Environmental Geoscience, BSc (Hons), with industry placement

Environmental geoscience examines the physical processes shaping our planet and long-term environmental changes, offering a timely and engaging field of study. This program enhances employability by developing practical, numerical, and computational skills in physical geography and geology, preparing graduates for careers in regional planning, environmental management, local authority roles, financial planning, computing, or business management. Strong industry partnerships provide valuable work placements and support, while fieldwork opportunities in Wales—such as the Gower Peninsula—and overseas destinations like Austria or Borneo enrich the experience.The curriculum includes compulsory modules on global environmental change, Earth history, and geological processes, with options in geographic information systems and glacial environments. In the third year, students undertake a 40-week industrial placement, followed by advanced topics like glaciology and environmental modelling in the final year. Taught by world-renowned academics in state-of-the-art facilities, assessment comprises exams, coursework, fieldwork, and a dissertation, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.

In Year 1 you'll study several compulsory modules covering topics such as global environmental change, Earth in action, Earth science in the field and Earth's changing face. You will then choose from optional modules covering geographical skills and methods, writing skills and personal development planning and practical field projects, and topics such as sustainability and geology. In Year 2, you'll study compulsory topics such as Earth history and geological record of past environments. You'll then choose from a range of optional modules covering data analysis, approaches to physical geography and environmental research methods, and topics such as geographic information systems, glacial environments and processes, the Earth from Space, quaternary environmental change, global vegetation patterns and dynamics and urban modelling. You'll also have an opportunity to take part in an overseas field trip. In Year 3, you'll spend a minimum of 40 weeks in an industrial placement in a UK company. Occasionally, opportunities may arise outside of the UK. You'll receive support from our placements team during your 2nd year to help you prepare for and secure a relevant industrial placement. In Year 4, you'll undertake your dissertation and choose from a range of optional modules covering topics such as glaciology, humid tropical environments and landscapes, meteorology and atmospheric science, plate tectonics and global geophysics, environmental modelling and the climate of the last 1,000 years.