BSc (Hons) Environmental Science Bachelor's degree at the University of Sheffield
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science at University of Sheffield. Rather than treating environmental science as a purely theoretical subject, the course draws on real-world challenges and up-to-date techniques, so you build an understanding of how scientific evidence gets translated into practical…
About this course
Discover how cutting-edge research tackles real-world environmental challenges - from climate change to biodiversity loss - using the latest tech and data-driven insights. Gain the skills employers value and prepare for exciting careers in environmental consultancy or sustainability leadership. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Sheffield, based in Main Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Geography, earth and environmental studies graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 60% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £29,000. (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)
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 90% (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.
First year 6 modules
- Earth, Wind, Ice and FireCore20 credits
Module details
This module introduces the general principles of physical geography for students with diverse backgrounds. Through a mixture of lectures and lab-work you will be able to develop a holistic understanding of how the Earth functions as a system across a range of spatial scales, focusing in particular on the functioning of key elements of this system - notably the operation of the geosphere, atmosphere, and cryosphere - and how these elements interact to influence the evolution of the system as a wh
Assessment: Your assessment for this module will develop your skills in communicating and explaining complex scientific concepts.
- Biodiversity, Climate and ConservationCore20 credits
Module details
Humanity is facing inter-related crises of biodiversity decline and climate change. This module will give you an understanding of the anthropogenic and natural factors that determine the distribution of biodiversity, species' interactions and population sizes, and key biological-geochemical cycles that regulate environmental conditions on our planet. You'll explore links between biodiversity decline, climate change and ecosystem function, before discussing the consequences for nature's ability t
- Global Biogeochemical CyclesCore20 credits
Module details
This module provides fundamentals of environmental sciences with an emphasis on biogeochemical cycling. You will be able to learn about how challenges including loss of biodiversity, access to clean water, climate change and provision of food for a quickly growing population may best be approached and centred in sustainability (recycling, reducing consumption) and citizen engagement. The module aims to cover the main earth system approaches that underpin our understanding of environmental challe
- Critical InquiryCore20 credits
Module details
This module introduces the core academic skills and critical thinking techniques essential for undertaking rigorous scholarship and research at university. Lectures will focus on fundamental concepts and research methodologies using case studies and examples relevant to human geography, physical geography, and environmental science. A key focus will be dedicated to the principles of academic integrity, ethical data handling, and conducting robust, reliable research that meets scholarly standards
Assessment: Assessments include an annotated bibliography and essay to introduce you to academic writing and a quiz covering the fundamentals of research integrity.
- Physical Geography and Environmental Science in the FieldCore20 credits
Module details
Fieldwork and lab-work are an integral part of geographers' and environmental scientists' skillsets. The ability to design and carry out effective field research and to analyse data in a lab setting are useful and transferable skills. In this module you will undertake fieldwork in the local region beyond campus and lab work. You will be set tasks which will require you to conduct your own fieldwork. This module will teach you the core geographical skills of data design, data collection, data exp
- Maps and StatsCore20 credits
Module details
Geographers and Environmental Scientists are well-known for having a versatile set of practical and transferable skills. This module guides you to develop key research and software methods from across the discipline, in a lecture and practical format. Lectures introduce you to research methods and skills, such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Earth Observation (EO), statistics, and surveys. Practical sessions provide you with the exposure to industry-standard software, enabling you to
Second year 7 modules
- Environmental Pollution and QualityCore20 credits
Module details
This module explores the fundamental principles of water and soil quality, highlighting their critical roles in sustaining life, ensuring food security, and supporting ecosystem functions and climate regulation. You will delve into the global challenges posed by resource degradation, unsustainable human activities, pollution, and climate change. The interconnected nature of water and soil health will be a key focus, examining how the decline of one can intensify issues in the other. Through comp
- Geographical Information Systems, Earth Observation and Data AnalysisCore20 credits
Module details
In our digital world, data are everywhere, so it is important for us to understand how such data are generated, what data we can trust, and how we can analyse and visualise data to understand our changing environment. This module provides you with a theoretical framework and hands-on experience of Earth Observation (EO), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Data Analysis. You will hone your problem solving skills by, for example, using satellite images to map environmental change, analysing
- Environmental Science Research Design and FieldworkCore20 credits
Module details
The ability to design, conduct, analyse and present meaningful findings from fieldwork is an essential part of degree-level Environmental Science, and enhances employability. This module builds on your learning from 'Physical Geography and Environmental Science in the Field' in the first year, addressing the philosophical background to, and the process of, designing and conducting fieldwork. The module introduces the principles of research design and provides practical experience of fieldwork to
- Principles of Ecology and ConservationCore20 credits
Module details
In this module you will develop an advanced understanding of the fundamental principles that explain the abundance and distribution of species on earth. You will examine how biotic and abiotic factors shape ecological interactions across scales, from individual organisms, to populations and ecosystems. You will learn how to use models and empirical evidence to analyse species coexistence and the structure and function of communities over time and space. You'll apply ecological insights to explor
- Sustainable Development and Global JusticeOptional20 credits
Module details
Sustainable Development is a major challenge for countries around the globe. This module guides you to explore contemporary development issues their historical trajectories, diverging narratives and their embeddedness in current geopolitics. It examines the contribution that geographers, and geographical thought, can make towards understanding questions of environmental justice, inequality, poverty and socio-cultural change. The module encourages a critical discussion and intercultural dialogue
- Understanding the Climate SystemOptional20 credits
Module details
In order to understand global climate change, we first have to understand how the climate system works. This module will give you a strong understanding of the global climate system, focusing on the atmosphere, the oceans, and their interaction. The first part of the module will consider the main characteristics of, and processes behind, climate from the global to the local scale. The second part of the module will examine the physical characteristics of the oceans and their geographical variati
- Understanding Dynamic LandscapesOptional
Module details
Earth's landscapes are a unique and dynamic record of landform history from recent decades through to deep geological time. Understanding the processes that sculpt our physical world and how they evolve is a key aspect in environmental management, climate reconstruction, and hazard mitigation. With climate change accelerating surface processes and growing human populations expanding into geomorphologically active terrain, it is imperative that we are able to interpret the landforms around
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 take you from foundational understanding through to independent research. Early on, you build core theory in environmental science, before developing your skills in research & methods that let you collect, analyse and interpret environmental data with confidence. As you progress, the focus shifts towards applied practice, connecting classroom learning to the kinds of problems faced by consultancies, regulators and organisations working on sustainability. You'll also choose from specialist options, such as areas that let you follow your own interests within the broader field, before completing an independent project that gives you the chance to design and carry out a substantial piece of research on a topic of your choosing. Running alongside this is a thread of professional skills, aimed at preparing you for the transition into employment or further study, whether that's technical competencies, communication, or the kind of applied problem-solving employers in this field value.
Who it's for
This course suits people who are curious about how the natural world works and want to understand the mechanisms behind environmental change, rather than just knowing that it's happening. If you find yourself drawn to news stories about climate change or biodiversity loss and want to get beneath the headlines into the data and science, this kind of course gives you the tools to do that properly. You'll get on well here if you enjoy a mix of fieldwork, lab-based analysis and independent research, and if you're comfortable with the idea that environmental problems rarely have simple answers, they require weighing evidence, working with data, and thinking critically about trade-offs. A genuine interest in using technology and data to understand environmental systems will serve you well, given how central this is to the course. Most students accepted onto Sheffield's environmental science programmes arrive with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, typically within the 144–159 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what past entrants held rather than a fixed requirement. Beyond the grades, what matters most is a willingness to engage with both the science and the practical, real-world side of environmental work, because by the end of the course, you should feel equipped to walk into a workplace and apply what you've learned to genuine problems, whether that's in consultancy, policy or sustainability roles.
Careers & job market
Graduates of this course are positioned for careers in environmental consultancy and sustainability leadership, building on the applied, research-informed nature of the degree. IES accreditation means you leave eligible to apply for associate membership of the Institution of Environmental Sciences, which can support your professional development as you enter the sector. Nationally, across Environmental Science courses, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 65% of those in work are in highly skilled roles or further study, figures that reflect the national picture for the subject rather than outcomes specific to this university. On earnings, national Graduate Outcomes data 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. These are national figures for the field as a whole, not a guarantee of what any individual graduate will earn, but they give a general sense of the trajectory graduates in this subject tend to see over time. Nationally, 90% of students in this field continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed their studies, suggesting the subject is one students tend to stick with once they begin it.
University & format
The University of Sheffield is a public, Russell Group institution founded in 1905, meaning it sits within a group of UK universities defined by their research intensity. Teaching quality on this course benefits from that research-led environment, and the university holds a Silver award in the Office for Students' TEF 2023, reflecting recognised teaching quality. This BSc (Hons) Environmental Science is delivered full-time over three years at the university's main campus, taught entirely in English. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the qualification you receive is nationally recognised. It's worth checking the university's own funding pages directly for details of any bursaries or scholarships you might be eligible for, as these can vary and change from year to year.
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.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Optional placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
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 | 90% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
| an Access course | 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 F900). 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
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Sheffield →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 | £29,000 | £26,000 – £32,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £26,000 | £22,500 – £30,500 | 290 |
| 5 years after | £33,500 | £27,500 – £41,000 | 295 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. 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: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. 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 · 35% of published destinations · ASHE median £40,520
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Science, engineering and technology associate professionalsSOC 2020 31 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,828
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: 25; response rate: 65%. 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
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. 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
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £29,000. 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 9.1 out of 10: NSS 89.3% · in work or study 95% · continued 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Sheffield
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 Main Campus
2,964 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 Sheffield from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Sheffield; 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 Sheffield’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 Sheffield and gov.uk before you apply.
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What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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