Overview

Our BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Sustainability will prepare you for a career where you will address some of the most challenging and important issues of our time in terms of sustainable development, particularly with respect to the protection of the environment.

Environmental Scientists must overcome these challenges through creative, innovative and more sustainable solutions to local and global challenges.

Through your studies, you will receive a solid grounding in core scientific disciplines biological and chemical and earth system to build your knowledge and understanding of fundamental environmental systems, principles of sustainability and the role of policy and regulation. You will gain a deep understanding of the environmental challenges facing the world today, and be able to identify potential threats to our  environment. You will also study more specialised and advanced topics, focused on applied environmental governance and sustainability. This degree will allow you to contribute to the process of advancing knowledge and strategies for a sustainable future.

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Hear from our Programme Leader and discover how BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Sustainability will prepare you for a career addressing some of the most challenging and important sustainable development issues of our time.

“With access to state-of-the-art facilities at both Paisley and Lanarkshire campuses, students will gain the experience and skills they need to be future ready.”

Kiri Rodgers, Programme Leader, BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Science and Sustainability

Our global population is growing at an alarming rate, with the United Nations suggesting an excess of 9 billion people by 2050. This dramatic growth requires increased industrial activity relying on unsustainable systems of production and consumption, resulting in considerable environmental damage. To reduce the impact of human activity on the environment, we need more sustainable approaches to all aspects of life creating globally relevant policies and regulations through science-based evidence.

The combined impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable resource management has critical implications for the future stability of life support systems on our planet. Do you want to be part of the solution? If so, then our BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Sustainability is for you.

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS

  • This degree has been designed to develop your core scientific knowledge and understanding of the fundamental science underpinning Environmental Science and Sustainability
  • The degree allows you to specialise in subjects focused on ecosystem function and understanding human interaction in the environment, such as aquatic ecology, waste and resource management, pollution control and environmental impacts on public health
  • Through a flexible and dynamic learning environment you will gain both subject-specific and transferable skills with a wide range of competencies in preparation for future employment
  • You will benefit from UWS’s strong history of applied research in environmental sciences that spans multiple disciples and has global impact
  • Work-related learning, combined with access to UWS’s state-of-the-art laboratories, will prepare you for a wide range of career options

Entry Requirements

What qualifications do you need? 

We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.

During Clearing our entry requirements remain flexible, and we are committed to providing opportunities to study with us based on a range of qualifications. Please get in touch, and we can discuss your specific circumstances.

If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.

  • Scottish Highers*: 
    • Standard Entry Requirements: BBCC (96 UCAS Tariff points) including Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics
    • Minimum Entry Requirements: BCCC (90 UCAS Tariff points) including Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics
  • A levels: CCC (96 UCAS Tariff points) including Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics
  • Irish Leaving Certificate: H3 H3 H3 H3 including Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 24 points including 3 subjects at HL (one of which should be Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics)
  • Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP): Access to Medicine or Access to Science or Access to Biological and Chemical Science or Access to Chemistry and Biology or Access to Health and Biological Science or Access to Dietetics or Access to Health and Life Sciences or Access to Radiography (BBB)

* for more information on standard and minimum entry requirements, see our Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage

Year 1 entry requirements updated 06 June 2024

SQA Advanced Highers: BBC including Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics (136 UCAS Tariff Points)

GCE A-Levels: BBC including Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics (112 UCAS Tariff Points)

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 30 points including Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Physics at HL and another at OL (136 UCAS Tariff Points)

SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC: Applied Science; Biomedical Science/Applied Biomedical Science; Industrial Biotechnology

 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW

All academic degrees/awards at UWS are taught in English. For applicants whose first language is not English*, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. All English language qualifications must have been gained within two years of the start of your UWS course.

* applicants who are exempt from english language requirements include:

  • native speakers of English
  • Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise)
  • non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification)
  • students whose previous degree-level study has been taught and assessed in English in what UK Visas and Imigration (UKVI) define as a majority English speaking country

In general terms, if you are applying to study a course at, or above, Year 1 (SCQF Level 7) bachelor’s degree level, then the UKVI’s minimum level of English proficiency is Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR) at B2 (Upper Intermediate).

 

UWS & INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST SYSTEM (IELTS)

At UWS, we define our general English language requirements using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training) as follows:

Undergraduate (bachelor's - BA, BAcc, BEng, BSc etc.) degrees and postgraduate (master's - MA, MBA, MSc etc.) taught degrees

  • the CEFR equivalent requirement is normally an overall IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent), with a score of no lower than 5.5 in any of the four elements (listening, speaking, reading and writing)

Postgraduate research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA etc.)

  • the CEFR equivalent requirement is an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent), with a score of no lower than 6.0 in any of the four elements (listening, speaking, reading and writing)

These are minimum requirements and some courses may require a higher standard for admission†.

† Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see IELTS Score Exceptions section below for more information). 

 

IELTS SCORE EXCEPTIONS (RESEARCH DEGREES, BIOMEDICAL & PARAMEDIC SCIENCE DEGREES, NURSING & MIDWIFERY DEGREES WITH NMC REGISTRATION, SOCIAL WORK DEGREES, CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, ETC.)

RESEARCH DEGREES

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 6.5
  • no sub-test score of less than 6.0

HEALTH & MIDWIFERY AWARDS

For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (BSc Adult Nursing, MSc Adult Nursing, BSc Mental Health Nursing, MSc Mental Health Nursing, BSc Midwifery and MSc Midwifery), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • score of at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and
  • score of at least 6.5 in writing

PARAMEDIC SCIENCE DEGREE

Our BSc Paramedic Science degree leads to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); it has different IELTS requirements than other Health-related courses. Although it is not possible to apply for this degree directly as an international student, for applicants who meet SAAS residency requirements and for whom English is not their first language, then the following IELTS scores are required:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • no sub-test score of less than 6.5

BIOMEDICAL DEGREES

For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science degrees, which may lead to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • no sub-test less than 6.5

SOCIAL WORK DEGREES

Our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work degrees are professionally recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council and applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • no sub-test score of less than 7.0

CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 5.0
  • no sub-test less than 4.5

 

OTHER IELTS EQUIVALENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTS

In additional to IELTS, we also accept a number of alternative English language for application and admission to our courses for both home/EU and international students at bachelor's degree study at Year 3 (SCQF Level 9), and above. From Cambridge to TOFEL iBT qualifications the number of these qualifications is extensive.

Find out about non-IELTS English Language Tests

 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE HIGH SCHOOL QUALIFACTIONS ACCEPTED FOR NON-EU APPLICANTS

UWS has also reviewed a range of High / Secondary School qualifications studied by non-EU applicants that can be used as a basis of entry to a UWS. These range from Botswana GCSEs to USA High School Graduation Diplomas, the number of these qualifications is extensive.

Find out more about international English Language high-hchool qualifications

 

PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSES AT UWS

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:

    • 10-week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.0 with no element below 4.5.
    • 5-week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.5 with no element below 5.5.
    • English Language for University Study - entry criteria UKVI IELTS with an overall score of 4.0, plus a score of 4.0 in all sub-tests (10-month course), or an overall score of 4.5, plus no score below 4.0 in all sub-tests (7-month course).

Find out more about our English language Courses.

Undergraduate Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for this course 2024/25

Scottish

£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)

All other UK & Republic of Ireland

£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750

Channel Islands & Isle of Man

£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750

International (all other EU plus Non-EU)

£15,500 per year of study

More on tuition fees and funding

Modular Tuition Fees (20-credit points) 2024-25

Scottish

£305 per module (20 credits)

All other UK & Republic of Ireland

£1,550 per module (20 credits)

Channel Islands & Isle of Man

£1,550 per module (20 credits)

International (all other EU plus Non-EU)

£2,580 per module (20 credits)

More on tuition fees and funding

Apply via UCAS

Ready to apply? All UK & EU undergraduate applications should be made through UCAS. Further information for international, part-time and exchange applications can be found below.

UCAS

Further application information

Full-time (domestic & EU/EEA)

All UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)

The on-time application deadline for 2025/26 entry is 29 January 2025, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2025. Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.

Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide for domestic & EU/EEA to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.

You can find out more about applying for this undergraduate course on UCAS.

 

Full-time (non-EU/non-EEA), Part-time & Online (all students), Erasmus & International Exchange

Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries can apply directly to UWS via our dedicated online application system. The latest we can process your application is 6 weeks before the course start date to allow for visa processing times. For more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS please refer to our International Undergraduate Application Guide.

For part-time & online study, you should apply directly to the University through our online application system, not through UCAS. Please select the part-time mode of study when submitting your application. Before you begin your application, it is important to read the part-time application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.

To come to UWS as a visiting student on a study abroad or exchange programme, you must apply entirely through our online system.

An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.

Get in touch

Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!

Unistats

Unistats draws together comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study. The core information it contains is called the Key Information Set.

We will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.