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MSc Environmental Pollution

  • Year of entry
    2022/23
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months
  • Year of entry
    2022/23
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months

COVID-19 update


Find out how we're adapting during COVID-19.

Start date: September 2022

​Our MSc Environmental Pollution will give you a thorough understanding of the principles of environmental science and develop skills applicable to a career in environmental consultancy, contaminated land and waste management.

Participate in exciting fieldwork and research projects and take core options dedicated to providing a solid understanding of the science behind the environment and the impact of pollution.

You will benefit from our custom-designed building with specialised research facilities, including laboratories and instrumentation for work in molecular ecology and biochemistry, environmental chemistry, physics and stable and radioisotopes. You will have access to superb controlled environment facilities, a large area of experimental polytunnels and glasshouses and extensive opportunities for fieldwork at our experimental farms.

Coursework assessments are designed to reflect the outputs of industry, ensuring you develop skills which are desired by employers and are well-prepared for your career. These skills include:

  • those required in the lab, including sample analysis, such as analysis of organic and inorganic pollutants in soil and water, analysis of environmental microorganisms and their activities
  • those required for field work, such as sampling strategy, sample collection, how to design, monitor and statistically analyse an experiment/campaign/project
  • drafting policy briefings and tenders
  • producing and presenting consultancy reports
  • oral presentations
  • using GIS to represent spatial data
  • implementing and interpreting models

The course includes a dedicated, free-of-charge residential field class that provides the opportunity to put your theoretical knowledge into practice. You will have the opportunity to gain practical experience of contaminated site investigation and present your findings to an expert panel, made up of a mixture of clients from industry and academics.

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES), the education committee of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). CHES is the collective voice of the environmental sciences academic community and serves to enhance the quality of environmental education worldwide. A programme accredited by CHES is assured to meet high standards, contain a strong component of practical, field and theoretical activities, and has excellent opportunities for training, work experience, and links to the professional environmental sector.

Students enrolled on CHES-accredited programmes can apply for free Student Membership of the IES and for a fast-track route to membership once they graduate, starting them on a route towards becoming a Chartered Environmentalist or Chartered Scientist.

For more information, please visit the Department of Geography and Environmental Science website.

Overview

Start date: September 2022

​Our MSc Environmental Pollution will give you a thorough understanding of the principles of environmental science and develop skills applicable to a career in environmental consultancy, contaminated land and waste management.

Participate in exciting fieldwork and research projects and take core options dedicated to providing a solid understanding of the science behind the environment and the impact of pollution.

You will benefit from our custom-designed building with specialised research facilities, including laboratories and instrumentation for work in molecular ecology and biochemistry, environmental chemistry, physics and stable and radioisotopes. You will have access to superb controlled environment facilities, a large area of experimental polytunnels and glasshouses and extensive opportunities for fieldwork at our experimental farms.

Coursework assessments are designed to reflect the outputs of industry, ensuring you develop skills which are desired by employers and are well-prepared for your career. These skills include:

  • those required in the lab, including sample analysis, such as analysis of organic and inorganic pollutants in soil and water, analysis of environmental microorganisms and their activities
  • those required for field work, such as sampling strategy, sample collection, how to design, monitor and statistically analyse an experiment/campaign/project
  • drafting policy briefings and tenders
  • producing and presenting consultancy reports
  • oral presentations
  • using GIS to represent spatial data
  • implementing and interpreting models

The course includes a dedicated, free-of-charge residential field class that provides the opportunity to put your theoretical knowledge into practice. You will have the opportunity to gain practical experience of contaminated site investigation and present your findings to an expert panel, made up of a mixture of clients from industry and academics.

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES), the education committee of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). CHES is the collective voice of the environmental sciences academic community and serves to enhance the quality of environmental education worldwide. A programme accredited by CHES is assured to meet high standards, contain a strong component of practical, field and theoretical activities, and has excellent opportunities for training, work experience, and links to the professional environmental sector.

Students enrolled on CHES-accredited programmes can apply for free Student Membership of the IES and for a fast-track route to membership once they graduate, starting them on a route towards becoming a Chartered Environmentalist or Chartered Scientist.

For more information, please visit the Department of Geography and Environmental Science website.

Entry requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent)

Entry requirements: Normally an undergraduate honours degree (2:2 or above), or equivalent from a university outside the UK. Applicants with no first degree but who have equivalent experience may also be considered. Your undergraduate degree should be in environmental science, earth/geoscience, chemistry, biology, geography, agriculture or a related field.

Structure

  • Year 1

Compulsory modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Environmental Consultancy

Code:

GVMENVC

Convenor:

DR Udeme Dickson

Summary:

You will work in a team of students to deliver an Environmental Consultancy project for a client which will involve planning and executing a sampling strategy, collecting primary data, plotting spatial data, interpreting the data to make recommendations, writing a consultancy-style report, and presenting findings to an expert panel.

You will benefit from a genuine environmental consultancy experience that can be used as a convincing case study to demonstrate competencies to future employers.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Oral 25%, Set exercise 15%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Environmental and Pollution Microbiology

Code:

GVMEPM

Convenor:

DR Lumbani Mwafulirwa

Summary:

This module provides an understanding of the major groups of microorganisms in soils, their adaptation to soil environments, and their impact on the wider environment. Emphasis is placed on the role of soil microorganisms in global cycling of C, N, P and S and in the degradation and transformation of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the environment (biogeochemical processes). The course also provides students with examples of the benefits of managing soil microorganisms for environmental sustainability. The associated practical work provides students with practical experience of measuring, isolating and testing examples of soil microorganisms and quantifying microbially-mediated processes.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Report 60%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Field Class

Code:

GVMFC

Convenor:

DR Tom Sizmur

Summary:

This module provides field examples of problems discussed during the teaching terms of Environmental Management and Environmental Pollution. You will obtain further hands on experience of monitoring and assessing environmental issues e.g. ecosystem services, contaminated land, water quality, and sustainable land management. The class runs from Sunday to Friday during the Easter vacation.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Laboratory Analysis of Soils and Pollutants

Code:

GVMLASP

Convenor:

DR Udeme Dickson

Summary:

GVMLASP develops your laboratory and reporting skills. Over the course of 10 practical classes you will develop knowledge of the main analyses which are applied to soils to determine properties pertinent to the fate and behaviour of pollutants. You will also undertake a number of tests that are used to assess the concentration and bioavailability of a suite of contaminants in polluted soils. This module provides practical experience of techniques introduced and applied in GVMPBE.

Assessment Method:

Practical 30%, Report 70%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Pollutant Behaviour in the Environment

Code:

GVMPBE

Convenor:

PROF Anne Verhoef

Summary:

The module focuses on both the processes and applied aspects of pollutant behaviour in the environment with an emphasis on terrestrial and freshwater systems and their interface

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Report 60%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Quantitative Analysis of Environmental Data

Code:

GVMQAD

Convenor:

DR Shovonlal Roy

Summary:

Quantitative data analysis is essential for Environmental Science. These practical skills increase our understanding of natural environmental processes and the impact of human activity on the environment (e.g. pollution and land management) through the analysis of data collected during practical investigations. This module will provide an overview of commonly used statistical and graphical techniques for environmental data analysis. Students will have the opportunity to design simple experiments, collect and analyse their own data, as well as analyse real data sets provided from different environmental research studies.

Assessment Method:

Report 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Research Project

Code:

GVMRP

Convenor:

DR Jess Neumann

Summary:

This module provides training in the skills required to devise, carry out and report a natural/ social science-based project.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 20%, Dissertation 80%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Skills for Independent Learning and Research

Code:

GVMSILR

Convenor:

PROF Elizabeth Shaw

Summary:

Through seminars, tutorials and coursework, this module is designed to provide training in the skills required to study and research at postgraduate level. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Urban Air Quality

Code:

GVMUAQ

Convenor:

DR Hong Yang

Summary:

The impact of human activity on urban air quality and subsequent effect on environment and human health is one of the main environmental issues in our time. This module will provide students with an overall understanding of urban air pollution as a basis for evaluating recent advances in scientific knowledge on the influence of traffic, industry, and domestic energy consumption on air quality in urban environments. Particular focus will be given to understanding traffic and urban air pollution. The module will also measure air quality and model the concentration and emission of air pollutants affected by anthropogenic activities. A visit to a monitoring site or industrial installation will be included.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 80%, Oral 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Waste and Environmental Management

Code:

GVMWENM

Convenor:

DR Steve Robinson

Summary:

Through a combination of lectures and site vists, this module aims to develop the student's understanding of the principles and practice of waste production and management.  The lectures include contributions from external speakers on a range of technical and political challenges facing the waste industry.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
GVMENVC Environmental Consultancy DR Udeme Dickson
GVMEPM Environmental and Pollution Microbiology DR Lumbani Mwafulirwa
GVMFC Field Class DR Tom Sizmur
GVMLASP Laboratory Analysis of Soils and Pollutants DR Udeme Dickson
GVMPBE Pollutant Behaviour in the Environment PROF Anne Verhoef
GVMQAD Quantitative Analysis of Environmental Data DR Shovonlal Roy
GVMRP Research Project DR Jess Neumann
GVMSILR Skills for Independent Learning and Research PROF Elizabeth Shaw
GVMUAQ Urban Air Quality DR Hong Yang
GVMWENM Waste and Environmental Management DR Steve Robinson

These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £10,550

New international students: £22,850

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional Costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

  • See list of Geography & Environmental Science scholarships

Careers

Our students emerge well educated and skilled. Graduates go on to work in a wide variety of academic and research posts as well as in public and private sector organisations within the UK and internationally. Graduates will be highly employable in the growing market for environmental managers and consultants. Our courses also provide in-service training for those already working within the profession.

About the Department


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