School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
Reasons to choose this course:
- Brackenhurst campus is an ideal location to study Environmental Science. With over 200 hectares of farm and woodland estate it is a leading centre for conservation, GIS studies, environmental research and sustainability. Our outdoor classroom enables students to test their knowledge and the physical application of their studies.
- This course combines key modules and teaching expertise across our wide portfolio of environment courses. This includes agriculture, physical geography, wildlife and environmental conservation and countryside management.
- Graduates from this course are highly employable. The design of this course has been informed by industry with the aim of equipping students with the skills required by employers in this sector. 95% of students graduating from NTU in 2008/09 were in employment or postgraduate study within six months of graduation.
About the course
This new multidisciplinary course includes the scientific study of the physical, chemical and biological processes operating on and within the Earth. The course provides you with an opportunity to study a wide range of issues of environmental importance based on the study of these Sciences.
Key topics are explored with the opportunity for students to specialise in their second and third years. This degree covers issues including:
- energy
- waste management
- conservation
- natural processes
- sustainability.
You will be introduced to analytical skills, discover how to conserve global biodiversity, and investigate environmental monitoring and pollution mitigation.
Topics covered include global climate change and the challenges posed by managing our natural resources; both major concerns for the 21st Century. You will focus on aspects of particular interest to today's work arena, such as renewable energies, environmental impact assessment, environmental hazard management and sustainability.
Interested? Why not find out more about NTU's own environmental strategy and management initiatives.
Please note the following information for applicants
Our courses are delivered with a strong emphasis on practical approaches to learning, including project-based learning, fieldwork, laboratory sessions and library research, as well as lectures, seminars and tutorials. You will participate in fieldwork, and opportunities for additional field studies will be available during your time at the School. Research skills and safe working practices are fostered throughout the course.
Assessment
The course is delivered with a strong emphasis on project based learning supported by lectures, seminars and workshops. Projects focus on practical and live policy issues. Assessment is by project, laboratory assessment, coursework and examination
Teaching
Staff in the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences have a wealth of experience in the field of the environmental sciences, enabling them to provide both a vocational approach to practical skills teaching and the academic perspective to encourage development and progression.
The teaching team has active research interests in specialist fields that include hydrology; hazard assessment; environmental management; and wildlife conservation.
Year One
The first-year modules provide a strong practical and theoretical introduction to the course.
Principles of Environmental Science
This module will introduce you to key laboratory and field techniques associated with environmental scientific procedures and research.
Climate, Soils and Vegetation
Study of aspects of Environmental Science will enable you to better understand complex environmental issues such as global warming, land-use management and natural hazard mitigation. You will develop specific skills for analysing and interpreting weather, climate and soils, and the ability to use these skills in the sustainable management of soil as a resource.
Personal Development Skills
This module is concerned with career development and the acquisition of transferable skills that are essential in the environmental employment sector. These include scientific and report writing, referencing techniques, presentations, IT skills and time-management.
Biodiversity Conservation
This module deals with the exploration of the biological diversity on Earth, focusing on the abundance and distribution of species. The theories of evolution, causes of mass extinctions and conservation of species are investigated.
Ecology: Terrestrial and Water
This module studies the interaction of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors in relation to the distribution of populations and communities within ecosystems.
Year Two
During the second year, you will develop skills in independent research and data analysis, and apply principles in a professional context.
Natural Resource Management
This module introduces the principles underlying the exploitation of natural resources, and cultivates critical awareness of the social, economic and political importance of natural resource management. The module aims to evaluate the complex nature of managing natural resources.
Introduction to Research
This module prepares you for the final-year research dissertation, developing an understanding of research methods, processes and applications including hypothesis-testing, statistical analysis and data presentation.
Environmental Monitoring
Aims to provide an understanding of the methods and processes involved in the monitoring of air and water quality. The module provides examples and case studies from ecotoxicology of metals and hydrocarbon pollutants.
Environmental Hazards and Disaster Management
You will study natural and human-induced events which may directly threaten human life and economic well-being. This module will assess the actions needed to reduce disaster potential and to manage the aftermath of hazards including an examination of the role geospatial technology can play in hazard management.
Global Climate Change
This module will enable you to study the science of climate change, consider ethical conflict, analyse political arguments and apply reasoning to the resolution of this pressing environmental problem.
Examples of other modules:
- Advanced Analytical Techniques
- Geographical Information Systems
Final year
As final-year students on the BSc (Hons) course, you will apply your new knowledge and skills to the process of solving environmental problems.
Dissertation
This is the final-year project in which you will undertake independent research, under supervision, in an area of Environmental Science-related subjects of your own choice.
Sustainability
This module will apply concepts of scale, place and human-environment relationships in the context of sustainability. It will review the barriers between sustainable development theory and practice and appraise the contrasting theories, explanations of, and approaches to sustainability.
Environmental Impact Assessment
This module focuses on the processes of identifying, quantifying and evaluating the key potential impacts of developments on the environment. Students will learn about the legislation and mitigation associated with the likely effects on the biogeophysical environment. You will also study the socio-economic consequences of particular activities.
Politics, Issues and Ethics
This module explores issues in and perceptions of environment and society in order to systematically identify and evaluate the philosophies influencing Environmental Sciences.
Innovations and Energy
Students will investigate one of the most challenging problems exercising scientists of the 21st Century; how to harness and distribute safe, clean energy from sources that do not deplete with use. Students will consider the depletion of fossil fuels and the increasing demand for energy so they can evaluate the choices available for the future.
Examples of optional modules:
- Atmospheric Pollution
- Agriculture
- Advanced Ecology.
Nottingham Trent University is one of the top ten UK universities for graduate employability. As one of our graduates, you will possess a wide range of academic and transferable skills, including research methodology, problem-solving and attention to detail, in addition to the specific knowledge and skills relevant to an Environmental Science degree.
The skills and knowledge acquired will equip you to pursue a career within organisations concerned with sustainable energy use and generation, the protection of natural resources, and environmental conservation. Potential employers include:
- Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
- The Environment Agency
- local government
- environmental consultancies
- conservation agencies
- private companies.
Possible roles you may consider include:
- energy management adviser
- sustainability officer
- environmental auditor
- water quality scientist
- conservation adviser
- recycling officer
- environmental consultant.
Teaching and further specialist studies are also possible career choices.
Students can choose to take an optional paid placement year in industry. This work experience enables students to develop their skills and put their knowledge into practice in a working environment. This experience is highly valued by future employers.
Students from the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences have undertaken placement in organisations like:
- The Environment Agency
- Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
- Seven Trent Water
- wildlife trusts.
How to apply
Applications for this course should be directed through the UCAS application system.
Part-time applicants need to complete a direct entry form available from our Student Administration team. Just give us a call and we'll put one in the post for you straight away.
UCAS code: F750 BSc/ES
Entry requirements
- You will need 240 UCAS tariff points minimum achieved from two subjects at A-level. (A-level General Studies is excluded.)
- A BTEC Diploma (Merit, Merit, Merit) in a relevant subject will be considered.
- GCSE Maths and English are required at Grade C or above.
Applications are encouraged from mature students who may not have formal entry qualifications, but who can demonstrate commitment or have relevant experience.
International applications
We welcome students from all over the world on this course.
Applicants requiring Tier 4 visas will need to have a minimum score of either:
- IELTS 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in reading, listening, speaking and writing skills),
- TOEFL iBT 87 (with at least 21 in reading, 22 in listening, 23 in speaking and 21 in writing),
- or equivalent language qualification
For further information, please visit our English language requirements web page for International applicants
EU applicants and non-Tier 4 international applicants - English language requirement
You will require:
- GCSE English Grade C, IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 76 or equivalent.
For further information, please visit our English language requirements web page for EU applicants.
Contact us
Get in touch if you would like to speak to us about this course, open days or how to apply.
Email us
Telephone: +44 (0)1636 817099 (Brackenhurst)
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 4200 (Admissions)
