Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Climate and Environment Sciences

About this course

Climate Change is a pressing issue facing society. Rising temperatures and sea levels, near global retreat of glaciers, alterations to precipitation patterns and frequent extreme weather events, climate-induced changes in biogeographical patterns and loss of biodiversity pose threats to current and future societies.

This BSc in Climate and Environment Sciences will allow students to explore many different aspects of climate change in detail. Climate change is the most pressing issue facing today's society and our ability to understand the causes, impacts and potential mitigation strategies is vital for future populations. It is also vital to increase our capacity to communicate this to the public.

This programme has developed in direct response to this clear need for graduates with the knowledge and practical skills required to tackle climate change.

This course will provide a fully integrated study of climate change and climate science. It will cover the scientific, political, societal, economic aspects of the science, with full discussion of cutting-edge aspects of the subject.

This will provide students with ample background and practical knowledge for understanding climate change. The course will deliver extensive practical experience using Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing technologies and field-based learning.

Course details

• Duration: 4 years (full-time)
• Campus: City
• UCAS Code: SCCD
• Grades/points required: BCC-BBC (104-112)

Entry requirements

• GCSEs and equivalents: Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/Numeracy
• A levels: Minimum Number of A Levels: 2, Maximum AS UCAS Points: 20, Subject requirements: C or above in Geography or related science/social science
• BTECs: Extended Diploma: DMM
• International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications From a relevant subject
• OCR Cambridge Technical: Extended Diploma: DMM
• Irish awards: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications From a relevant subject
• T levels: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications. You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.

International requirements

• IELTS: 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.

Tuition fees and funding

• Home: £9,535
• International: £18,250
• Placement year: £1,905 (home), £3,830 (international)

Career paths

Climate Change is a global issue affecting many environmental processes and socioeconomic aspects of life, therefore graduates will have a broad range of career prospects.

Graduates could work for environmental management companies and consultancies such as Mouchel, Amec Foster Wheeler and Applied iGeology; operational government authorities such as the Environment Agency and Natural England; in engineering and surveying roles and in the business and insurance sector.

Roles in science communication and science policy through governmental and non-governmental organisations also offer employability opportunities, as well teaching, the civil service and a range of GIS (Geographical Information Systems) related roles across various (non-environment) employment sectors.

Course modules

• Year 1: Ecology, Methods Skills and Careers 1, Earth Systems, Hazards, Environment Society and Sustainability, Methods Skills and Careers 2
• Year 2: GIS and Employability, Project Design and Management, Cryosphere, Catchments and Oceans, Responding to Climate Change, Impact of Climate Change on Biological Processes
• Year 3: Dissertation, Cold Environments: Processes and Change, Work-Based Learning, Coastal and Marine Management, Environmental Modelling and GIS, Environmental Change, Renewables and Low Carbon Futures, Catastrophic Futures

Learning experience

Teaching will include classroom, laboratory, online and field-based learning. A fully hands-on approach is taken, with emphasis on the development of practical skills across a wide range of subjects alongside substantial knowledge development. GIS and development of computer literacy is an important component.

Assessment

Assessment varies across the course and is scheduled across the semesters. The assessment types include: in-class tests; essays; scientific reports; field presentations and notebooks; poster presentations; and class presentations. Feedback will be provided following the standard university procedure and will include bespoke marking criteria for each assessment type.