Funding
Find out more about financing your studies and whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships
Money MattersThe environment may be the defining global issue of our time. Explore the science behind the debate.
This course is open for Clearing applications.
Watch our video of physical geography student, Faye, as she explains what a field trip for geography and the environment students at Manchester Met involves.
The world around us is changing – and our environmental science degree will help you understand how. You’ll learn the skills and knowledge to measure, model and ass...
3 years full-time
4 years with placement
4 years with study abroad
4 years with foundation year
Connor“We're taught by researchers who are at the forefront of their fields, who share their own work with the class and give us the opportunity to visit sites involved in their ongoing research projects.”
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science
Our environmental science degree is designed and delivered by research-active staff with strong links to research institutions, national organisations and non-governmental bodies in the UK and overseas. You will benefit from learning and working alongside academics whose research in combatting climate change, restoring habitats, and mitigating the impacts of aviation was ranked 5th in the UK for impact in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
Our BSc (Hons) Environmental Science degree takes a scientific approach to the study of the Earth’s complex physical, chemical, biological and anthropogenic systems and processes. This programme will help you to develop an understanding of both physical and human systems and the interaction between them, while equipping you with the tools to identify and apply appropriate management techniques to environmental problems. With real-world relevance at the heart of the programme, you will develop skills and knowledge around the measurement, modelling and assessment of environmental change and its impacts. Core and optional units allow you to explore contemporary issues such as pollution pathways in air, water and soils in a wide range of environments including urban, rural and coastal settings; past, present and future climate change; sustainable development; policy and management; circular economy; ecology; and conservation.
We have shaped this degree around potential career pathways for our graduate environmental scientists, helping you to develop the skills and knowledge that are highly desirable to employers. You will have access from first year to specialist laboratories and high-specification analytical equipment, building from the fundamentals in the first year up to highly technical procedures in the final year taught courses and individual projects. You will also use industry-standard geospatial software and applications to develop high-level skills in remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
Our focus on practical experience includes many fieldwork opportunities. Day field trips around the North West of England bring to life theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom by providing hands-on experience using a variety of research skills in environmental science.
Throughout your degree, you will have many opportunities to develop your transferable skills, including written and oral communication, effective group work, numeracy and data handling, which are all vital for your career beyond university. Manchester Met’s sustainability agenda is a longstanding, core part of students’ experiences in the Department of Natural Sciences and, as part of that commitment, you will gain a Carbon Literacy certificate in your first year and the opportunity to become a Carbon Literacy trainer to get in-demand skills and experience.
Teaching Excellence Framework 2023-2027
National Student Survey 2024 (NSS)
Whether you’ve already made your decision about what you want to study, or you’re just considering your options, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
Please note our entry requirements may differ slightly at Clearing. Please call the Clearing helpline on +44 (0)161 247 3000 for more details.
UK and Channel Islands full-time foundation year fee: £9,250 per year for the foundation year. This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation and may increase each academic year in line with inflation or UK government policy for both new and continuing students.
EU and Non-EU international full-time foundation year fee: £20,000 per year. When progressing from the pre-degree foundation year to the linked degree. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study)
Full-time fee: £9,250 per year. This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation and may increase each academic year in line with inflation or UK government policy for both new and continuing students.
Full-time fee: £20,000 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
A degree typically comprises 360 credits, a DipHE 240 credits, a CertHE 120 credits, and an integrated masters 480 credits. The tuition fee for the placement year for those courses that offer this option is £1,850, subject to inflationary increases based on government policy and providing you progress through the course in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study). The tuition fee for the study year abroad for those courses that offer this option is £1,385, subject to inflationary increases based on government policy and providing you progress through the course in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Laptops
Students often choose to buy a laptop, and occasionally a printer. Prices for these may range from £200–£700 depending on choice, but there are drop-in computer labs and printing facilities on campus and laptops for loan in the library. Students will be expected to print out some assessments such as posters (approx. £10 per year).
Textbooks
Textbooks are recommended for purchase (usually £50–£150 per year). All recommended texts are available in the Manchester Met library, and most are available as e-textbooks or e-books through the library for remote access via the internet. These are reviewed on an annual basis.
Placement and study abroad years
The tuition fee for the placement year for those courses that offer this option is £1,850, subject to inflationary increases based on government policy and providing you progress through the course in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
The placement year involves a full-time work experience work placement. This lasts for a minimum of 36 weeks and normally attracts a salary/weekly wage, but this is not guaranteed. Placements are competitive and based on successful interviews with the placement provider. Students will have to pay travel and accommodation costs (including for interview) plus personal insurance.
The tuition fee for the study year abroad for those courses that offer this option is £1,385, subject to inflationary increases based on government policy and providing you progress through the course in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
For students opting to study abroad in third year at one of our partner universities on an approved exchange programme, some partner universities may charge additional fees for mandatory administrative and recreational services, non-mandatory language classes, courses including fieldwork or non-mandatory project costs. If this applies, the partner university is responsible for informing the student of any additional costs. During the study year abroad, the student will need to budget for the general cost of living, as well as additional costs for visas, travel, medical insurance and vaccinations (depending on the destination), study materials and field trips. Applicants should visit the Manchester Metropolitan University web pages for more details, including sources of travel funding.
Short Placements
Students undertaking short placements as part of the RISE Award (approx. 3 – 4 weeks), or the optional school ambassador project (approx. 1 – 2 days per week).
Students may wish to become student members of relevant professional bodies, but this is not normally a requirement. Student membership of most relevant professional bodies is either free or heavily subsidised by the professional body.
Fieldwork costs
Students go on residential field trips for core units throughout the degree course. These are subsidised but students can expect to pay a contribution to costs of £60 for a UK-based residential field course at Level 4 (Year one) and a maximum of £300 for an overseas residential field course at Level 5 (Year two). For all core field courses, there are non-residential zero-cost to student alternatives for any student who is unable to take part. We offer optional specialist field courses overseas at Level 6 which will incur additional costs – students are notified of likely costs at Level 4 so that they can plan forward if they wish to go on these specialist field courses.
Our courses are field-based so students would be expected to dress appropriately (eg waterproof coats and trousers, sturdy footwear/walking boots which may range from £70–£250 depending on choice).
Travel expenses associated with independent data collection for final year dissertations are not reimbursed by the department. Students will be advised to undertake low-cost local fieldwork at the design and planning stages of a project if necessary.
Other costs
Manchester Met provides free travel insurance for students, in most cases, when they travel in connection with their programme of study, for example, placements, field trips, exchanges, etc. However, students should also take out personal insurance cover for belongings, as items such as mobile phones are not covered by this policy (costs may range between £20– £50 depending on length and country of travel).
Find out more about financing your studies and whether you may qualify for one of our bursaries and scholarships
Money MattersEnvironmental science graduates may go on to a variety of subject-specific careers in the environmental and sustainability industries, in consultancies and environmental services, or in teaching or research. Recent graduates have found employment across a wide range of sectors including environmental consultancies, public utilities, local authorities, industrial research laboratories, and conservation organisations. Our environmental science course is designed to equip you with transferable skills that may also be applied to non-subject-specific career pathways such as in management, local government, teaching or the civil service.
Study in the Dalton building
We've invested £115m into cutting-edge facilities and advanced technology to enhance your learning. With a newly refurbished computing labs and interactive study spaces, this redevelopment has been built to prepare students for the modern workplace.
You can apply for this course through Clearing.
Call our friendly team to find out more about this course and applying through Clearing.
Please have the following information handy:
If you are an international student, please also have the following ready:
Call us on +44 (0)161 247 3000
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.