MSc Soils and Environmental Pollution

Full-time 12 months
Part-time 24 months or a day per week over 36 months.

Many of the environmental issues of current concern share a common focus - the soil. This programme provides the knowledge and skills to enable the student to become an environmental professional.  It aims to provide a thorough understanding of the key principles of soils science which are widely applicable to vocational specialisations in environmental assessment, protection and management.  The programme is overseen by an advisory panel which has consultants and government representatives.  It provides the intellectual tools required by professionals in environmental consultancy, contaminated land management and land remediation. In addition to the scientific principles, training in transferable skills forms an important component of the programme and these are reinforced in the modules through student presentations in seminars, report writing and team projects.  Lecturers come from the academic, business and regulatory communitites. 

Programme Content

Term 1 provides an in-depth coverage of the chemical, biological and physical principles of Soil Science in relation to environmental pollution.  Presentation and business skills are also a part of the programme together with a module in statistics. 
Term 2 contains the specialist modules which cover land contamination, remediation, soil and water quality, analysis of soils data, environmental law and risk assessment. Visits are arranged to local research institutes, commercial organisations involved in relevant activities and sites of historic contamination.
Term 3 follows the written examinations in January and April and is mainly devoted to the field and laboratory project which can be carried out in collaboration with a commercial organisation or research institute in Britain or overseas.