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University of Reading

UCAS Code: F853 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Entry requirements

A level

B,B,B

One of Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Environmental Science or Geology required at grade B.

Access to HE Diploma

D:18,M:27

including relevant science units

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

M2,M2,M2

Maths/Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Geography/Environmental Studies/Geology required at M2

Extended Project

B

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.  Eligible applicants would receive two offers,  our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Maths C (or 4), English Language or English Literature C (or 4).

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

30

Maths/Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Geography/Environmental Studies/Geology required at grade 5 at Higher Level

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

DDM

including relevant science modules

Scottish Higher

A,B,B,B,B

One of Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Environmental Science or Geology required at grade B.

UCAS Tariff

120-141

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course

Course option

4years

Full-time | 2026

Subject

Environmental sciences

Study the environment from a scientific perspective, and discover how to solve some of the most-critical challenges facing planet Earth, with our accredited BSc Environmental Science with Study Year Abroad.

You’ll explore Earth’s natural systems – its physical, chemical and biological interactions – and use this knowledge to develop strategies for tackling major environmental issues such as climate change and pollution.

This three-year degree has a strong scientific focus. Your learning will span from the single cells and atoms that form the building blocks of our world, to the cycling of matter and flows of energy into, between, and within the:
- solid Earth and its surface

- hydrosphere

- atmosphere

- biosphere.

As a student at Reading, you will also have access to our campuses and grounds to develop your fieldwork skills and conduct research. Home to more than a thousand different animal species, they offer multiple habitats to study – from lakes, hay meadows and woodlands on our award-winning Whiteknights campus, to hedgerow, marshland and the Thames on our University farms.

You’ll have the opportunity to travel throughout the UK and abroad with our field classes, putting theory into practice and gaining valuable research and practical experience. All of our compulsory field classes are heavily subsidised by the Department, and the cost of the first-year Southern England class and second-year Scotland class are included in your fees.

Gain essential skills needed by today’s professional environmental scientists. Our balance of practical and theoretical learning enables you to gain experience in the field and enhance your specialist subject knowledge with real-life experience – preparing you for a career, or further research, in the environmental sector.

**Choose BSc Environmental Science with Study Year Abroad at the University of Reading**
- Accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).

- Study at the UK’s leading university for environmental and ethical performance (the University of Reading is ranked 1st in the People and Planet University League, 2023/24).

- The University is among the top ten UK universities for Environmental Sciences in world rankings (Reading is 9th out of the UK universities ranked in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024, Environmental Sciences)

- The University of Reading is ranked 3rd in the UK for research power in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (Times Higher Education, Institutions Ranked by Subject, based on its analysis of the latest REF 2021).

- In 2023, the University of Reading was the first ever winner of the Times Higher Education (THE) award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership.

- 100% of our students said teaching staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024, responders from the Department of Geography and Environmental Science).

The flexibility of this degree allows you to make an informed decision about where to focus your study, providing the opportunity to adapt your degree to your chosen interests as they develop.

Alternatively, you can choose from a variety of specialist pathways, including:
- water resources and quality

- conservation and sustainability

- climate and palaeoclimate change

- pollution and remediation.

**Study Abroad**
In your third year, you will be able to further your studies at one of our partner universities overseas. Studying abroad is an opportunity to increase your cultural awareness and explore a new location.
All classes are conducted in English and bursaries are available to help with travel and accommodation costs.

For more information, please visit our programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/environment-ug/bsc-environmental-science-with-study-year-abroad

Modules

Modules may include: - Skills in Geography and Environmental Science - Global Challenges - Field Class - Earth Lab - Data Environment. *Please note that all modules are subject to change. Check our website for more details about the course structure.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,535
per year
England
£9,535
per year
EU
£30,650
per year
International
£30,650
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,535
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,535
per year
Scotland
£9,535
per year
Wales
£9,535
per year

The Uni

Course location:

University of Reading

Department:

School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Read full university profile

What students say

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

92%
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

100%
Staff make the subject interesting
93%
Staff are good at explaining things
86%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
86%
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

77%
Library resources
93%
IT resources
92%
Course specific equipment and facilities
79%
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?

75%
UK students
25%
International students
44%
Male students
56%
Female students
96%
2:1 or above
8%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
C

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.

£26,500
med
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education
75%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

24%
Natural and social science professionals
12%
Conservation and environment professionals
8%
Business, research and administrative professionals

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.

£24k

£24k

£28k

£28k

£34k

£34k

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...

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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