Ecological and Environmental Sciences
Ecological and environmental sciences is an integrated science that draws on biology, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences to understand the natural environment and the processes that govern how it functions and changes. Ecology examines the relationships between organisms and their environments: how populations fluctuate, how species interact, how energy flows through ecosystems, and how biodiversity is maintained or lost. Environmental sciences places that ecological understanding within the context of the human pressures now driving some of the most significant changes to the Earth's environments in geological history.
At Edinburgh you will study this four-year full-time programme, which includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study ecology and environmental science in a different physical environment and academic context. Edinburgh is one of the UK's leading research universities, and the programme connects you to research across ecology, atmospheric science, biogeochemistry, and the many other disciplines that contribute to understanding environmental change. You will develop strong field and laboratory skills alongside the quantitative and analytical abilities that the discipline demands, including statistical analysis of ecological data, remote sensing, and the application of scientific findings to real conservation and environmental management challenges.
Graduates of ecological and environmental sciences work in environmental consultancy, conservation organisations, national parks and nature reserves, government agencies responsible for environment and land management, research institutions, and the private sector in roles related to sustainability and natural capital. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in ecology, conservation biology, environmental science, or related disciplines, moving into research careers in academia or government. The interdisciplinary scientific training the degree provides is highly valued in a world where environmental challenges require scientists who can work across traditional disciplinary boundaries.