Environment and Sustainability BSc (Hons) – 2024 entry
Key information
Start date: September 2024
Award | UCAS code | Course duration |
---|---|---|
BSc (Hons) | UCAS: L8N1 | 3 years View KIS data set |
BSc (Hons) | UCAS: L8N1 | 3 years View KIS data set |
BSc (Hons) | 4 years with professional training |
Apply for your chosen course online through UCAS, with the following course and institution codes.
Course | UCAS code | Institution code |
---|---|---|
BSc (Hons) with professional training | S85 | |
BSc (Hons) | L8N1 | S85 |
BSc (Hons) | L8N1 | S85 |
Why choose this course
Can multinational businesses combine long-term sustainability with profitability? Will the transition to clean energy be defeated by a lack of suitable infrastructure and the policy to implement it?
Addressing the challenges facing sustainable development from an interdisciplinary perspective is a key focus of this BSc. First established in 1992, our acclaimed Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES), where you will be studying, boasts an international reputation as a hub for interdisciplinary research in sustainability.
You’ll be taught by CES academics, who have experience in academia, industry and the public sector. Their research interests and industry experience includes:
- Clean energy and clean technology
- Consumption and production
- Corporate environmental behaviour
- Life cycle assessment
- Policy development
- Sociology of the environment
- Sustainable prosperity
- Vertical farming
- Water and sanitation.
In addition, you’ll be taught by tutors from other departments in the University who work at the interface between their core discipline and sustainability. Participating schools and departments include:
- Biosciences and Medicine
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Law
- Politics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Surrey Business School.
You’ll also have the chance to take part in our award-winning Professional Training placements scheme, which prepares students for roles in various sectors.
What you will study
This course will provide you with the interdisciplinary skills to tackle the challenges faced by individuals, companies and society in implementing sustainable development. In Year 1, you’ll be taught by CES academics, with modules focusing on core environmental science, climate change, environmental economics, sustainable development and research methods. There is also a residential fieldwork module focused on the sustainable regeneration of environments and communities.
In Years 2 and 3, the focus is on developing interdisciplinary perspectives and skills, so you’ll take a range of modules in other subject areas, including law, politics and psychology. You’ll also take modules taught by CES to continue to develop your core sustainability knowledge and research skills before undertaking a dissertation. For your dissertation you’ll conduct in-depth research into a specific environment or sustainability problem under the guidance of a dissertation supervisor.
The world is full of complex problems and standard university degree paths do not always prepare students well to tackle these problems. With modules drawn from across the University and core CES teaching staff from a diverse range of disciplinary backgrounds, this course will give you the skill set needed to tackle the complex sustainability challenges of the twenty-first century.
Additional learning opportunities
We’re a research-active Centre and this feeds directly into our teaching. Alongside lectures, tutorials and field trips, your learning will be enhanced by:
- The Roland Clift Lecture Series: Named after the founder of CES, this annual event features a key figure from academia, industry or the public sector discussing sustainability
- Guest lectures: Respected names from academia, industry or the public sector give regular talks to CES students. Recent participants include Professor Tim Jackson, author of Prosperity without Growth. Corporate leaders from Marks & Spencer, Aviva Investors, Costain Group, LC Energy and the NHS have also participated as guest lecturers at the MSc level in the past couple of years
- Lunchtime seminars: We hold a regular series of seminars where external speakers discuss sustainability issues with our students.
Professional recognition
BSc (Hons) - Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES)
Accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) for the purpose of eligibility to apply for associate membership.
Careers and graduate prospects
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
We have strong links with research, industry and the public sector. Recent masters graduates from CES have accepted roles as:
- Sustainability Consultant at Worldrise Onlus
- Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator at Michael J Lonsdale
- Sustainability Coordinator at Coats
- Ecology and Environment Consultant, Biosphere Conservation Consulting Services
- Certification Analyst at Climate Bonds Initiative
- Consulting Analyst at TrueCue
- Senior Environmental and Sustainability Engineer at Frazer-Nash
- Environmental Projects Assistant at ThamesWey group
- Climate Change Officer at Bassetlaw District Council
- Associate, Sustainability and Climate Change at PwC
- Recycled Materials Broker at Newport Recycling
- Manager, Programme Development and Compliance at the Green Building Initiative.
Graduates also have the option to continue their education and engage in masters-level study on one of our MSc courses:
Staff
This course is taught by academic staff from the Centre for Environment and Sustainability.
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules usually can be either 15, 30, 45 or 60, 75 and 120 credits, and additionally for some masters dissertations, 90 credits.
The structure of our programmes follow clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes.
Please note: The full module listing for the optional Professional Training placement part of your course can be viewed on the relevant programme specification.
Optional modules for Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5
Select one optional module in Semester 2
Optional modules for Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
Select one optional module in Semester 1 and two optional modules in semester 2.
Optional modules for Year 2 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 5
Select one optional module in Semester 2
Optional modules for Year 3 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 6
Select one optional module in Semester 1 and two optional modules in semester 2.
Timetables
Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. View our Code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF).
Teaching
Your teaching will be delivered through a combination of:
- Field trips
- Group work
- Lectures
- Online learning
- Role plays
- Seminars
- Tutorials.
Outside of these, you’ll be expected to carry out independent study, including coursework, essays and reading.
There may be occasions when the delivery of your teaching is supported by graduate teaching assistants. The University has a set of procedures that govern the use of postgraduate research students in this way.
Assessment
We use a variety of methods to assess you, including:
- Coursework
- Essays
- Examinations
- Presentations.
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
Entry requirements
Do I meet the requirements for this course?
We require you to submit a full application so that we can formally assess whether you meet the criteria published. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an outcome based on an enquiry (via email, webform enquiry, phone or live chat).
International entry requirements by country
Other international qualifications
If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements to this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year at the Surrey International Study Centre. Upon successful completion, you can progress to this degree course.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each element.
View the other English language qualifications that we accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Selection process
We normally make offers in terms of grades.
If you are a suitable candidate you will be invited to an offer holder event. During your visit to the University you can find out more about the course and meet staff and students.
Recognition of prior learning
We recognise that many students enter their higher education course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of professional, vocational and community contexts.
If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning (RPL) process may allow you to join a course without the formal entry requirements or enter your course at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.
There are restrictions on RPL a for some courses and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please see the code of practice for recognition of prior learning and prior credit: taught programmes (PDF) for further information.
Please contact Admissions on +44 (0)1483 682222 with any queries.
Fees
The annual tuition fees for courses starting in September 2024
BSc (Hons)
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- To be confirmed
BSc (Hons)
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- To be confirmed
BSc (Hons) (with professional training year)
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- To be confirmed
- Professional training
- To be confirmed
View a complete listing of all ongoing fees for our undergraduate courses.
- Fees for UK students: The University will apply annual regulated increases in the fee rates as set by Government each year, in order to maintain the same value in real terms.
- Fees for EU students: The UK is now no longer part of the EU, we are awaiting further instruction from the UK government and we will publish this as soon as it is provided. Find out more information about Studying in the UK and the Scholarships for EU students.
- Fees for international students: Annual fees will increase by 4% for each subsequent year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100, subject to any overriding applicable legislative requirements.
- Fees for international students with an integrated foundation year: The programme fee for Year 0 will match the lowest Year 1 overseas fee rate from across the substantive programmes for that year of entry. Students subsequently progressing into Year 1 will be liable for the same fee as overseas students joining at Year 1 for the same programme in that year. Annual fees after Year 1 will increase by 4% for each subsequent year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100, subject to any overriding applicable legislative requirements.
The University will assess your fee status. If you are unsure whether you are likely to be considered a home, EU or overseas student for fees purposes, the UKCISA website offers more information.
Payment schedule
- Students in receipt of a Tuition Fee Loan: will have their fees paid by the Student Loans Company in line with their schedule.
- International students, or UK/EU students who have not taken out a Tuition Fee Loan: are required to pay their fees either in full at the beginning of the programme or in two instalments as follows:
- 50% payable 10 days after the invoice date (expected to be early October of each academic year)
- 50% in January of the same academic year.
The exact date(s) will be detailed on invoices. Students on certain part-time programmes, where fees are paid on a modular or stage basis, are not eligible to pay their fees by instalment.
If you are sponsored: you will provide us with valid sponsorship information that covers the period of your study.
Professional Training placement fees
If you are studying on a programme which contains a Professional Training placement year there will be a reduced fee for the academic year in which you undertake your placement. This is normally confirmed 12 to 18 months in advance, or once Government policy is determined.
See the information about 2023/24 academic year Professional Training placement fees.
Placements
Our award-winning Professional Training programme offers you the option to spend a career-enhancing year in industry, either in the UK or abroad. We have thousands of placement providers to choose from or you can source your own placement.
Most placements are paid, and we will support you every step of the way.
Find out more about Professional Training placements and discover how these have transformed our students’ lives and career choices.
Placement companies
We offer award-winning Professional Training placements. Organisation that have participated in CES courses and accepted our masters students on placements include:
- AECOM
- Aviva Investors
- Coates
- Diocese of London
- Forum for the Future
- GAP
- John Lewis Partnership
- LC Energy
- Minimise Solutions
- NUS
- Portsmouth City Council
- The Radisson
- Solar Aid
- Telefonica
- Unilever
- Wates
- World Wildlife Fund.
Applying for placements
Students are generally not placed by the University, however we offer support and guidance throughout the process alongside access to a vacancy portal representing thousands of placement opportunities each year. We also provide support if you wish to source your own placement.
Find out more about the application process.
Please be aware there may be travel costs incurred when attending interviews and assessment centres at the placement provider’s premises.
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer of a place at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to comply with our policies and procedures, the student regulations , and our terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are provided in two stages: first when we make an offer and second when students who have accepted their offers register to study at the University. View our offer terms and conditions for the 2023/24 academic year and our registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2022/23 academic year as a guide as to what to expect.
Please note: our offer terms and conditions will generally be available in the September of the calendar year prior to the year in which you begin your studies. Our registration terms and conditions will vary to take into account specifics of your course and changes for the specific academic year.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been prepared and published in advance of the academic year to which it applies. The University of Surrey has used its reasonable efforts to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content or additional costs) may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us and before you accept an offer. Read our full disclaimer.
Course location and contact details
Campus location
Stag HillStag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
University of Surrey Admissions
- Phone: +44 (0)1483 682222
Address
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH