BSc (Hons) Ecological and Environmental Sciences Bachelor's degree at the University of Edinburgh
BSc (Hons) Ecological and Environmental Sciences at University of Edinburgh. Ecological and Environmental Sciences at Edinburgh takes you through four years rather than the standard three, giving extra room to build up field and laboratory competence before you specialise.
About this course
BSc (Hons) Ecological and Environmental Sciences is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Edinburgh, based in Central. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Biosciences graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 80% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (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: 30; 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 100% (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 14 modules
- Introduction to Ecological and Environmental SciencesCompulsory
- Biology 1A: VariationCompulsory
- Biology 1D: EnvironmentCompulsory
- Our Changing WorldOptional
- Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)Optional
- Wicked problems: Reason and RhetoricOptional
- Understanding decolonisation in a globalised worldOptional
- Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030Optional
- Living in the AnthropoceneOptional
- Understanding Society with Big Data: Computational Social ScienceOptional
- Health in a Changing ClimateOptional
- Understanding Gender in the Contemporary WorldOptional
- Navigating Energy TransitionsOptional
- Healthy Eating for People and PlanetOptional
Year 2 4 modules
- Soil, Water and Atmospheric ProcessesCompulsory
- Field EcologyCompulsory
- Ecological and Environmental AnalysisCompulsory
- Principles of EcologyCompulsory
Year 3 8 modules
- Ecological MeasurementCompulsory
- Critical Thinking in Ecological and Environmental SciencesCompulsory
- Population and Community Ecology 3Optional
- Natural Resource ManagementOptional
- Environmental PollutionOptional
- Data Science in Ecology and Environmental ScienceOptional
- Introduction to Social Sciences for Natural ScientistsOptional
- Global HydrologyOptional
Year 4 6 modules
- Dissertation in Ecological and Environmental SciencesCompulsory
- Professional Skills in Ecological and Environmental ScienceCompulsory
- Practical Environmental Impact AssessmentCompulsory
- Conservation ScienceOptional
- Ecological Impacts of Climate ChangeOptional
- Catchment Water ResourcesOptional
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 degree is built around a progression rather than a fixed menu of modules taught in isolation. Core theory forms the foundation, the ecological and environmental principles that everything else builds on. Alongside this, research and methods training teaches you how scientists actually gather and interpret data, from survey design to statistical analysis, which matters as much as the subject knowledge itself. Applied practice translates that theory into real problems, likely involving fieldwork and practical exercises rather than purely classroom-based learning. As you progress, specialist options let you steer the degree towards the parts of ecological and environmental science that interest you most, such as conservation biology, ecosystem management or environmental policy-adjacent topics, without the course dictating a single fixed pathway. An independent project towards the end gives you the chance to design and carry out your own piece of research, working more autonomously than in earlier years. Professional skills are woven through the degree too, covering the practical, communication and workplace-relevant abilities that sit alongside scientific knowledge and that employers and further study both expect graduates to have.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who is genuinely curious about how natural systems work, someone who'd rather be out in a habitat counting species or taking samples than only reading about ecology in a textbook. If you like asking questions, designing ways to test them, and then sitting with data to work out what it actually shows, the research and methods strand of this degree will feel like a natural fit rather than a chore. You should be comfortable with a mix of independent study and structured teaching, since the four-year length means the pace of specialisation builds gradually rather than all at once. Patience matters too: ecological fieldwork and long-term projects don't always give quick answers, and the independent project towards the end rewards students who can manage their own time and stay motivated without constant supervision. Most entrants arrive with A-levels or equivalent, and the typical accepted student has more than 240 UCAS tariff points, though these figures describe recent cohorts rather than a stated requirement. If you're drawn to environmental problems, biodiversity loss, habitat change, sustainability challenges, and want a scientific rather than purely policy-based way into that world, this is the kind of degree that gives you the tools to investigate those questions properly.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Environmental Science courses, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 65% of those working graduates are in highly skilled roles or further study, figures that reflect the broader graduate labour market for this field rather than outcomes specific to this university or a guaranteed result for any individual. National earnings data (Graduate Outcomes/LEO) shows starting salaries in the region of £24,000–£30,000 at 15 months, £21,250–£30,000 after three years, and £26,350–£37,200 after five years, though these ranges depend heavily on sector, role and location and shouldn't be read as a promise. Skills built through the degree's research methods, applied practice and independent project components, data analysis, fieldwork competence, and project management, feed into roles in conservation, environmental consultancy, research and related fields, as well as postgraduate study for those who want to specialise further. It's also worth noting that 90% of students nationally continue past their first year, a modest reassurance about how manageable the transition into this kind of degree tends to be.
University & format
The University of Edinburgh is a public, Russell Group institution founded in 1583, with over 26,000 students studying across its central campus. The BSc (Hons) Ecological and Environmental Sciences (UCAS code CF17) runs full-time over four years, taught in English, and leads to an Honours bachelor's degree.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 79%.
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.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
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 | 70% |
| a Baccalaureate | 15% |
| another higher-education qualification | 10% |
| an Access course | 5% |
| Other | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
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 CF17). 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. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at University of Edinburgh →If you normally live in Scotland
For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with SAAS →Paying for it
- SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
- Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
- Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.
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 | £30,000 | £27,000 – £34,000 | 30 |
| 3 years after | £26,000 | £19,500 – £31,000 | 185 |
| 5 years after | £34,500 | £27,000 – £45,500 | 290 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; 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: 30; 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 · 40% of published destinations · ASHE median £40,520
- Skilled trades occupationsSOC 2020 5 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,241
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: 45; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
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
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. 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 8.9 out of 10: NSS 78% · in work or study 90% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Edinburgh
Geography, earth and environmental studies (social sciences) across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
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 Edinburgh from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £13,914 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 Edinburgh’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 Edinburgh and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Edinburgh
Environmental 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) Ecological and Environmental Sciences
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.