Environmental Science Undergraduate - 2021 Entry

Environmental Scientists are needed more than ever by industry, government and society. The Environmental Science degree brings together information from a wide range of subjects to explore some of the most important environmental issues, such as climate change, pollution, conservation, and food security. The degree is broadly based with its roots in biology (giving you an understanding of organisms, their environments and their communities), chemistry (providing an understanding of many natural environmental processes and pollution), earth science (giving you a background in global processes), and land and water resource management. A combination of such subject areas, combined with many practical sessions and field trips, creates a degree that is both fascinating and rewarding.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• The School of Natural Sciences is internationally renowned for its work in the environmental sciences.
• This degree draws on expertise from Biology, Ocean Sciences and Chemistry.
• Bangor’s location makes it an ideal place to study environmental science as there is access to a wide range of natural environments ranging from the coast to the varied landscape of the Snowdonia National Park with its long history of multiple land use, mining and quarrying. Field trips are central throughout our Environmental Science degrees.
• We have close links with local, national and international organisations that employ environmental scientists, helping us to ensure that our degree is relevant and up to date.
• Our degrees are accredited by the Institution of Environmental Science (IES). Following an accredited degree will make you more employable and you will get numerous benefits throughout your degree.

The course utilises a wide variety of teaching methods ranging from lectures, practicals and fieldwork to seminars and tutorials. The majority of the fourth year will be practicalbased. You will complete essays, literature reviews and practical reports. Assessment includes presentations, interviews, coursework and examinations.

What will you study on this course?

Year 1 + 2

You will study 120 credits in each year, through a range of lectures, tutorials, seminars and fieldwork. Our courses are modular. Some modules are compulsory, others are optional, allowing you to expand your studies into new areas or develop specialisms that interest you.

Year 3

You will complete your Honours Project; an individual research project on a topic of interest to you, possibly in conjunction with an outside organisation.

In addition to the compulsory modules, you choose from a wide range of options including a field course to Tenerife.

Year 4

If you choose to follow the 4-year Master of Environmental Science (MEnvSci) degree, the first and second years are the same as for the BSc degree; however, you do not undertake the Honours Project in the third year and instead choose more optional modules. The aim of the fourth year is to develop your scientific skills and to increase your employability. With the support of experienced staff members, you will complete a Masters-level independent research project on a topic of your choice. You will undertake a work placement of at least 4 weeks at a location of your choice, to provide you with real-life professional experience. You will also undertake Business Planning for the Green Economy module, which focuses on the growing importance of environmental sustainability for modern business. You will also take a module on Strategic Environmental Management which will give you professionally-recognised skills in a key area of employment.

Watch - Making Snowdonia, Field Course at Cwm Idwal

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Environmental Science Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Mandatory Costs:

Suitable clothing and equipment for fieldwork will be required e.g. walking boots and waterproofs, rucksack. The cost for these will vary. Approximate cost: £50-£80.

Appropriate stationary for note-taking during classes, e.g. notepad, pens and pencils. The cost for these will vary. Approximate cost: £5-£15.

Necessarily Incurred Costs:

Students are required to provide their own lunch and evening meals on the Year 2 residential fieldcourse. The cost for these will vary. Approximate total cost: £50-£70.

Materials for the preparation of academic poster for assessment. The cost and number of these will vary. Approximate cost: £10-£15.

Travel costs to undertake any fieldwork as part of Year 4 Dissertation research. The cost will vary by project (and may not even be incurred). Approximate cost for a UK-based project in a student’s home area: £15-£20.

Daily travel costs for Professional Placement module. The cost will vary by placement. Approximate daily cost: £5. 

Optional Costs:

Cost for optional residential Year 3 fieldcourse. The cost will vary by trip. Approximate cost £600.

Purchase of Wellington Boots for fieldwork. The cost for these will vary. Approximate cost: £10-£20.

Costs of any visas and vaccinations required if the student opts to undertake project work overseas. The cost for these will vary.

Notes:

Copies of all required reading materials are provided via the University Library.

Where required, laboratory coats are provided.

General University Costs

Home/EU Student Tuition Fees (starting in 2019–20 & 2020–21)

• Full time: £9,000 per year
• Part time: £750 per 10 credits

International Student Tuition Fees*
* Please note: the international tuition fees displayed are for the current academic year (2020-21). The fees for the next academic year (2021-22) will be confirmed soon.

When coming to University, you will have two main costs, Tuition Fees and Living Costs.

There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

• If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
• If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for guest tickets (£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

For 2021 entry:

Offers are tariff based, 80 - 128 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:

• A Levels: including grade C in a science subject at A2 level (e.g. Biology, Geography, Geology, Environmental Sciences/Studies, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Economics, Statistics, Psychology). Excluding General Studies.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (including H5 in a science subject)
• Access: Science/Environmental-based Access course
• BTEC National/Extended Diploma in Countryside Management, Applied Science, Forestry & Arboriculture, or Animal Management: MMP - DDM
• City & Guilds Extended Diploma (720) in Countryside Management, Animal Management or Forestry & Arboriculture: Distinction - Distinction*
• City & Guilds Advanced Extended Diploma (1080) in Countryside Management, Animal Management or Forestry & Arboriculture: MMP - DDM
• Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Laboratory Skills: MMP - DDM
• Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted
• City & Guilds Advanced Technical Extended Diploma is not accepted.

International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements), details here.

We also welcome applications from mature applicants

*For full details go to our website and for a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com

General University Requirements

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.

Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.

EU and International students' entry requirements

For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor  University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

More information

Home/EU students and International UCAS applicants

E-mail for General Admissions: admissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to:

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0)1248 383717 

International students (non-UCAS applicants)

Email to International Admissions: internationaladmissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0) 1248 382028

The broad base of the degree, together with specific modules designed to enhance your employability means you will have many options to consider in terms of career opportunities. The skills you will gain will be relevant to employment in a range of industrial organisations, advisory agencies, consultants, and local and national government. Postgraduate study or research leading to a PhD is also an option.

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.

The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.

Internships

Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.

Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.

Student Volunteering

Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.

The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.

TARGETconnect - Working while you Study

The Skills and Employability Service offers support to students searching for employment during and after their studies.

TARGETconnect advertises the following opportunities:

• Graduate jobs – Local, National and International
• Full-time, part time, permanent and temporary jobs
• Work experience / internships
• Voluntary opportunities

General University Application

How to apply through UCAS

Apply online via UCAS

UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. All university applications are processed through UCAS and then passed on to the universities listed.

Students may apply for a maximum of five courses. For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary courses students are only allowed to apply for four courses.

The application form is found on the UCAS website, under ‘Apply’.

When to apply?

We advise you to apply as early as you can as we will start considering applications and making offers straight away. The initial UCAS deadline for UK and EU students is 15 January, however we welcome applications after this date. Those received between 15 January and 30 June will continue to be forwarded to universities by UCAS and will receive consideration where places are still available.

Your Personal Statement

Writing your Personal Statement is the part of the application form that requires most work. You are only allowed 47 lines or 500–550 words to explain why you wish to study the course and the skills you have that are essential for university study.

To write a successful personal statement for your UCAS application you must have a good understanding about the course and its content. Remember that you write only one personal statement for your five choices. Make sure that the courses are similar, if not the same, and make sure that you do not mention a specific course or university.

Read our advice on how to draft a winning personal statement or watch our video guide.

After you’ve applied

You should keep an eye on your application on UCAS ‘Track’. Offers from universities will appear on track and you will be able to accept or decline offers.

You can only reply when you have received all your decisions. The types of reply you can make are firm acceptance and insurance acceptance. Usually students reply in early May.

International Student?

If you are an international student, our International Student pages offer further information on applying.

As an international student applying to study one of our undergraduate programmes you can:

• apply via UCAS,
• or apply direct to Bangor through our online direct application system
• or apply with the help of one of our recruitment agents

Erasmus student?

We receive around 350 exchange students every year from all over the world. 45% of these students come from Europe and the remainder from as far as Singapore, South Korea and Australia.

The University’s International Exchanges Office is responsible for welcoming these students.

Confused about your next steps?

Take a look at our Going to University website for information and advice on getting ready for university.