Environmental Science and Management (Dual Degree), BSc (Hons), at University of Portsmouth

Overview

Environmental issues – such as habitat loss, water pollution and climate change – pose a serious threat to the long-term existence of life on Earth.

If you want to help lead the charge against climate change, learn a skill set that's in demand globally, and secure a rewarding career, this BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Management dual degree is the perfect next step.

You'll study in Portsmouth and spend a year at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia, getting a global perspective in how the environment is changing and the steps we need to take to reverse this change.

Advantages of dual degrees:

This course is a dual degree (also known as a double degree).

When you complete the course successfully, you'll have 2 degrees:

BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Management from the University of Portsmouth
BSc Environmental Science from Edith Cowan University

Dual degrees allow you to achieve 2 degrees in 3.5 or 4 years rather than 6 years.

You'll benefit from a global education experience and the high-calibre teaching expertise, latest research and modern facilities at 2 universities. You'll also develop a more comprehensive knowledge of environmental science and conservation than on a single degree, as well as gain an understanding of different cultures, which will help you work more effectively with people from different backgrounds.

All of this helps you stand out in a competitive job market after you graduate.

Course Highlights

Use industry-standard lab tech in our environmental analytical laboratories, including GIS software and plasma spectrometry
Explore the natural environment of the Australian outback through field work and visit Aboriginal tribes to understand how they manage their land
Take field trips from Portsmouth to apply what you learn in many different cultures, habitats and climates – from Somerset to Malta
Make the most of Portsmouth's coastal location with marine excursions on the Solent, and learn scientific and technical diving certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
Work alongside active research staff in the UK and Australia, and study alongside BA and BSc Geography students, gaining valuable experience and perspective from another scientific discipline

Location:

You'll be based in Portsmouth in years 1 and 2, and for 6 months at the end of the course. You'll spend year 3 in Perth, Western Australia at Edith Cowan University.

You'll get support with travel arrangements, visas, finding accommodation and accessing loans and other funding that can help pay for your study and living costs when you're in Australia.

Edith Cowan University is one of the top 100 young universities in the world one of the top 100 universities in the Asia-Pacific regions (Times Higher Education 2019 and 2020). The Good Universities Guide 2021 gives the University 5 out of 5 stars for its learner resources, student support, teaching quality and overall experience.

Like Portsmouth, Perth offers a mix of city and outdoor living. It's a great base for exploring Western Australia and beyond.

Careers and opportunities

The necessity of tackling environmental problems, and the importance of sustainability, are gradually being recognised by governments. This means that employment opportunities in the area of environmental science are on the rise – by 91% in the UK alone.

The global nature of the climate crisis we face means that international experience on a professional and cultural level is also sought after by employers in this sector. The experience you get on field trips abroad, and during your year at Edith Cowan University in Australia, will be invaluable to your employment prospects.

By completing modules on topics such as energy resources, environmental impact and assessment, pollution, and aboriginal perspectives on the environment, you'll get a detailed global overview of the problems facing our environment, and the means to start solving them.

When you graduate you'll have a suite of environmental science skills, and a wealth of practical experience in applying them, making you an ideal candidate for many roles in the environmental sector. Your experience of international study and other cultures will make you a particularly attractive employment prospect.

Completing this degree is also the ideal next step to further, postgraduate study. You could further refine your expertise in more specific, connected fields, for example, by doing an Environmental Geology and Contamination MSc or a research degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences.

When you graduate, you could work in areas such as: