BSc (Hons) Environmental Change and Sustainability with Year Abroad Bachelor's degree at the University of Birmingham
BSc (Hons) Environmental Change and Sustainability with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham. Environmental Change and Sustainability with Year Abroad places climate change, resource management and conservation at the centre of your studies, and does so with a strong emphasis on getting out of the lecture theatre and into the field.
About this course
Environmental Change and Sustainability explores issues like climate change, resource management, and conservation. Gain practical skills through fieldwork and research. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Environmental Change and Sustainability with Year Abroad is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Birmingham, based in Edgbaston campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Geography, earth and environmental studies graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 80% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £28,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Environmental Science, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 65; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 91% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 8 modules
- One-Planet ThinkingCore20 credits
- Connected Earth: Environmental Systems and ChangeCore20 credits
- Ecological Concepts and Plant SciencesOptional20 credits
- Fieldwork: Principles and PracticeOptional20 credits
- Introduction to Evolution and Animal BiologyOptional20 credits
- Moral and Political PhilosophyOptional20 credits
- Societies, Space and PlaceOptional20 credits
- Young People and Social ChangeOptional20 credits
Year 2 16 modules
- Developing SolutionsCore20 credits
- Earth Resources, Environmental Impacts and SustainabilityCore20 credits
- Animal Biology: Principles and MechanismsOptional20 credits
- Critical Issues for 21st Century EcosystemsOptional20 credits
- Ecological SystemsOptional20 credits
- Environmental Human GeographyOptional20 credits
- Environmental Pollution and ManagementOptional20 credits
- Geological Natural HazardsOptional20 credits
- Hydrology and River ManagementOptional20 credits
- PalaeoecologyOptional20 credits
- Plant Sciences: from cells to the environmentOptional20 credits
- SedimentologyOptional20 credits
- Climate and Environmental EthicsOptional20 credits
- Literature and Environment: Crisis and ResistanceOptional20 credits
- Politics of Sustainable DevelopmentOptional20 credits
- Science and NatureOptional20 credits
Year 3 1 modules
- Study Abroad - Environmental ScienceCore120 credits
Final Year 11 modules
- Natural Sciences Group Research ProjectOptional40 credits
- Sustainability Research ProjectOptional40 credits
- Animal Behaviour: From theory to applicationOptional20 credits
- Climate change in the Earth SystemOptional20 credits
- Conservation Practice: Genes to EcosystemsOptional20 credits
- Conservation: theory into practiceOptional20 credits
- Engineering Geology and GeomorphologyOptional20 credits
- Environmental Research in High LatitudesOptional20 credits
- Exploring the Energy TransitionOptional20 credits
- Governance of Environmental and Energy TransitionsOptional20 credits
- PalaeoclimatesOptional20 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course is structured to build your expertise progressively. You'll start with core theory, establishing the scientific foundations of environmental change and sustainability, before moving into research & methods, where you learn how environmental scientists actually collect, analyse and interpret data. Applied practice runs alongside this, giving you the chance to work with real environmental problems rather than only abstract cases. As you progress, you'll choose specialist options such as those covering climate systems, conservation, or resource management, allowing you to shape the degree around your own interests. An independent project gives you the opportunity to design and carry out your own piece of research, while professional skills training helps you translate what you've learned into the kind of communication, teamwork and analytical abilities that employers look for. The year abroad sits within this structure, giving you a chance to study environmental issues from a different vantage point before returning to complete your degree.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who's curious about how the natural world works and genuinely concerned about the pressures it's under, someone who reads about climate change or conservation debates and wants to understand the science behind the headlines rather than just the politics. You'll need patience for detailed research and methods work, but also enthusiasm for fieldwork: for being outdoors, collecting data, and testing ideas against real environmental conditions rather than only textbook examples. It's a good fit if you like the idea of spending a year living and studying somewhere else, adapting to a different academic culture and building independence away from familiar surroundings. Most students who take this route arrive with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, typically within the 128–143 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what past entrants held rather than a fixed requirement. If you're someone who enjoys both structured scientific enquiry and stepping outside your comfort zone, this combination of grounded environmental science and international experience should feel like a natural fit.
Careers & job market
Across Environmental Science courses nationally, Graduate Outcomes data shows that 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after finishing their degree, with 65% of those in employment in roles classed as highly skilled. Nationally, starting salaries reported 15 months after graduation range from £24,000 to £30,000, rising to between £21,250 and £30,000 after three years and £26,350 to £37,200 after five years, figures drawn from national labour-market data rather than specific to any one university or guaranteed for individual graduates. It's also worth noting that, nationally, 90% of students on these courses continue past their first year, suggesting the subject tends to hold students' interest once they've started. The year abroad component may add an international dimension to your CV, relevant for graduates considering careers in environmental consultancy, conservation, policy, research or further postgraduate study.
University & format
This BSc (Hons) is delivered full-time over four years at the University of Birmingham's Edgbaston campus, taught in English. The University is a public, research-intensive institution and a member of the Russell Group, with around 30,832 students across the institution as a whole. The course is a recognised UK degree ranking of #12 overall.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 90% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 5% |
| Other | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code F950). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Birmingham →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Environmental Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £28,500 | £25,000 – £31,000 | 65 |
| 3 years after | £27,500 | £23,500 – £33,000 | 360 |
| 5 years after | £34,500 | £29,000 – £45,000 | 370 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 65; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in environmental science · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Environmental Science nationally
National figures for Environmental Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 65; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Environmental Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 560 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Conservation and environment professionalsSOC 2020 215 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £40,520
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Science, engineering and technology associate professionalsSOC 2020 31 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,828
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 50; response rate: 65%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Is BSc (Hons) Environmental Change and Sustainability with Year Abroad worth it?
It depends. BSc (Hons) Environmental Change and Sustainability with Year Abroad adds about +£65,840 over the first ten years vs. going straight to a job, but on these earnings the payoff is slower than average.
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 4 years of wages given up while studying. The line clears zero around year 17.3. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £9,790/yr over 4 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
Job market & outlook
How Environmental Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Environmental Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Environmental consultancies
- Environment Agency
- Energy & utilities
- NGOs & local authorities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Environmental Science graduates.
Environmental Science Graduate Leadership Scheme, HybridEnvironment AgencyRemote Environmental Science Evaluator – AI Output QAObsidianRemote Environmental Science Evaluator (Contract)MercorAssistant Professor: Ecology & Environmental Science and AISONICOMStrategic Leader, Environmental ScienceUK Research and Innovation (UKRI)Assistant Professor: Ecology, Evolution & Environmental ScienceImperial College LondonIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £28,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.8 out of 10: NSS 84.3% · in work or study 90% · continued 91%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Birmingham
Geography, earth and environmental studies (social sciences) across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Edgbaston campus
1,313 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Environmental Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Birmingham from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Birmingham; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Birmingham’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Birmingham and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Birmingham
BA (Hons) Geography with Year AbroadBA (Hons) · University of BirminghamBA (Hons) GeographyBA (Hons) · University of BirminghamBSc (Hons) Environmental Change and SustainabilityBSc (Hons) · University of BirminghamBSc (Hons) Environmental Science with International Research PlacementBSc (Hons) · University of BirminghamEnvironmental Science at other universities
BA (Hons) English Studies and Climate ChangeAberystwyth UniversityBSc (Hons) Environmental Earth Science (with integrated year in industry)Aberystwyth UniversityBSc (Hons) Environmental Earth Science (with integrated year studying abroad)Aberystwyth UniversityBSc (Hons) Environmental Earth ScienceAberystwyth UniversityCommon questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
Request information about BSc (Hons) Environmental Change and Sustainability with Year Abroad
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.