Become a leader in tackling global environmental challenges. Join us to dive deep into the complexities of environmental change and take advantage of specialised modules and research opportunities, through these you will gain the expertise needed to develop innovative, sustainable solutions and make a meaningful impact on the global environmental issues facing our word.
In the future I would love to work in modelling or policy, or something to do with science communication. I’m really passionate about climate education and communication so that’s ideally where I’d like to end up for my career. I’m also considering the possibility of doing a master’s degree, or even a PhD!
Join our four-year programme consisting of core (compulsory) and optional modules. Each module will be assessed in different ways depending on the topic you're studying.
In year first year, you will gain a comprehensive foundation in environmental science, with opportunities to explore diverse topics such as earth systems and global environmental Issues While developing essential skills for your future career.
In your second year, you will build on your foundational knowledge, choosing from specialised topics to deepen your understanding and skills in environmental science.
In your third year, you will focus on advanced topics and practical experience by taking part in a sustainability research project to prepare you for a career in sustainability.
In year 4, you will engage in an Advanced Research Project, honing your skills creator within your additional year. You'll explore funding science and delve into research developments and scientific communication.
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In the Russel Group for learning opportunities
National Student Survey 2026
in the UK for Geography and Environmental Science
Complete University Guide 2027
in the World for Environmental Science
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026
• Tailor your degree - With many paths and opportunities to choose from in this field it is important you are able to explore your subject area in detail. With flexible pathways in Sustainable Earth, Climate, Ecosystems, and Society, enriched by diverse peer perspectives. You can focus on what is really important to you.
• Explore active sustainability projects - Gain the skills that you will need with immersive field expeditions to projects that are at the forefront of environmental change and sustainability such as BIFoR, Net Zero lodges, and Tyseley Energy Park.
• Engage with diverse professionals - Gaining real-world insights from academic experts, practitioners, and the sustainable business community.
• Experience the synergy of science and society - Explore environmental change through social, ethical, and economic dimensions for a well-rounded understanding.
Designed with industry experts, we offer a hands-on experience with transferable skills, and diverse career opportunities. You’ll gain practical knowledge in sustainable development, renewable energy, and more. Graduates are highly valued in roles such as environmental agencies, sustainability officers, and policy advisors. With our employability-focused curriculum, you’ll be prepared to make a significant impact in various green careers, from wildlife conservation to urban planning. Join us to become a leader in environmental change and sustainability.
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly students to find out more about your favourite course, our beautiful campus and life in our vibrant and cultural city.
Learn through diverse methods: fieldwork, practicals, and tutorials. Become an independent learner with research-led teaching and comprehensive support.
You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham:
Personal academic tutors – You will be assigned your own personal academic tutor who will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.
Wellbeing Officers – Alongside your personal academic tutor, you will also have access to dedicated wellbeing officers who provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues.
Our Student Experience Team will help you get the most out of your academic experience. They offer research opportunities, study skills support, and help you prepare for your post-university career.
For this programme, you can expect 10-14 hours of classes weekly in years one and two, and 6-9 hours in the final year.
Environmental Change and Sustainability uses a variety of methods to assess student performance, including exams, essays and dissertations. At the beginning of each module, you'll be given information on how and when you'll be assessed for that particular area of study.
ISEP is the global membership body for people who care about sustainability — environmentally, socially, and economically. By harnessing the collective expertise and experience of our membership, we set the standard in sustainable leadership, knowledge, skills and practice.
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LC One-Planet Thinking | 20 | Full Term |
| LC Connected Earth: Environmental Systems and Change | 20 | Semester 1 |
Choose 80 credits from the following:
Choose 80 credits from the following:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LC Ecological Concepts and Plant Sciences | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LC Fieldwork: Principles and Practice | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LC Introduction to Evolution and Animal Biology | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LC Moral and Political Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LC Societies, Space and Place | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LC Young People and Social Change | 20 | Semester 2 |
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LI Developing Solutions | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LI Earth Resources, Environmental Impacts and Sustainability | 20 | Semester 1 |
Choose 80 credits from the following with at least 40 credit of LES modules and 20 non-LES modules and with 40 in each semester:
LES Modules:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LI Animal Biology: Principles and Mechanisms | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LI Critical Issues for 21st Century Ecosystems | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LI Ecological Systems | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LI Environmental Human Geography | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LI Environmental Pollution and Management | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LI Geological Natural Hazards | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LI Hydrology and River Management | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LI Palaeoecology | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LI Plant Sciences: from cells to the environment | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LI Sedimentology | 20 | Semester 2 |
Non-LES Modules:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LI Climate and Environmental Ethics | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LI Literature and Environment: Crisis and Resistance | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LI Politics of Sustainable Development | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LI Science and Nature | 20 | Semester 1 |
ONE of the following must be taken (one only):
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LH Natural Sciences Group Research Project | 40 | Full Term |
| LH Sustainability Research Project | 40 | Semester 2 |
Choose 80 credits from the following with at least 40 credit of LES modules and 20 credits of non-LES and with 20 in Semester 1 and 60 in Semester 2:
LES Modules:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LH Animal Behaviour: From theory to application | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LH Climate change in the Earth System | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LH Conservation Practice: Genes to Ecosystems | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LH Conservation: theory into practice | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LH Engineering Geology and Geomorphology | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LH Environmental Research in High Latitudes | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LH Exploring the Energy Transition | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LH Governance of Environmental and Energy Transitions | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LH Palaeoclimates | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LH Professional Placement | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LH Resource Governance | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LH Responses to Global Environmental Change | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LH Solving Groundwater Problems | 20 | Semester 1 |
Non-LES Modules:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LH Development: The Environmental Challenge | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LH Efficient Use of Energy | 10 | Semester 2 |
| LH Energy Economics | 10 | Semester 2 |
| LH Entrepreneurial Start Up | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LH Environment and climate politics: from global to local | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LH Learning Entrepreneurial Skills | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LH Sustainable Development: Climate, Culture, Society and Policy | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LH Tectonics and Volcanology | 20 | Semester 2 |
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LM Advanced Project | 60 | Full Term | |
| LM Field, Research & Communication Skills | 20 | Semester 1 |
Choose 40 credits from the following with 20 in each semester:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LM Animal Behaviour: From theory to application | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LM Climate Change in the Earth System | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LM Conservation Practice: Genes to Ecosystems | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LM Engineering Geology and Geomorphology | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Exploring the Energy Transition | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Palaeoclimates | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Professional Placement | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Renewable Energy Systems Integration | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Responses to Global Environmental Change | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Solving Groundwater Problems | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LM Tectonics and Volcanology | 20 | Semester 2 |
Reader (Associate Professor) in Organic Geochemistry
Dr Bendle is a paleoclimatologist, specialising in molecular organic geochemistry.
To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.
AAB
6,6,5 32 points overall.
BTEC Extended Diploma, Diploma and Subsidiary Diploma are accepted, but subjects are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further guidance.
Number of A levels required: 3
General Studies is not accepted, but a good performance may be taken into account if you fail to meet the conditions of the offer.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
6,6,5 in Higher Level subjects plus 32 points overall.
BTEC Extended Diploma, Diploma and Subsidiary Diploma are accepted, but subjects are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further guidance.
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.
If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.
Applicants who take the EPQ and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade B in the EPQ. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
Applicants who take the Core Maths qualification and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade B in Core Maths. If you are also taking A-level Maths, you will not be eligible for an alternative offer through studying Core Maths. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
Students who are eligible and complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive an alternative offer, which is typically two grades below the standard offer.
Our Contextual Offer scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the Contextual Offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer. You don’t need to apply for this – it will be assessed and applied at the point of application if you’re eligible.
BBB - A Level
ABB - A Level
The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, examination and graduation, and includes membership of the Guild of Students.
per year for domestic (UK) students for 2026/27
*The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study, normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. The fee for September 2026 entry is £9,790 for UK students. If you decide to do a placement year, you will only pay 15% of the agreed tuition fee for that year. If you are applying for 2027 entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee once it is confirmed by the Government.
To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.
At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.
If you're a UK student and starting university in September 2026, find out more about what financial support is available to you.
We want to help you reach your full potential. Explore our wide variety of scholarships available for international students.
Whatever your journey to university looks like, we’re here to support you every step of the way. For all undergraduate courses at Birmingham, you apply online through UCAS. The UCAS website has lots of information and advice around the process.
Application deadline for September 2026 entry. Applications close at 18:00 GMT.
View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.
If you have a question about our admissions process, including how to apply, your offer and how to track your application, please speak to our team.
The University of Birmingham is one of the country’s most consistently sought‑after universities by the UK’s top graduate employers, and has been for the last decade (High Fliers ‘Graduate Market in 2026’ report). Our courses are committed to your future career, and university is just the start. Green careers are booming, expanding four times faster than the UK's overall job market. PwC's analysis reveals a tripling in green job postings last year. Our course is perfectly aligned with this trend, offering an employability-focused curriculum that equips students with essential skills and hands-on experience for diverse environmental roles.
We're consistently one of the top UK universities targeted by leading graduate employers.
(High Fliers 'Graduate Market 2026' report)
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job application, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
Graduates from this programme have gone on to work for organisations including:
Their job roles include:
Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.
Hear from some of our inspiring alumni who have gone on to work for leading employers such as the UK Space Agency and BBC Sport.
Your experience studying at Birmingham will give you the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. In our student accommodation, you can enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. With an ever-changing food and drink scene, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of culture, our city is more than somewhere to study.
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus.
Our beautiful campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn and socialise. Like a town of its own, it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Explore your options for combining subjects and shape your degree around your interests, whilst developing key skills for the world of work.
Our intercalated opportunities offer the chance to take a year out from your existing course to study within another field. This takes place usually between year 2 and year 3 of your programme.
Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.
