Program Overview

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Environmental Biology MSci

Overview

This integrated masters develops advanced skills in research, analytics, and communication. Our flexible course means you can choose the modules that interest you most.

Course Details

Qualification

MSci Hons

Entry Requirements

ABB

UCAS Code

C152

Duration

4 years full-time

Fees

£9,535*

Start Date

September 2026

Course Information

Topics

• Ecology
• Conservation
• Animal behaviour
• Botany
• Sustainability
• Environmental protection

Practical Work

You'll gain experience in surveying techniques that are used when working as an ecologist. Day trips, field work, and visits to local sites will include activities such as:

• Bat surveys
• Phase one habitat surveys
• Sustainable homes
• Renewable energy
• Winter tree ID

Why Choose This Course?

• Passionate teaching: You'll be taught by active researchers who work with environmental consultancies on bioenergy technology projects.
• Placement opportunity: Get real-life experience with a possible industry placement year.
• Training by ecologists: Ecologists from local consultancies deliver training and expertise
• Study abroad: You'll have the opportunity to apply to study abroad and gain a global perspective of environmental science.

Entry Requirements

A Level

ABB

IB Score

30

IB Requirements

• IB Diploma 30 points including HL5 in Biology
• IB Higher Level Certificates 6,5,5 including Biology

IELTS

• IELTS Academic 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each element

High School Qualifications

Check our country-specific information for guidance on qualifications from your country.

GCSE

• GCSE Mathematics and English at grade 4 (C) are required.

Excluded Subjects

• Citizenship Studies
• Critical Thinking
• Science and Society
• General Studies
• Leisure Studies

Additional Entry Requirements

A Level

Biology

GCSE

GCSE Mathematics and English at grade 4 (C) are required.

Excluded Subjects

• Citizenship Studies
• Critical Thinking
• Science and Society
• General Studies
• Leisure Studies

Alternative Qualifications

We recognise that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and follow a variety of pathways into higher education.

Consequently, we treat all applicants with alternative qualifications (besides A levels and the International Baccalaureate) on an individual basis, and we gladly accept students with a whole range of less conventional qualifications including:

• Access to HE Diploma
• Advanced Diploma
• BTEC HND/HNC
• BTEC Extended Diploma

Foundation Progression Options

Science and Engineering Foundation Certificate

If you are an International applicant who does not have the required qualifications or grades for direct entry to this course, you may be interested in the Science and Engineering Foundation Certificate delivered through the University of Nottingham International College. Applicants are guaranteed a place on selected undergraduate courses if all progression requirements are met.

Mature Students

At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.

Study Abroad

There are a number of options to apply to study abroad during your time at Nottingham. We offer designated support to guide you through the entire process. You can apply to:

• Study at the University of Nottingham Malaysia in your second year for a semester or whole year
• Study in Australia, Canada or the USA. We'll help you apply to spend a semester of your second year at one of our highly ranked international partner universities
• Study in France, Austria or Spain for an additional year between years two and three
• A wide range of summer schools across a variety of countries

Year in Industry

There's a wide range of possible year in industry placements on offer. We have good links with companies, and our dedicated placement team is available to support you in finding the right placement for you. Often a placement year can help you to secure a graduate job.

Our students have been on placement with:

• Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
• Field Studies Council
• The Whitley Wildlife Trust
• British Geological Survey
• Bristol Zoo Gardens

Placements

If your course does not have a compulsory placement, integrated year in industry or compulsory year abroad where there is already an opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of that experience, you may be able to apply to undertake an optional placement year. While it is the student’s responsibility to find and secure a placement, our Placements Team based in the School of Biosciences have good networks in our sector and a wealth of experience and will support you throughout this process.

Additional Costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses.

There are no additional costs for day visits and the non-residential field courses. Students are currently asked for a contribution of £250 towards the cost of the optional residential field course in Sweden.

You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies. If you do these would cost around £40.

Due to our commitment to sustainability, we don’t print lecture notes but these are available digitally. You will be given £5 worth of printer credits a year. You are welcome to buy more credits if you need them. It costs 4p to print one black and white page.

If you do a work placement, you need to consider the travel and living costs associated with this.

Personal laptops are not compulsory as we have computer labs that are open 24 hours a day but you may want to consider one if you wish to work at home.

Scholarships and Bursaries

International Students

We offer a range of international undergraduate scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Home Students

Over one third of our UK students receive our means-tested core bursary, worth up to £1,000 a year. Full details can be found on our financial support pages.

Course Overview

Are you passionate about environmental protection, wildlife conservation, and ecology?

Our course uncovers the human impacts on our natural environment. You will study environmental threats and management. The biggest threats to biodiversity are climate change, habitat loss, invasive species. You'll study the effect of these threats, and learn ways to manage and reduce them.

This integrated masters develops advanced skills in research, analytics, and communication.

Our flexible course means you can choose the modules that interest you most.

All environmental sciences students will complete fieldwork and gain practical skills. This real-world experience allows you to apply your knowledge and develop the skills which are in demand by the environmental sector.

Indicative Modules

Year One

• Academic Skills
• Building a Habitable Planet
• Environmental Science and Society
• Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour
• Geographical Information Systems for Environmental Monitoring
• Habitat Management
• Principles of Ecology

Year Two

• Climate Change Science
• Ecological Surveying
• Ecology
• Research and Professional Skills
• Animal Behaviour and Physiology
• Biological Photography and Imaging I
• Computer Modelling in Science: Introduction
• Ecosystem Processes
• Environmental Plant Physiology
• Evolutionary Biology of Animals
• Forest Ecology and Management
• Insect Biology
• Managing Tourism and the Environment: Conflict or Consensus?
• Practical Policy Making
• Soils
• The Green Planet
• The Urban Environment

Year Three

• Environmental Biology Research Project
• Applied Bioethics 1: Animals, Biotechnology and Society
• Arctic Ecology Field Course
• Biological Photography and Imaging II
• Computer Modelling in Science: Applications
• Conservation Genetics
• Environmental Biotechnology
• Evolutionary Ecology
• Palaeobiology
• Plants and the Light Environment
• Plant Ecophysiology
• Environmental Pollution Field Course
• Sustainable Soil Management
• Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Year Four

• Communication and Public Engagement Skills for Scientists
• MSci Research Project
• Project Management
• Statistics and Experimental Design for Bioscientists
• Writing and Reviewing Research Proposals

How You Will Learn

Teaching Methods

• Lab sessions
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Workshops
• Field courses
• Computer labs
• Practical classes
• Problem-based learning

Assessment Methods

• Coursework
• Group project
• Lab reports
• Exam
• Poster presentation
• Research project
• Written exam

Careers Overview

You could work for conservation organisations, environmental consultancies, alternative energy companies, local authorities, and government agencies.

Roles include:

• Environmental education
• Officers
• Consultants
• Marine biologists
• Nature conservation officers
• Hydrology, recycling, and sustainability officer

These degrees can also lead into roles in teaching, scientific journalism, or further research degrees.

Job Prospects

Average Starting Salary and Career Progression

86.40% of undergraduates from the Faculty of Science secured employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £27,834.

HESA Graduate Outcomes (2017- 2021 cohorts). The Graduate Outcomes % is calculated using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Career Advice

Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.

Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements, and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.

Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in , High Fliers Research).