Program Overview

BSc (Hons) Environmental Health

Why study this course with LJMU?

• LJMU ranked 2nd in the UK for health professions courses (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
• Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
• Opportunity to complete a workplace project
• CIEH professional exam incorporated within the degree
• Field trips focusing on food safety, health and safety, housing inspections and waste disposal
• Option to enrol on a two-day practical food training course and exam
• Opportunities for study abroad, for example with our partners at Southern Connecticut State University
• International Foundation Year course available offering direct progression onto this degree programme

About your course

The professionally-accredited BSc (Hons) Environmental Health at Liverpool John Moores University offers you extensive opportunities to secure hands-on experience through a wide range of field trips and our extensive links with environmental health professionals.

Accredited under Curriculum 2011 of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), this course is your first step to becoming an Environmental Health Practitioner. It covers the five key areas of Environmental Health, enabling you to specialise in any of these areas after graduation. These areas are:

• Housing
• Food safety
• Health and safety
• Environmental protection
• Health protection and promotion

Located within the Public Health Institute at LJMU, the course benefits from extensive links with a range of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors and provides a wealth of expertise at your fingertips. You will also be following in the footsteps of famous Liverpool practitioners, as both the first Medical Officer of Health (Dr Duncan) and the first Environmental Health Practitioner (Thomas Fresh) in the country were appointed in the city.

The course includes the food practical examination (including an offsite two-day training course) and the Integrated Professional Assessment, key requirements for registration as an Environmental Health Practitioner. Along with taught sessions the course provides a range of field trips for students focusing on the key areas of environmental health.

In the past these have focused on:

• Health and safety (Matalan)
• Food safety (Dairy Crest)
• Waste (Gillmoss Recycling Centre)
• The local Magistrates court

Students preparing for their food practical exam have also visited the Liverpool fruit and vegetable market plus the Liverpool meat and fish market.

The course focuses not just on extending your knowledge and skills in relation to Environmental Health but also on developing your graduate employability skills. All students in their first year of study will have an opportunity to engage with the CareerSmart programme as an integral part of a core module of study.

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

All modules on the BSc (Hons) Environmental Health degree are designated 'Core'. This means that all students on the degree will undertake them and ensures CIEH accreditation standards are met. At each level of your degree, you will complete modules totalling 120 credits.

At Levels 4 and 5, you will undertake six modules, each worth 20 credits. At Level 6, you will undertake five modules, including your Dissertation, which is worth 40 credits.

Core modules

• Key Study Skills (20 credits)
• Environmental sciences (20 credits)
• Understanding Populations (20 credits)
• An Introduction to Environmental Health Law and Policy (20 credits)
• Environmental Health Concepts (20 credits)
• Practical Skills for Public and Environmental Health (20 credits)
• WBL - Developing Environmental Health skills (20 credits)
• Food safety (20 credits)
• Environmental protection (20 credits)
• Housing and Public Health (20 credits)
• Research Methods for Environmental Health (20 credits)
• Health and Safety (20 credits)
• Dissertation (40 credits)
• Professional and interdisciplinary studies (30 credits)
• Career planning and professional development (10 credits)
• Health Promotion (20 credits)
• Sustainability and Climate Change (20 credits)

Optional modules

• Study Year Abroad - Environmental Health (120 credits)

Professional accreditation

To become a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner, you need to complete the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Practitioner programme. Your CIEH-accredited degree from LJMU is the first step to achieving this.

Completion of LJMU's BSc (Hons) Environmental Health with Foundation Year degree provides direct entry to the CIEH Practitioner programme. Once you successfully complete the programme, you will be able to apply for registration as a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner.

Your Learning Experience

• Teaching Support Assessment
• Excellent facilities and learning resources
• Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
• Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

Career paths

You will enjoy excellent career prospects after graduation.

By the time you graduate, you will have developed essential practical and professional skills plus your knowledge base, putting you ahead of the game when it comes to securing a job. In addition this programme is currently the only one in LJMU that includes all elements of the World of Work scheme within the curriculum.

You can expect to be able to forge a successful career in environmental health or a number of related fields. You may also choose to become a registered Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) by completing the CIEH Practitioner Programme and gaining Chartered Status. Chartered Status is the highest level of professional achievement within the environmental health profession and recognises an individual’s breadth of knowledge and experience. Holders can use 'CEnvH' after their name to formally demonstrate that they have met the required standards.

Further career opportunities exist for graduates in the fields of environmental and public health in organisations such as local authorities, the NHS, food retailers, the military, holiday firms and airlines.

Tuition fees and funding

• Home: £9,535 per year
• International: £18,250 per year

Entry requirements

• A levels: BBC (112)
• BTECs: Extended Diploma: DMM
• Access awards: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
• International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications from a relevant subject.
• T levels: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
• NVQ: Overall pass at HNC or HND in any subject would be acceptable for entry into level 4.
• Alternative qualifications considered: GCSE Maths and English Language grade C or above.
• IELTS score of 6 overall, within minimum of 5.5 in each component is required for any student for whom English is not their first language.