Environmental Science and the Climate Emergency with a Foundation Year

Environmental science and the climate emergency is a degree that takes as its starting point one of the defining challenges of our time: the unprecedented and accelerating changes to the climate and natural systems on which all life depends. It combines scientific rigour with a commitment to understanding and contributing to real responses to the planetary crisis, drawing on earth science, ecology, chemistry, physics, and the social sciences to build a comprehensive picture of how the climate system works, how human activity is altering it, and what effective action looks like.

At Swansea University this four-year programme includes a foundation year, giving you a structured scientific and academic grounding before you enter the main degree. You will study climate science, ecology, biogeochemistry, environmental policy, and the analysis of environmental data, developing the skills to understand complex earth systems and to contribute to the evidence base for climate and environmental action. Wales's distinctive landscapes and Swansea's coastal location provide a rich environmental context for field-based learning, connecting the scientific concepts you study to the real environments they describe.

Graduates from environmental science and climate programmes work in environmental consultancy, government environmental agencies, the energy sector, research institutions, conservation organisations, international development bodies, and the growing field of sustainability management in business and the public sector. Roles in climate risk assessment, environmental impact evaluation, sustainability reporting, and ecological monitoring are all common career destinations. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in climate science, environmental management, ecology, or policy, particularly those who want to contribute to research or policy development at the frontiers of the climate response.