BSc (Hons) Environmental Science Bachelor's degree at the University of Portsmouth

You'll explore the earth and environment as a connected global system, learning how physical, chemical and numerical processes shape our planet. You'll build confidence in maths, physics, chemistry and data skills used by earth and environmental scientists, including analysing real environmental datasets and creating clear visualisations. You'll also learn the basics of coding in rstudio, with support available through optional drop-in sessions to help you develop essential digital and analytical skills.

On this module, you'll explore the basics of ecology, including core concepts such as biodiversity and surveying techniques. You will develop your understanding of human impacts on ecosystems across the world and through time. engaging local field days will support your learning, develop your practical skills, and enable you to see ecological theory in practice in a range of habitats.

This module takes you on a journey through global environmental challenges, exploring the nature and extent of human impact on the environment, and the complexities of managing environmental, population and resource change at local and global levels. The module emphasises the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches that must be taken to understand and solve environmental issues. Through in-depth lectures and workshops, you'll begin to develop the critical thinking skills needed to begin to tackle real-world environmental problems to shape a better future.

You'll gain a broad introduction to the marine environment, exploring how ocean biology, chemistry, physics and geology work together to shape life in the seas. You'll learn about physical and chemical processes that control seawater and sediments, and how these influence marine habitats and ecosystems. You'll research scientific literature, develop academic writing skills, and build confidence in interpreting marine environments and the interactions between organisms and their surroundings.

You'll discover the chemistry behind earth's atmosphere, water and soils, and explore the biogeochemical cycles that keep our planet in balance. You'll learn about major environmental pollutants, how they behave in natural systems, and how they interact with living organisms to create environmental risks. You'll take part in hands-on laboratory work to prepare samples, use analytical techniques to detect key pollutants, and build confidence in interpreting data and presenting professional scientific reports.

Learn how to plan and design a scientific research project, exploring experimental design, ethics and health and safety. You'll develop practical data analysis and coding skills by working with real datasets and using r to run and interpret statistical tests. You'll strengthen your career readiness by developing academic writing skills, creating professional cvs and cover letters, and reflecting on your future career goals.

Through hands-on fieldwork, you'll nurture your ability to collect, collate, and analyze environmental data using real-world quantitative techniques. Working closely with peers, you'll strengthen your teamwork skills while exploring the diverse challenges and opportunities within the environmental sector. By the end of the module, you'll not only gain practical experience but also develop the professional competencies that set you up for a successful career in environmental consultancy or other exciting roles in the field.

You’ll get familiar with the big issues and contemporary debates in education studies as well as the role and expectations of a teacher. You’ll develops fundamental knowledge and skills that teachers require, as well as your capability to structure and critique a lesson plan.

This module will see you navigate your way to new skills as you learn the theory and practical principles of coastal navigation, chart reading, and course plotting, ensuring you can plan and execute safe journeys at sea. Through the rya day skipper theory and powerboat level 2 courses, you'll develop your boat handling skills under the guidance of accredited providers. This module is ideal to combine maritime theory with hands-on skills to help you enhance your professional profile and personal development.

Take your diving expertise to the next level with our scientific diving techniques module, designed for students already holding a padi open water certification (or equivalent). This padi scientific diver course combines advanced practical skills with academic depth, covering the theory and challenges of underwater scientific operations. Through classroom-based workshops, you'll master hse legislation, risk assessment, project planning, and reporting - all aligned with approved codes of practice. You'll then apply your knowledge in the field by planning and executing a real-world diving project. Delivered under padi accreditation and university-approved standards, this module offers a unique

You'll gain hands-on experience using the same gis and remote sensing software that professionals rely on in geography, environmental and earth science careers. Through working with real-world data, you'll learn core theory before exploring the capture, interpretation and analysis of geographical and environmental data around topics such as wildlife habitats and natural disasters. Along the way, you'll develop valuable digital, analytical, and problem-solving skills that will give you a strong advantage in the job market.

Throughout this module you'll explore how rivers behave, evolve and transform the landscapes around us. through real-world case studies, you'll learn to interpret river processes and understand why they change over time. You'll develop the skills to analyse fluvial systems - how rivers move water and sediment and shape the land - and apply this knowledge to environmental management problems, helping you understand how professionals protect, restore and work with river environments. This module also gives you the opportunity to gain experience evaluating data, assessing river behaviour, and making informed recommendations - skills widely used in environmental consultancy, hydrology, and conse

This module will take you from the theory of environmental sustainability to the challenges of its real-world implementation. You'll explore the ethics of everyday products to help you develop your critical thinking skills. Sustainable environmental management connects your personal consumption to the status of the local, regional, and global environment.

You'll plan and deliver an independent research project guided by your interests and career ambitions. Through structured supervision and self-directed enquiry, you'll strengthen your ability to frame research questions, work with evidence, and evaluate findings critically. The module helps you build confidence as an emerging professional, preparing you for postgraduate study or graduate roles that require independent thinking, problem solving and clear communication.

The aim of this module is to enable students to understand and apply a variety of applied approaches to environmental management. the techniques include carbon auditing, waste management, ecological mapping and impact assessment. these applications are used in the world of work and the module is designed to enhance the student's employability skills. the assessment is via reports which are representative of the types of report graduates will be expected to produce.

This module will give you a strong understanding of the science behind key energy generation and energy saving technologies. You'll study the science of wind, wave and solar power as well as the environmental costs and benefits of low carbon emission nuclear power. The module will include lab sessions, workshops and a field trip to a wind and solar farm.

You'll examine the development of core theories and practices that underpin the social, economic and environmental management of coastal areas and the activities that take place within them. you'll then apply these concepts to a broad range of real-world issues including sustainable development, land and sea use planning, ecotourism, climate change, conservation, and the management of recreational and leisure activities. The module is geared towards your professional career. you'll take part in applied tasks based on real-world case studies, as well as going on mini fieldtrips to see coastal management in practice. You will also hear from a range of industry speakers - many of whom are alumn

On this module you'll explore how transport might shape more sustainable, fair and liveable futures for cities, regions and societies. You'll investigate real‑world debates around climate change, transport modes, active travel, and policy, while developing your own solution to a transport issue based on your personal interests. With guest speakers from the transport sector, this module will highlight how you can make a real difference beyond university.

The impacts of climate change and natural hazards are one of the most pressing issues facing humanity in the 21st century. The first part of this module investigates a plethora of geophysical (e.g., earthquakes, landslides and tsunamis), hydrological (e.g., storms and flooding), and climatological (e.g., droughts and wildfires) hazards and how they affect the landscape and ancient civilisations through a range of spatial and temporal scales. The second part of this module explores the basic science of the climate, the evolution of the climate and the signature of human influence on earth's systems in recent times. The methods employed in climate modelling are discussed, and climate models ar

Through real world examples, fieldtrips and workshops you'll develop your understanding of conservation, habitat restoration and protected areas management. You'll explore conservation challenges from a range of perspectives and learn how to develop tailored and targeted environmental messaging for diverse stakeholders. In a supportive environment, you'll develop your own environmental code and vision for conservation.

On this module, you'll gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art laboratory instrumentation, directly overlapping with the latest internationally leading staff research. You'll learn to select appropriate analytical methods, design projects, and evaluate data to solve complex earth and environmental challenges. Build the skills to be a generator or user of laboratory data, preparing yourself for a career in a wide range of sectors, as well as research and development.

You'll take part in an exciting field course in a tropical country, applying classroom learning to real environments in different cultural and climatic settings. you'll investigate human impacts on marine and terrestrial ecosystems, explore conservation practices, and consider solutions for protecting and restoring fragile environments. you'll work as part of a research team to design studies, collect and analyse field data, and build confidence in presenting professional environmental research findings.