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Environmental Science with Foundation Year

Entry requirements


To include minimum 2 A Levels, preferably to include a relevant subject: Biology/Human Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Geography/Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Geology.

Considered in combination

Pass Access to Science overall

Considered in combination

Considered in combination

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

24

24 points to include relevant science subject: Biology/Human Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Geography/Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Geology. Maths and English accepted within

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H5,H5,H5,H5,H5-H5,H5,H5,H6,H6


32 to 48 UCAS points - preferably to include a relevant science subject: Biology/Human Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Geography/Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Geology.

Considered in combination

Considered in combination

Considered in combination

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

MP

In a relevant subject

Considered in combination

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

PPP

In a relevant subject

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

M,M

In a relevant subject

Considered in combination

32 to 48 ucas points to include minimum 2 Advanced Highers, preferably to include a relevant subject: Biology/Human Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Geography/Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Geology.

Considered in combination with Advanced Highers

T Level

Pass (D or E)

Any subjects related to Science/Technology

UCAS Tariff

32-48

To include minimum 2 A Levels, preferably to include a relevant subject: Biology/Human Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Geography/Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Geology.

Considered in combination

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

4years

Full-time including foundation year | 2024

Other options

5 years | Sandwich including foundation year | 2024

Subject

Environmental sciences

Environmental scientists are critical to addressing global environmental challenges. Your degree will provide you with the knowledge and skills to identify and develop solutions to a wide range of environmental challenges on land and in our oceans, including climate change, biodiversity loss, conservation and sustainability. Applying the latest techniques in the laboratory and the field – you will graduate ready to shape the future of fields from ecosystem management to environmental monitoring.

Our foundation year provides the opportunity for progression to BSc (Hons) Environmental Science or BSc (Hons) Environmental Management and Sustainability degree courses. This is the ideal pathway if your current qualifications don’t allow you direct entry to the course or if you are returning to education.

- These four year degrees incorporate a foundation year and the chance to progress into either BSc (Hons) Environmental Science or BSc (Hons) Environmental Management and Sustainability. Great if your current qualifications don’t allow you direct entry to the course or if you have been out of education for some time.

- Benefit from enthusiastic, supportive staff and teaching informed by our renowned research.

- Take part in fieldwork in the UK and/or overseas in a variety of locations.

- Experience in-depth coverage of natural sciences in the context of social, cultural and economic systems.

- Learn about the latest actions and technological developments in the struggle against climate change.

- Take the opportunity to spend your second year studying abroad in Europe, Canada, Australia, USA or elsewhere through our bilateral and ISEP exchange programmes.

- Hone your skills and knowledge with a wealth of facilities, including our marine research vessel Falcon Spirit, high specification laboratories and analytical facilities, LABplus and our new Marine Station.

- Qualify as a professional diver (HSE SCUBA) as part of your third year of study.

- LABplus is a unique open access laboratory and resource centre designed for students studying science and engineering courses. The lab provides a flexible workspace, computing facilities, specialist software, access to microscopes, microscope cameras and bespoke resources.

- Work placements – enhance your employability by gaining work experience via an optional 6 week or 6–12 month work placement in the UK, EU or further overseas such as Australia, Madagascar, Costa Rica, Ecuador, choosing from exciting opportunities in e.g. consultancy, conservation, NGO’s, EA, marine sectors.

- Benefit from an Environmental Science Careers Fair to build your all-important employer networks and share career success stories from our graduates.

- Our tutorial programme provides invaluable transferable skills, small group and one-to-one support. Our externally recognised Peer Assisted Learning (PALS) scheme helps increase your confidence with support from student mentors.

Modules

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry and up to date information can be found on our website:
We'll provide you with an introduction to environmental science and an overview of key issues and solutions. You'll also develop independent, reflective and self-managed approaches to study, being taught for example, scientific writing, time management and mathematical skills as well as other key soft skills that enhance your employability. You will study the two core modules Environmental Science and Study and Mathematical Skills for Science and also choose two of the optional module pathways, these being biology, chemistry, physics or mathematics and statistics for science with the requirement that to study e.g. Chemistry 2 in semester two you will need to have taken Chemistry 1 in semester one.

Assessment methods

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

The Uni


Course location:

University of Plymouth

Department:

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

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What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

93%
Environmental sciences

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Environmental sciences

Teaching and learning

80%
Staff make the subject interesting
100%
Staff are good at explaining things
80%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
54%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

85%
Library resources
93%
IT resources
85%
Course specific equipment and facilities
66%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

88%
UK students
12%
International students
47%
Male students
53%
Female students
68%
2:1 or above
7%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
B

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Environmental sciences

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£19,000
med
Average annual salary
94%
med
Employed or in further education
41%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

17%
Architects, town planners and surveyors
11%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
9%
Other elementary services occupations

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Environmental sciences

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£19k

£19k

£25k

£25k

£26k

£26k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
University of Huddersfield | Huddersfield
Environmental and Analytical Science
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 104
Same University
University of Plymouth | Plymouth
Environmental Science
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 104-112
Lower entry requirements
SRUC Scotland's Rural College | Edinburgh
Environmental Management
BSc (Hons) 1 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 16-21
Nearby University
University of Exeter | Exeter
Environmental Science
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 128-153

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here