Environmental Science

Environmental science occupies one of the most important positions in higher education today, training the scientists who work at the front line against climate change and pollution, identifying and combatting risks to the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land we live on. It is an inherently interdisciplinary field, drawing on physical geography, chemistry, ecology, geology, hydrology and climate science to understand how environmental systems function, how human activities are altering them, and what can be done to protect and restore them. Environmental scientists generate the evidence that informs environmental policy, regulation and management.

The University of Leeds offers this three-year full-time programme with a particularly strong experiential structure, including a sandwich year with embedded work placement opportunities and a year abroad. Leeds's School of Earth and Environment is one of the UK's strongest research environments in this area, and the combination of rigorous academic content with professional and international experience makes this programme especially well regarded. The typical entry tariff is around 136 UCAS points.

You will study atmospheric chemistry and air quality, freshwater and marine pollution, climate science, ecological systems, soil science, environmental monitoring and assessment, and the policy and governance frameworks that shape environmental management. Fieldwork is an important component, giving you experience collecting and interpreting environmental data in real settings. The placement year typically involves working for an environmental consultancy, a government environmental agency or a research institution, and the year abroad extends your scientific and cultural perspective.

Graduates of environmental science programmes work for environmental consultancies, the Environment Agency, Natural England, water companies, local authorities, energy companies, international development organisations, research universities and conservation NGOs. Roles in environmental impact assessment, pollution monitoring, water quality management, climate risk analysis, ecological surveying and sustainability consulting are all common paths. Postgraduate study in environmental science, climate science, hydrology, ecology or environmental management provides further development.

The placement and international year at Leeds typically accelerate graduate employment, giving students a professional edge in a competitive field.