Environmental Science is the rigorous study of the Earth's physical and chemical processes that helps us to develop a comprehensive overview of the interaction between the many different aspects of our environment, from environmental conservation and bioscience to atmospheric science and environmental management.

Throughout your degree you employ relevant scientific principles to learn the skills that will allow you to respond to the environmental issues that interest policy makers, non-governmental organisations, industry and the wider public.

Reasons to Study Environmental Science at Leeds

• Major investment in our teaching facilities, including new labs, computer clusters and microscopes
• Excellent employment statistics, with more than 93% of our graduates employed six months after graduation
• Four-year degree options with a year abroad or year in industry add real value
• Flexible programme pathways that reflect the breadth of expertise at Leeds and suit interests in Earth System Science, Atmospheric Processes, Water Science, Biogeoscience and Ecology and Environmental Management
• A varied programme of fieldwork. The School covers the costs of accommodation and travel on all compulsory and shorter optional field classes, and other field work is heavily subsidised
• Research-led teaching across the breadth of environmental science disciplines offers the chance to work with top scientists, with special seminars led by eminent guest speakers and opportunities for project work

Why study Environmental Science?

Expertise from across our School offers applied interdisciplinary insights into the study of real-world environmental problems. You can expect frequent contact with our own expert researchers, as well as visiting speakers representing a great variety of environmental specialisms.

You will learn methods and approaches for dealing with the wide ranging concerns of environmental managers. Your studies are underpinned by these skills and your understanding of relevant scientific issues and you will learn to apply sophisticated scientific techniques to solving environmental problems.

As a graduate of this programme you will demonstrate a thorough command of your subject, as well as essential attributes in the study of the environment and valuable transferable skills. With this solid foundation, you will be well-placed to apply your skills to effective professional environmental management or postgraduate study.

Five specialist pathways run throughout the programme and you will be introduced to all of them in your first year:

• Earth System Science explores the Earth’s lithosphere, geological and sedimentary processes, and interactions with the climate system and natural resources
• Atmospheric Processes focuses on meteorology, climate and air pollution
• Water Science studies global and regional-scale processes in oceans, rivers and ice sheets
• Biogeoscience and Ecology covers both global and local ecosystems and their interactions
• Environmental Management examines human influences on the environment and related issues such as energy and food security

You will continue to study three of these specialist areas in Year 2 and choose two of them as the basis of your final year.

Programme Options include a Study Year Abroad and a Year in Industry. Applicants can now choose our Industrial option directly through UCAS; see the Year in Industry tab for more information and the appropriate UCAS code.

The International Study Year Abroad variant of this programme, MEnv, BSc Environmental Science (International), has higher entry requirements and includes a year of study in the USA, Canada or Australia.

The School of Earth and Environment is one of the largest and most vibrant Schools in the country. Leeds is unique is having brought together the full range of disciplines from Meteorology and Geophysics, through Environmental Science and Geology, to Environmental Social Science.

Our £23.5 million building opened in April 2010 and includes state-of-the-art facilities for teaching and research. Leeds is a Russell Group research-intensive University where you are sure to interact with staff who are at the cutting edge of world-class research in their fields, and who will bring this expertise into their teaching. More information on our approach to learning and teaching can be found here.

Search all undergraduate courses at the University of Leeds