Environmental Science MSci

Program Overview

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The MSci Environmental Science program at the University of Exeter equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's environmental processes through hands-on fieldwork, data analysis, and research. Graduates gain a diverse skillset for employment in environmental conservation, sustainability, education, and research. The program emphasizes research-inspired teaching and provides opportunities for students to engage in practical projects and field studies, including a week-long field course on the Isles of Scilly and a global challenges field course in the final year.

Program Outline

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MSci Environmental Science - University of Exeter

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Degree Overview:

Our MSci provides an opportunity to work on a project focused on a specialised areas of environmental practice or academic research.

• Objectives:
• Learn the science behind Earth’s amazing complexity and its environmental processes.
• Take a hands-on approach to the collection and analysis of environmental data in the field and laboratory.
• Develop a wide range of practical skills to increase employability, from working with satellite data and using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to guide real-world environmental decision making.
• Learn practical and theoretical insights from inspirational, world-leading research experts in a range of environmental disciplines and benefit from exposure to research through the programme’s close relationship with our Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) on the Penryn Campus.

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Outline:

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Year 1:

• Compulsory Modules:
• GEO1405B Earth System Science (15 credits)
• GEO1408B Global Issues in Environmental Science (15 credits)
• GEO1416 Environmental Science Tutorials (15 credits)
• GEO1421 Marine and Environmental Science Field Course (15 credits)
• GEO1419 Introduction to data science (15 credits)
• LAW1016C A Legal Foundation for Environmental Protection (15 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• BIO1411 Genetics (15 credits)
• BIO1426 Ecology and Conservation (15 credits)
• GEO1401B Approaches to Geographical Knowledge (15 credits)
• GEO1420 Atmospheric and Oceanic Systems, Their Interactions and Importance (15 credits)
• BIO1431 Introduction to Human Sciences (15 credits)
• GEO1413 The Geography of Cornwall (15 credits)

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Year 2:

• Compulsory Modules:
• GEO2440 Geographical Information Science and Systems (15 credits)
• GEO2441 Remote Sensing for Environmental Management (15 credits)
• GEO2460 Environment and Sustainability on the Isles of Scilly (15 credits)
• GEO2461 Second Year Tutorials (15 credits)
• GEO2462 Research Design and Methods (15 credits)
• LAW2016C Environmental Regulation and Redress (15 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• BIO2406 Biodiversity and Conservation (15 credits)
• BIO2407 Population and Community Ecology (15 credits)
• BIO2425 Introduction to Ecological Consultancy (15 credits)
• BIO2432 Exploitation of the Sea (15 credits)
• BIO2441 Applied Insect Ecology (15 credits)
• BIO2451 Evolution of Human Societies (15 credits)
• GEO2442 The Politics of Climate Change and Energy (15 credits)
• GEO2444 Landscape Evolution (15 credits)
• GEO2445 Rural Social Issues (15 credits)
• GEO2450 Biogeography (15 credits)
• GEO2451 Ice Sheets: Glaciology, Climate and the Oceans (15 credits)
• GEO2454 Waste and Society (15 credits)
• GEO2457 Physical Ocean Processes (15 credits)
• GEO2458 People and Nature (15 credits)
• GEO2456 Social and Cultural Geographies (15 credits)
• POC2114 Green Politics in Theory and Practice (15 credits)
• ECE2002 Health, Place and Wellbeing (15 credits)
• ECE2001 Oceans and Human Health (15 credits)
• GEO2449 Green Consultants (15 credits)
• LES2002 Workplace Learning (15 credits)

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Year 3:

• Compulsory Modules:
• GEO3513 Dissertation in Environmental Science (40 credits)
• LES3001 Preparing to Graduate (5 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• BIO3131 Trends in Ecology and Evolution (15 credits)
• BIO3135 Human Behavioural Ecology (15 credits)
• BIO3411 Science in Society (15 credits)
• BIO3420 Evolutionary Biology of Health and Disease (15 credits)
• GEO3437B Climate Change and Society (15 credits)
• BIO3428 The Complexity of Human Societies (15 credits)
• GEO3448 Quaternary Environmental Change (15 credits)
• GEO3452 Literature Review in Environment and Society (15 credits)
• GEO3454 Antarctica: Science from a Frozen Continent (15 credits)
• GEO3457 Geographies of Democracy (15 credits)
• GEO3455 Marine Climate and Environmental Change (15 credits)
• GEO3458 Marine and Coastal Sustainability (15 credits)
• GEO3459 Whole Energy Systems (15 credits)
• GEO3461 Arctic Frontiers: Can We Preserve the Arctic Environment?
(15 credits)
• GEO3466 Biological Oceanography (15 credits)
• GEO3467 Human-Animal Interactions (15 credits)
• LAW3016C Legal Response to Environmental Destruction (15 credits)
• BIO3434 Major Transitions in Evolutionary History (15 credits)
• BIO3433 Ocean Management and Conservation (15 credits)
• POC3117 The Politics of Climate Change (15 credits)
• GEO3469 Catastropolis (15 credits)
• CSM3409 Politics, Mining and Sustainable Development (15 credits)
• ECE3001 Living with Environmental Change (15 credits)
• ECE3002 Frontiers of Global Health (15 credits)
• GEO2449 Green Consultants (15 credits)
• LES2002 Workplace Learning (15 credits)

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Final Year:

• Compulsory Modules:
• GEOM052 Academic Research Project (60 credits)
• LESM007 Global Challenges Field Course (MSci) (30 credits)
• LESM005 Applied Data Analysis (15 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• GEOM363B Themes in Climate Change (15 credits)
• GEOM404 Policy and Governance for Sustainability (15 credits)
• GEOM406 Marine and Coastal Sustainability (15 credits)
• HUMM011 Heritage and Environmental Change (15 credits)

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Assessment:

• Assessment methods vary depending on the module, but are likely to include exams and coursework-based assessment.
• Students must pass their first year assessment to progress to the second year.
• Assessments in the second, third, and final years all contribute to the final degree classification.

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Teaching:

• Methods:
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Hands-on interactive learning
• Fieldwork
• Laboratory sessions
• Independent study
• Embedded GIS, remote sensing and data analysis
• Faculty:
• Taught by expert staff who are actively engaged in research on a wide range of specialisms, including climate change, remote sensing, landscape evolution, energy policy, environment and sustainability, social innovation and cultural landscapes.
• Unique Approaches:
• Strong links with research projects across every continent of the globe from Antarctica to Asia.
• Research undertaken at the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) inspires much of the teaching.
• Every student benefits from being part of a research-inspired culture.

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Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Environment
• Health
• Conservation
• Education
• Third sector work
• Culture and heritage
• Community work
• Opportunities:
• A range of employability sessions are put on for students, such as career talks with visiting alumni and employers from a range of backgrounds, career conversations and employability seminar series events with employers, a Careers in Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection Careers and Networking event and visits to the Met Office and UKHO, plus an annual Careers Fair and opportunities to access high-quality work placements through an employability optional module.
• Outcomes:
• The University of Exeter has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and students and graduates compete very successfully in the employment market.
• Upon graduation, students are eligible to apply for Associate Membership of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).
• Membership is recognized by employers as evidence of professional status and provides access to job opportunities, career development events, and reports on the environmental science sector.

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Other:

• Fieldwork:
• Fieldwork is an integral part of the program, taking learning into the field to explore the incredible landscapes in the region and beyond.
• Field trips are embedded into modules throughout the degree to give students a first-hand understanding of the subject.
• Students will undertake a week-long residential field course on the Isles of Scilly in Year 2.
• In Year 3, students will travel further afield to think about bigger issues in environmental science and apply their research and practical skills.
• The final year includes a field course focusing on threats to biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as studying ecology and behavior with a focus on human impacts.
• The University also organizes a range of day trips each year as part of modules, providing opportunities to study distinctive human and physical processes.
• Facilities:
• Proficiency Options:
• Students can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of their course each year, increasing their employability and widening their intellectual horizons.
• Students can complete 60 credits of modules in a subject like Data Science, Law, or Social Data Science to have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g.
Social Data Science]' added to their degree title upon graduation.
• Royal Geographical Society (RGS) Ambassador Scheme:
• Students have the opportunity to apply for the RGS Ambassador Scheme, acting as positive role models for pupils and illustrating the specific and transferable skills they have developed as geographers.

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UK students: £9,250 per year International students: £29,700 per year Year abroad If you choose the four-year version of this degree programme and spend a full academic year studying abroad, you will pay a reduced fee of 15 per cent of the maximum fee for that year. Professional placement year If you choose the four-year version of this degree programme and spend a full year on a work placement (in the UK or abroad) you will pay a reduced fee of 20 per cent of the maximum fee for that year. Fieldwork Please note, some optional/alternative field courses may incur additional costs. When participating in field courses, you will be required to cover any visa costs and, if necessary, purchase anti-malarial medication and relevant immunisations. You may also need to provide your own specialist personal equipment appropriate to the field course destination. You may incur additional costs dependent upon the specific demands of the research project chosen.