Information for students

If you are an undergraduate, why not take the unique opportunity to boost your sustainability credentials by bolting an additional intercalated Year in Environmental Sustainability onto your degree? Gain foundational knowledge of the area of environmental sustainability and enhance your work-based skills through studying topics such as: global environmental issues; environmental research; earth systems; evolution and ecology.*

*Not open to those undertaking degrees in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BSc Biological Sciences, and BSc Human Sciences.

All staff and students are expected to take part in the University's Sustainability in Action training course. This one-hour session involves interactive discussions and activities to help you take the next steps to build your knowledge of sustainability and climate change, and learn practical ways to be more sustainable in your everyday life.

If you want to take it to the next level, we have a number of additional online courses available.

The 'One Planet, One Future: Biodiversity, Climate Change and Sustainability' course is an optional 15-hour biodiversity literacy course through the Professional Skills Academy. A short (three-hour) version of this course is also available through the Sustainability pathway on Careers Connect.

We also have courses, including 'What is COP?' about the annual Conference of the Parties, and a West Midlands Climate Adaptation Literacy course developed by the West Midlands Combined Authority in collaboration with researchers at the University of Birmingham.

Find links to all of these courses – plus exciting information about new courses being introduced and a wider resource list – through our Student Sustainability Hub on Canvas.

The “Year in Civic Leadership” at the University of Birmingham is an integrated intercalated year for undergraduate students, that aims to develop skills in civic engagement, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The programme enables students to deliver projects designed to address social and environmental challenges and think critically about how to make a positive impact in their communities. 

Students may be able to undertake sustainability internships through schemes such as the Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA) Summer Sustainability Internships, or a bursary-funded Future Focused micro-internship during the Easter break or Summer term or other schemes offered through our colleges.

If available, these posts will enable you to get directly involved with some of our globally recognised research groups and institutes at the University. Priority will be given to Birmingham Scholar and widening participation students, but all are welcome to apply. There may also be opportunities to work as a research assistant on projects throughout the year, for example, undergraduate and postgraduate students have been employed on projects to collect survey data, develop workshops and support with training material development in topics such as carbon awareness, sustainability education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Opportunities such as this are promoted through Worklink or via the hub below.

It may also be possible to undertake a placement within our own sustainability team as Molly did.

Molly Hobson, a fourth-year Environmental Science student, undertook a part-time placement to support the introduction of the Green Laboratory Accreditation Standard across the University. Molly shared, “Being involved in this project has connected me with various stakeholders and deepened my understanding of the University’s operations. Beyond my project, I’ve shadowed meetings and participated in webinars and networking events covering topics like business continuity, security, climate risks, and sustainability in campus food and events. This placement has been highly rewarding, allowing me to apply academic knowledge practically, enhance my CV, and develop skills which were invaluable in helping me secure my Graduate Scheme role post-university.”

Information is available on the Student Sustainability Hub or visit the Careers Network.

All undergraduates are invited to take part in the international Reimagine Our Future Sustainability competition. Compete against students from 11 other universities around the world to come up with big solutions to the challenges that you feel are inhibiting our chances of a more sustainable future – all aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals. University of Birmingham has previously had winning teams for ‘Most Multidisciplinary Idea’ and in ‘Sustainability Education’. From apps to encourage more sustainable behaviours at music festivals to taking on the fast fashion industry, how will you reimagine our future? Register your interest and get creative.

The Guild at the University of Birmingham is at the forefront of driving real change within the student community. Each year sees a host of exciting engagement activities, events and societies inviting you to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in for sustainability.

• Work for a safer, cleaner, greener, more cohesive community by becoming a Community Warden.
• Reduce waste and raise money for the British Heart Foundation by volunteering for the JunkBusters scheme.
• Meet like-minded students, have fun and raise awareness around sustainability by helping to organise the annual Go Green Week and UoB Xtra programme of summer events, which includes activities such as sustainability talks, biodiversity surveys and sustainable food tastings.  
• Browse part-time jobs and volunteering opportunities that allow you to make a difference in the community. 
• Grow your own organic fruit and veg as well as flowers to support pollinators at our Grow with Joe community garden – a student-led growing project, managed and maintained by the Birmingham University Conservation Volunteers (BUCV).

Train as a Green Impact environmental auditor and support sustainable workplaces by carrying out online environmental audits of organisations across the UK!

To apply, you must be a current student at a UK university. You will be fully trained by SOS-UK (Students Organising for Sustainability) in a free ISEP-approved training course. Following the training, you will spend some time reviewing the Green Impact toolkit submissions of staff at participating organisations and preparing questions to ask. You will then meet with the staff (online or in person), where you can ask questions and make final decisions on your audit.

It's a great opportunity to view real-world implementation of sustainability in the workplace, as well as build new skills in communications, analysis and teamwork. Total commitment is between 6-10 hours, depending on how many audits you complete.

Feeling inspired? There are countless opportunities across campus for enthusiastic volunteers to get involved, make a difference, and shape a sustainable future for the University and beyond. So, stop doom-scrolling, Get Involved and be part of positive change that future generations will thank you for.

Embark on an exciting journey with our interdisciplinary degree programmes, where you can tailor your studies to your passions. This flexible approach hones your expertise and equips you with the skills highly sought after by employers. Below is just a sample of our unique degree courses co-designed with industry experts to offer a hands-on experience with transferable skills, and diverse career opportunities.

Graduates of these degree courses are highly valued in roles such as environmental agencies, sustainability officers, and policy advisors. What’s more, with our employability-focused curriculum, you’ll be prepared to make a significant impact in various green careers, from wildlife conservation to urban planning.

As a University of Birmingham undergraduate, you will have the unique opportunity to boost your sustainability credentials by bolting an additional intercalated Year in Environmental Sustainability onto your degree. Gain foundational knowledge of the area of environmental sustainability and enhance your work-based skills through studying topics such as: global environmental issues; environmental research; earth systems; evolution and ecology.*

*Not open to those undertaking degrees in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, BSc Biological Sciences, and BSc Human Sciences.

The University of Birmingham is a proud partner of ISEP (Institute of Sustainability & Environmental Professionals, formerly known as IEMA) – the global professional body for anyone working in environment and sustainability. Our first ISEP accredited degree prepares graduates to make change happen, giving you the skills to keep pace with cutting edge research, understand the policy and governance frameworks for climate change and sustainable futures, and implement evidence-based mitigation and adaptation strategies. All students undertaking the Climate Change, Adaptation and Policy MSc will receive ISEP Graduate Membership upon successful completion of their degree, an externally recognised professional membership.

Become a leader in tackling global environmental challenges in an interdisciplinary way. Dive deep into the complexities of environmental change and take advantage of specialised modules and research opportunities. Gain the expertise needed to develop innovative, sustainable solutions and make a meaningful impact on the global issues facing our world and the people who inhabit it.

Help to solve one of the world's biggest environmental challenges with our Sustainable Energy Engineering MSc. Build the knowledge and skills to lead change as we transition to a net-zero future. You'll explore the technologies, concepts and approaches needed for sustainable energy. By learning how to find solutions to one of our most pressing challenges, you will be ready to progress your career and drive sustainability in the energy industry.

Influence the future with our MSc in AI and Sustainable Development. Our innovative programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge to drive ethical tech solutions and impactful change through interdisciplinary learning and real-world projects.

To discover the full list of degrees available in the sustainability space visit our Course Explorer.

In Birmingham, we pride ourselves on offering real-world learning and research opportunities while bringing social or environmental benefits to our University. We view our expansive and environmentally diverse Edgbaston campus as our very own Living Lab – a real environment for testing, training and learning. Students are able to engage with academic and Professional Services staff to review and develop University sustainability policies and practices in areas such as biodiversity, travel and procurement and explore opportunities for environmentally responsible practices on campus.

Beyond campus, our Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) is a landmark experiment in Staffordshire dedicated to advancing our understanding of how forests respond to environmental changes. Our students are closely integrated into the cutting-edge research underway at the facility, and so far, University of Birmingham students have clocked up over 3,000 hours of volunteering.

Meanwhile, Birmingham River Champions is a community-driven initiative dedicated to protecting and celebrating our city’s waterways by connecting, educating and upskilling like-minded nature enthusiasts (from students to local volunteers) in river health monitoring. In the last year, the initiative has collected more samples than the Environment Agency has done regionally in the last decade and there are always plenty of opportunities to wade in and get involved.