Standard Level 1, 2 or 3
The Scottish Advanced Highers requirement for this course is CDD
English & Mathematics required at Standard Level 1, 2 or 3
Overall International Baccalaureate profile minimum 24 points to include 12 at Higher Level includingGrade 4 or above in Higher or Subsidiary level in English Language and Mathematics.
Overall profile of 60% overall with 60% in each level 3 module (NI 120 Credit Access Course). To include a 20 credit Level 2 Mathematics module, passed at 40% or successful completion of NICATS Mathematics.
Pass GB Access to Higher Education course with 24 Distinctions, 30 Merits and 3 Passes .
For full-time study, you must satisfy the General Entrance requirements for admissions to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent) in Maths and English.
Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Communication will be accepted as equivalent to GCSE English.
Please note that for purposes of entry to this course the Level 2 Certificate in Essential / Key Skills in Application of Number is NOT regarded as an acceptable alternative to GCSE Maths.
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.
Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
Applicants may also meet the course entry requirements with combinations of different qualifications acceptable to the University (provided subject requirements as noted above are met).
For further information regarding combination offer requirements, please contact Admissions Office staff on telephone +44 (0)28 7012 3210 or email: admissionsce@ulster.ac.uk
Exemption from the first year is possible if you have obtained a satisfactory grade in a Higher National Diploma in an appropriate subject or in an equivalent qualification.
In this section
Graduates from this course are now working for:
With this degree you could become:
Our graduates have found employment as environmental consultants, pollution officers with councils, environmental engineers, landscape planners, tourist officers, landscape architects, countryside wardens, environmental officers, research scientists, teachers (both primary and secondary), and many others in both the private and public sectors. Additional professional and/or postgraduate training might also be necessary. Many excellent one-year postgraduate courses are available in this School and in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Environmental science related postgraduate courses at Ulster University
Industrial experience
You have the option to undertake a one-year work placement (in Year 3) with an industry partner leading to the award of Diploma in Professional Practice (DPP). These work placements can be at home or abroad in an organization (company, local or central government or voluntary organization), and you will work under the supervision of an Industrial Supervisor, supported by the DPP Co-ordinator and an Academic Supervisor from within the University.
Study abroad
Alternatively, students can study in one of our partner universities in Europe or in the USA (through the Study USA programme or the International Student Exchange Programme). All of these international opportunities are available in Year 3 of the programme and lead to the award of a Diploma in International Academic Studies (DIAS).
Accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) for the purpose of eligibility to apply for associate membership.
Undergraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2025/26 fees will be announced in due course.
See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2024/25 entry.
Academic Excellence Environmental Science Award (Year 1)
Academic Excellence Environmental Science Award (Year 2)
Academic Excellence Environmental Science Award (Final Year)
Academic Excellence Environmental Science Research Award (Final Year)
Students will be expected to make contributions to the cost of residential fieldwork. Residential fieldwork takes place in all years of the programme. These costs associated with these trips may vary from year to year depending on destinations but across the three years may total approximately £400.
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
'The course gives you a broad range of things; it allowed me to see what I am good at.' Luke Morgan, Ulster University Environmental Science graduate
'I also love how much my course focuses on employability. They really try to emphasise the fact that everything you are learning here in class has a reason has a purpose.' Kenna White, Ulster University Environmental Science graduate
'Coleraine is excellent for doing practicals in the field, because there is a beach within three miles and a river right beside the campus.' Taylor Williams, American exchange student
'It was a really good experience. I made a lot of friends.' Adam Bamford, Ulster University Environmental Science graduate
'Our lecturers are very helpful.' Catherine Dynes, Ulster University Environmental Science graduate
Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
