Science & Environment

The impact of human activities on the planet has reached unparalleled levels and coupled to an increasing population is of significant concern. The detrimental impact of human activity is far reaching and includes changes to climate, depletion of natural resources and loss of biodiversity.

Humans will have to develop new technological and environmental approaches to conserve the planet's natural resources, and change economic, political and social policies significantly if we hope to mitigate these detrimental impacts before it is too late.

The Environmental Science degree from Teesside University is designed to produce the scientists needed to measure and assess the impact of human activities on the complex and interconnected environmental systems which support life on this planet and with the ability to harness science to develop solutions for a sustainable future.

The presence of the two environmentally-focused research centres CLEMANCE and CLAW in the School justifies the focus on sustainability as a key research and teaching area. Staff from both of these centres teach on the Environmental Science degree and are actively involved in national and European-funded research on key environmental problems, including adaption to and mitigation of climate change, renewable energy, resource efficiency and waste minimization.

What you study

In Year 1, you study a broad range of modules which provide an overview and introduction to the multidisciplinary nature of sustainability, addressing the key socio-political and economic debates that underpin the agenda, the core environmental sciences and exploring the role of science and technology in providing solutions.

In Year 2, you explore how the impacts of human activities on environmental systems can be monitored, the potential to minimise these impacts by more effective management and use of resources, energy and waste and how to remediate the effects on environments by harnessing natural ecosystems. You also study the legislative and economic drivers which can be used to make this happen. You consolidate and apply this learning through a second major team project working alongside biological scientists, focusing on measuring the ecological impact of an industrial activity and the effectiveness of the remediation and environmental protection measures.

In your final year, you focus in more detail on the potential of science- and technology-based innovations to identify and provide solutions to environmental problems and support the policing of legislative control. You also undertake a major individual project which focuses on the measurement and mitigation of environmental and ecological impact in a real-world sustainability problem.

How you learn

A key and unique element of our sustainability programmes is the multidisciplinary and practical solutions focused approach where you develop and apply your learning by addressing real sustainability problems. Project-based learning is extensively utilised throughout, both in specific group and individual project modules and through various activities in other modules which together make up approximately 50% of the course. These modules and activities allow you to develop and apply your learning to real-life problems and situations by engaging in a variety of activities including site visits, field trips and design-based investigations for local companies and community-based projects.

The course has been designed to provide a number of contact teaching and assessment hours (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratory work, projects, examinations), but you are also expected to spend time on your own, called ‘self-study’ time, to review lecture notes, prepare coursework assignments, work on projects and revise for assessments. Each year of full-time study consists of modules totalling 120 credits and each unit of credit corresponds to ten hours of learning and assessment (contact hours plus self-study hours). So, during one year of full-time study you can expect to have 1,200 hours of learning and assessment.

How you are assessed

Assessment is based on a combination of project work, examinations and in-course assessments aimed at encouraging team work and independent management skills essential to academic study and your professional development.

Professional placement

You are strongly encouraged to undertake a professional placement during the course. This is an opportunity both to consolidate and apply your learning further and gain new insights and perspectives. We will provide support in identifying suitable placement opportunities.

Career opportunities

The course is designed to produce graduates with the skills and capabilities to work as environmental scientists, with public or private environmental agencies, and to work in larger companies engaging with the sustainability agenda in areas such as pollution monitoring and control and environmental remediation. You will also be well placed to pursue postgraduate study in this field.

Entry requirements

To enter Year 1, you're expected to have GCSE English (grade C or above) and to have at least one science (biology, chemistry or environmental studies) at Level 3 (for example A level, BTEC ND, ACCESS, IB). We consider advanced entry directly into Year 2 if you have good grades in a Level 4 or 5 qualification (for example HNC, HND) in a related subject.

You're normally invited for an interview, when you can also see our excellent facilities and meet staff and students. You then receive an individual offer. If you can't come for an interview, a typical offer might be 280 tariff points including at least grade C in Level 3 chemistry and biology. Depending on your subjects, Key Skills and General Studies may count towards the tariff point requirement.

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