Environmental Science

Environmental science is a broad and applied discipline that uses the tools of biology, chemistry, geography, geology and social science to understand how natural systems function and how human activity is altering them. Its relevance is acute: climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, deforestation, ocean acidification and resource depletion are among the defining challenges of the twenty-first century, and addressing them requires people with the scientific literacy to understand these systems and the analytical skills to evaluate possible responses.

At Northumbria University, this extended degree runs over four years full-time and is particularly rich in practical and international experience. It includes a sandwich year for extended professional placement, a year abroad at a partner institution overseas, and work placement experience built into the programme. This combination means you engage deeply with real environmental contexts and professional practice before you graduate, building the fieldwork, laboratory and technical skills that employers value alongside the academic knowledge that underpins them.

You will study ecology, environmental chemistry, climatology, geographic information systems, environmental assessment and policy, developing a rounded understanding of both the physical science of the environment and the human systems through which it is managed.

Graduates work in environmental consultancies, government agencies, conservation organisations, local authorities, water companies, energy companies and research institutions. Roles in environmental assessment, ecological surveying, sustainability management, climate analysis, geographic information systems and policy analysis are all typical career paths. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in environmental science, ecology, conservation biology, climate policy or environmental management, developing specialist expertise that supports research or senior professional roles.