Earth, Climate and Environmental Change

Earth, climate, and environmental change is a degree for people who want to understand the science behind some of the most urgent questions facing humanity. What is driving climate change, and what will its consequences be for ecosystems, weather, and human societies? How have Earth's environments changed across geological time, and what can that history tell us about the future?

How do the physical processes of the atmosphere, ocean, and land interact to produce the world as we experience it? These are questions that matter, and the answers require both rigorous scientific understanding and the ability to communicate them clearly.

At Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, this three-year, full-time programme takes you into the science of an Earth in transition, exploring the impact of unpredictable weather, changing climates, and dwindling natural resources on life on our planet. You will develop knowledge of climatology, physical geography, geology, and environmental science alongside the quantitative and analytical skills needed to study these systems rigorously. A sandwich year, year abroad option, and work placement opportunities are all available, giving you professional experience in research, environmental management, or policy organisations and broadening your exposure to these challenges in different national contexts.

Graduates go on to careers in climate science, environmental consultancy, environmental agencies, conservation, sustainability, meteorology, energy, and policy. The scientific understanding and analytical skills the degree develops are valued across a growing range of sectors as the consequences of environmental change become more pressing. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in climate science, environmental management, or earth sciences, contributing to the research and knowledge that more effective environmental responses depend on.