Undergraduate 2025 

Environmental Science & Sustainability (Dumfries campus) BSc

Accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), this programme places field work and practical experience at its core. Situated in the 'Living Laboratory' of Dumfries and Galloway, this programme utilises our 85-acre campus and the diverse surrounding landscapes as dynamic learning environments.

Environmental Science & Sustainability

Our Dumfries Campus is located close to a range of natural resources, unique fieldwork environments and placement providers: a diverse outdoor laboratory only minutes from the classroom.

  • September start
  • Session dates
  • Environmental Science & Sustainability (Dumfries) BSc (Hons): D447 4 year degree

Register your interest for more information

Dumfries campus

Programme structure

The Environmental Science & Sustainability programme utilises the surrounding countryside in its courses to demonstrate environmental work in practice. This is through fieldwork, field classes and visits to environmental sites and organisations. This programme also offers you exceptional placement opportunities which is fundamental to developing your skills for graduate employment.

Year 1

Year 1 provides a broad-based education representing a mixture of core environmental courses and electives from non-environmental programmes. This gives you the opportunity to add breadth to your degree. Current core courses:

  • Water, Natural Hazards & Resilience
    This course aims to introduce the science of hydrology and emphasise physical processes and their measurements. It will describe the distribution, causes and effects of various water-related natural hazards, and methods of monitoring, prediction and mitigation
  • Earth System Science
    This course introduces you to the Earth’s major systems, both now and in the past, and examines the Earth’s history and environment by considering the fundamental processes which determine the general functioning of the Earth as a system.
  • Energy, Waste & Pollution: Options for Sustainability
    This course examines renewable energy and waste management options, and pollution control measures to move our planet towards a more sustainable future.
  • Introduction to Global Environmental Issues
    In this course you will explore the most significant and topical global environmental issues affecting societies, ecosystems and the physical milieu.

Year 2

You will take the core courses:

  • Research Methods for Environmental Scientists
  • Human Impact on the Environment
  • Biodiversity, Ecology and Ecosystems
  • Introduction to GIS.

Year 3

  • Applied Ecology and Conservation​
  • Aquatic Environment: Processes, Monitoring and Management​
  • Rural Tourism and Stewardship​.

You will also undertake either a dissertation or placement where you will gain experience in the environmental sector.

Year 4

  • Residential Environmental Field Course​
  • Environmental Policy and Management​
  • Water Resources Policy & Governance​
  • Environmental Stewardship Project (on a research topic of your choice)

Fieldwork and practical experience

The School of Social & Environmental Sustainability is uniquely located for the study of Environmental Science & Sustainability with easy access to estuarine, maritime and terrestrial environments such as the Southern Uplands, peat bogs and moorland. These features, together with the extensive agricultural and forested environment of the region, present a vibrant and diverse “laboratory” in which to study.

Examples of past and current field classes include:

  • Freshwater macroinvertebrate sampling
  • Water quality sampling and chemical analysis
  • Analysing carbon efflux under different land management
  • Soil sampling and analysis. Field classes to a number of energy generation sites within Dumfries & Galloway
  • Managing invasive non-native species
  • Weekly fieldwork on the Research Methods for Environmental Scientists course, which includes skills such as phase 1 habitat surveys; laboratory skills; soil sampling with chemical and physical analysis; mapping and GIS
  • Assessing cockle stocks on the Solway Firth and the Outer Hebrides.

Course details

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Special Glasgow feature

This programme offers you an exceptional placement opportunity as part of your degree. Students have undertaken placements with the following organisations:

  • Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, Greece
  • World Glacier Monitoring Service, Switzerland
  • Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
  • SAP Ecology and Environmental (consultants)
  • Dumfries & Galloway Council, East Ayrshire Council, Glasgow City Council
  • Scottish Wildlife Trust
  • Natural Power
  • Australian Koala Foundation
  • Jersey Zoo
  • Tillhill Forestry
  • Transport Scotland
  • Raja Ampat Diving Project
  • Five Oceans Environmental Services LLC.

Our international links

You will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad: see Study abroad.

Entry requirements

for entry in 2025

Summary of entry requirements for Environmental Science & Sustainability

SQA Higher entry requirements (by end of S6)

  • BBBB
  • Additional requirements: Higher Science subject (two Higher Sciences are recommended).

SQA Higher adjusted entry requirements

  • No Adjusted Higher Requirements

A-level standard entry requirements

  • BBB – CCC
  • Additional requirements: A-level Science subject.

IB standard entry requirements

  • 32 (5,5,5)
  • Additional requirements: HL Science subject.

Admissions guidance

Glasgow International College

International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of foundation certificates.

English language

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

English language requirements

Career prospects

You will develop a range of skills in environmental management techniques, preparing you to enter the graduate job market in a wide variety of roles. The combination of a broad-based education with specialist input, supplemented with real work experience, will equip you with essential skills and qualities. Our programme is CEDHE-accredited which means our students can apply for free student membership of the IES and for a fast-track to membership once they graduate, starting you on a route towards becoming a Chartered Environmentalist or Chartered Scientist. 

Previous graduate career paths include:

  • Ecologist with consultancy firm
  • Carbon manager at international energy company
  • Sustainability officer with energy supplier
  • PhD research
  • Fisheries scientist
  • Sustainability consultant with national construction company
  • Environmental consultant for international consultancy firm
  • Environmental protection officer at SEPA
  • Conservation manager in various destinations across the globe

Find out more about careers paths and opportunities.

Accreditation

CEDHE logoThis programme is accredited by the Community for Environmental Disciplines in Higher Education (CEDHE). CEDHE is the education committee of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). CEDHE is the collective voice of the environmental sciences academic community and serves to enhance the quality of environmental education worldwide.

A programme accredited by CEDHE is assured to meet high standards, contain a strong component of practical, field and theoretical activities, and has excellent opportunities for training, work experience and links to the professional environmental sector. Students enrolled on CEDHE-accredited programmes can apply for free Student Membership of the IES and for a fast-track route to membership once they graduate. This programme is aligned with the academic requirements for Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) and starts graduates on a route towards becoming a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) or Chartered Scientist (CSci).

Degrees and UCAS codes

When applying you will need to know the UCAS code for the subject or subject-combination that you wish to apply to:

BSc (Hons)

Environmental Science & Sustainability (Dumfries): D447 (4 years)

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

How and when you pay tuition fees depends on where you’re from: see Tuition fees for details.

Scholarships

The University is committed to supporting students and rewarding academic excellence. That's why we've invested more than £1m in additional scholarship funding in recent years.

University of Glasgow/Glasgow International College University Degree Progressi

World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship

World Changers Glasgow Scholarship UG (EU)

World Changers RUK Excellence Scholarship

World Changers RUK Access Bursary

James McCune Smith Undergraduate Scholarship

Care Experienced and Estranged Student Bursary

Beaconhouse Schools

Undergraduate Talent Scholarships

Cowrie Foundation Scholarship

The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship

Sanctuary Scholarships

Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants

Glasgow Highland Society Scholarship

The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

How to apply

Full-time students must apply through the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). 

SQA applicants who are eligible for our Widening Participation programmes are encouraged to participate in one or more of these programmes, including Summer School, to support your application and the transition to higher education.

International students to Arts, Engineering, Law, Nursing, Science, and Social Sciences can also apply using The Common Application: however, if applying to more than one UK university, we recommend using UCAS. Applications to Dentistry, Education, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine must be made through UCAS.

Application deadlines

  • 15 October: if including Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or also applying to Oxford or Cambridge
  • 29 January: all other UK applicants (unless otherwise stated on the UCAS website)
  • 30 June: international students.

We do not usually accept any applications after these deadlines.

It's your responsibility to ensure the accuracy of your application before submission. Requests to correct application content, change degree programme or change college of entry, will not be accepted after these deadlines. This policy is in place to ensure fairness and consistency to all applicants, and no exceptions will be made.

Apply via UCAS

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