Environment and Sustainability with Foundation Year

Environment and sustainability is a degree that responds directly to one of the most urgent sets of challenges facing contemporary society. It brings together ecological science, environmental management, policy analysis and the social and economic dimensions of sustainability to equip students to understand, communicate about, and contribute to addressing environmental problems at every scale, from local land management to global climate governance.

At the Royal Agricultural University you will study in an environment with a distinctive focus on land, food and rural systems, situating sustainability questions within the agricultural and rural contexts where environmental pressures are often felt most acutely. The programme includes a foundation year, giving you a thorough grounding in the scientific and conceptual foundations you need before moving into the main degree. Across the full four years full time, you will explore the scientific basis of environmental change, the policy and regulatory frameworks that govern the environment, and the practical approaches to sustainable land use, conservation and resource management.

Employers are actively looking for graduates with training in environmental sustainability, and the programme is designed with that demand in mind.

Graduates move into roles in environmental consultancy, conservation organisations, government agencies, local authorities, farming and estate management, sustainability advisory services and international development. The rural and agricultural focus of the Royal Agricultural University means the degree is particularly valued by employers working in those sectors, but the broader environmental and sustainability skills are transferable across many industries. Postgraduate study in environmental management, conservation, sustainable development or land management is a natural further step for those who wish to develop specialist expertise or pursue research careers.