Do you want to make a difference and change the future of the planet? Are you inspired by the complexity of the natural environment? Could you help develop new ways to manage the world’s natural resources? If so, then environmental science is the subject for you. Our BSc and MSci Environmental Science programmes are the University’s flagship environmental degrees enabling you to learn the science behind the Earth’s amazing complexity and its environmental processes. These programmes are at the cutting-edge of current thinking in the environmental field: you will learn practical and theoretical insights from world leading research experts in a range of environmental disciplines. Our mission is to train you in measuring, evaluating and making decisions about environmental issues. From day one of your degree you will take a hands-on approach to the collection and analysis of environmental data in the field and laboratory. These challenging programmes will broaden your horizons by enabling you to learn about environmental processes at a range of scales from local issues affecting South West England to those with global impacts. You’ll engage with issues relating to climate change, its impact on the world and efforts to mitigate its effect. You will uncover the complexities of the legal processes which underpin environmental decision making and discover how the law facilitates the enforcement of environmental regulation. Throughout the programme you will develop a wide range of practical skills to increase your employability, working with satellite data and using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to guide real-world environmental decision making. You will have the opportunity to work and learn in inspiring places where you will gain practical field experience.

Careers A degree in Environmental Science from the University of Exeter will equip you with a wide range of skills suitable for progressing onto further study or employment. These skills, highly sought after by employers, include: data gathering; information retrieval; problem solving; project planning and management; organising and communicating information; report production and presentation (written and oral); plus the ability to work effectively on your own and as part of a team. Jobs in environmental sectors across the globe are likely to increase in the future as population growth intensifies the demand for resources such as energy and emerging global environmental policies place a question mark over the longevity of carbon-hungry energy supplies. A growing body of scientific evidence, with significant contribution from staff at the University of Exeter, is highlighting the fragile future of biodiversity, water resources, food security, and natural carbon stocks under global climate change. Climate change is now acknowledged by scientists, governments, businesses and social, environmental and economic organisations as one of the greatest challenges of our time. Our changing environment presents a fascinating and urgent set of challenges and opportunities for today’s practitioners, policy makers and researchers. Environmental consultancy is increasing in prominence globally. There is an emerging need for skilled graduates to feed into this industry, bringing sound scientific understanding of environmental issues, coupled with practical training in how to solve or mitigate environmental problems. For example, in the UK, the skills of environmental scientists are required to implement EU legislation at local and regional levels in relation to sustainable development, rural and urban regeneration and access to the countryside. There are also many jobs for environmental scientists with an understanding of remote sensing data and information management in Geographical Information Systems. In addition, the UK is currently one of the poorest waste managers in Europe, so waste disposal and recycling are likely to remain important issues for both householders and businesses over the next few years. Furthermore there are new openings for environmental scientists in the water industry, where sustainable management of water supplies is a growing concern. This list is by no means exhaustive: a degree in environmental science will place you at the forefront of a discipline where resource management and environmental decision making are critical to the future health and function of planet Earth.