Full Time: 4 Years
Explore the scientific and socio-economic issues behind sound environmental management, whilst developing your professional and scientific skills with this BSc Environmental Management with Foundation.
Are you keen to take our BSc Environmental Management course but haven't taken the necessary A level subjects? Our BSc Environmental Management with Foundation is a four-year programme that includes a year of foundational study and leads directly into the three-year course.
Land is facing increasing conflicts related to its management for different purposes. These include food production, renewable energy, protection of soil and water resources, nature conservation, urban development and the provision of space for recreation and tourism. Taught by the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, our BSc Environmental Management enables you to build on your interests and to prepare for a career in this area.
During this degree you will learn about the technical, scientific and socioeconomic aspects of environmental issues, and develop methods for tackling them. The course focuses on the needs of employers and you will develop your professional skills alongside your scientific knowledge, using exercises such as mock consultancies. Additionally, you will carry out a short industry placement and have the chance to study abroad.
You will be able to tailor this course to suit your specific interests. You can follow either the Landscape and Countryside Management pathway or the Global Environmental Management pathway by selecting specific optional modules, or choose your own route by selecting modules from each. The Landscape and Countryside Management route has a stronger biological emphasis and covers topics such as land management, nature conservation and farming. The Global Environmental Management pathway covers more of the wider international aspects of the environment, such as policy, human geography and environmental issues such as pollution and climate change.
There is a strong practical element to the course and you will usually carry out field trips once a week during the first two years. The University of Reading’s award-winning campus is home to over 1,000 different animal species and is extremely useful for learning fieldwork skills. It offers multiple habitats for study and allows you to step straight from the classroom to the field. Meanwhile, the University's large farms provide access to hedgerow and marshland environments, as well as the River Thames. Additionally, you will visit Pembrokeshire and Devon, where you will be able to examine habitats not found in Reading. During the final year you will carry out an independent project, and will normally be embedded within one of the School's research groups, working alongside leading academics. Our specialist areas include land management, biodiversity conservation, climate change and food security.
The University of Reading has been at the forefront of research into sustainability and the environment for many decades, and we are listed as 6th in the world for Agriculture and Forestry, (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2018 - Agriculture and Forestry). Our staff are actively engaged in research and tailor their teaching to reflect the changing trends and emerging technologies within the sector. You will also benefit from our small class sizes.
Our BSc Environmental Management course is linked to environmental courses offered by other departments and you will be able to tap into their specialist knowledge.
Placement
You will carry out a 10-day placement between your first and second years. This will involve working for a client, normally a local authority or environmental group in the Reading area, on a small project, This will provide you with valuable experience of professional work, as well as enabling you to develop your research, survey, data analysis and presentation skills. Our Department has a dedicated member of staff in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support.
We also have links with a number of universities abroad, particularly in the USA, Malaysia, and African countries such as Uganda and Ghana. There will be opportunities for you to travel to them for study or to carry out research projects.
Alternatively, you can opt to take the four-year version of this course, which incorporates a year in industry.
Typical offer A Level BBB-CCD | IB 30-24 points overall
What will you study?
How much will it cost?
New UK/EU students: £9,250 per year
New international students: £20,830 per year
* UK and EU fee changes
UK undergraduate fees are regulated by the government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK and EU** students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
From 2020, the UK government may link tuition fees to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
**EU students
For more information on fees, loans and grants for EU students, see fees and funding for home/EU students.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. 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 and other EU countries 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.
What career can you have?
As a graduate you will have the core knowledge needed for a range of careers in fields such as environmental management, nature conservation and natural resource management. The Landscape and Countryside Management modules pathway can be a doorway into land management or conservation careers at local authorities or non-governmental organisations such as the RSPB, National Trust or Wildlife Trusts. The Global Environmental Management route, on the other hand, will enable you to move into jobs that focus on policy, such as roles within consultancy.
Furthermore, the skills learned through the course can be transferred to other sectors such as rural development, estate management, project management and teaching. It is also an ideal stepping stone for further study and research.