Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates environmental issues and the impacts of human activities on the environment by combining ecology, geology, meteorology, biology, chemistry, engineering, and physics.
If you are willing to combine science with anthropology and environmental studies, an academic degree in Environmental Science is the best option.
Students pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Science can expect to earn a competitive salary of £ 45,000-60,000 on average and the opportunity to work in various sectors, collaborating with various environmental engineers.
Most institutions in the UK offer a four-year undergraduate program and a one-to-three-year postgraduate program, with tuition fees ranging from £ 15,517 to £ 35,000 for international students.
Some common areas of specialization for students who pursue this degree are:
- Ecology,
- Environmental Chemistry,
- Environmental Molecular Biology and Biotechnology,
- Environmental Science,
- Fisheries Science, and
- Oceanography.
Suppose you are looking for information on environmental science degrees in the UK. In that case, this article will give you a clear picture of the cost, syllabus, available scholarships, entry requirements, scope and more.
Top Environmental Science University in the UK List
Several universities in the UK are ranking top for 2023 by the QS World Ranking by Subject.
Rank (QS World University Rankings 2023) |
University |
7 |
University of Cambridge |
3 |
University of Oxford |
10 |
Imperial College London |
30 |
UCL |
36 |
University of Leeds |
33 |
The University of Edinburgh |
49 |
University of Exeter |
43 |
The University of Manchester |
78 |
University of Reading |
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Top Environmental Science University in the UK: Bachelor of Environmental Science in the UK
Bachelor of Environment Science in the UK is a four-year program for undergraduate students. The tuition fee for the program ranges from £ 15,517 to £ 35,000 for international students.
University |
Program |
Course |
University of Oxford |
B.A.Sc. Environmental Science. |
4 years |
University of Cambridge |
B.A. Earth Science. |
4 years |
Imperial College London |
B.Sc. Environment Engineering/ B.Sc. Advanced Material for Sustainable Infrastructure. |
4 years |
University of Leeds |
B.Sc. Environmental Science. |
4 years |
UCL |
B.Sc. Environmental Science. |
4 years |
The University of Edinburgh |
B.Sc. Biological Science – Ecology. |
4 years |
The University of Exeter |
B.Sc. Environmental Studies. |
4 years |
University of East Anglia (UEA) |
B.Sc. Environmental Sciences. |
4 years |
University of Reading |
B.Sc. Environmental Sciences and Management. |
4 years |
The University of Manchester |
B.Sc. Environmental Management. |
4 years |
Academic Requirement:
- A higher secondary education certificate with a 70% -75%or above
- Students must have achieved a good score in relatable courses in grades 11 and 12 or any extra subject equivalent
English Language Requirement:
- IELTS score of 6.0 to 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each section
- TOEFL score of 70 to 90, with a minimum of 20 in each part
- PTE score of 50 to 66 and at least 50 to 55 in each
Foundation year option:
This option is available for international students who do not meet the entry requirements for an undergraduate program. Those students may enrol in the university's international foundation year program. Under this program, participants are oriented to develop abilities to help them understand the course.
Top Environmental Science University in the UK:
Bachelor of Environmental Science University in the UK (Tuition Fees)
University |
Tuition Fee |
University of Oxford |
£ 50,419 per annum |
University of Cambridge |
£ 53,000 per annum |
Imperial College London |
£ 65,000 per annum |
University of Leeds |
£ 65,145 per annum |
UCL |
£ 68,000 per annum |
The University of Edinburgh |
£ 88,051per annum |
The University of Exeter |
£ 79,744 per annum |
University of East Anglia (UEA) |
£ 66,454 per annum |
University of Reading |
£ 71,438 per annum |
The University of Manchester |
£ 49,840 per annum |
Top Environmental Science University in the UK: Masters of Environmental Science
A master's degree in environmental science can be obtained as a Master of Science (MSc.), MA, MA, or a Master of Environmental Science.
The master's program, on the other hand, is also accessible as a 5-year integrated bachelor's and master's degree. Tuition for a master's degree in Environmental Science in the UK can range from £14,000 to £40,000 per year.
University |
Program |
Course |
University of Oxford |
B.A.Sc. Environment Science. |
2-3 years |
University of Cambridge |
B.A. Earth Science. |
1-2 years |
Imperial College London |
B.Sc. Environment Engineering/ B.Sc. Advanced Material for Sustainable Infrastructure. |
1-2 years |
University of Leeds |
B.Sc. Environmental Science. |
1-2 years |
UCL |
B.Sc. Environmental Science. |
1-2 years |
The University of Edinburgh |
B.Sc. Biological Science – Ecology. |
1-2 years |
The University of Exeter |
B.Sc. Environmental Studies. |
1-2 years |
University of East Anglia (UEA) |
B.Sc. Environmental Sciences. |
1-2 years |
University of Reading |
B.Sc. Environmental Sciences and Management. |
1-2 years |
The University of Manchester |
B.Sc. Environmental Management. |
1-2 years |
Academic Requirement:
- A first- or upper-second-class honours degree in engineering or a related field -60 to 75 per cent- is necessary; however, applicants with a lower undergraduate score and at least three years of relevant experience are evaluated
English Language Requirement:
- TOEFL: 80-90; however, a minimum of 15 to 20 in reading, hearing, and writing, as well as 20 to 23 in writing, is expected
- IELTS: 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 to 6.0 in each component
- Some institutions also accept Duolingo English Test scores ranging from 110 to 120
- PTE: total scores ranging from 55 to 60
Top Environmental Science University in the UK: Masters of Environmental Science (Tuition Fee)
University |
Tuition Fee |
University of Oxford |
£44,500 per annum |
University of Cambridge |
£46,517 per annum |
Imperial College London |
£58,147 per annum |
University of Leeds |
£43,195 per annum |
UCL |
£34,888 per annum |
The University of Edinburgh |
£34,126 per annum |
The University of Exeter |
£39,872 per annum |
University of East Anglia (UEA) |
£34,888 per annum |
University of Reading |
£31,565 per annum |
The University of Manchester |
£29,904 per annum |
Top Environmental Science University in the UK: PhD in Environmental Science
University |
Program |
Course Duration |
Tuition Fee |
University of Oxford |
PhD in Geography and the Environment. |
3-4 years |
£ 44,856. |
University of Saskatchewan |
PhD Philosophy in Environment and Sustainability. |
3 – 4 years |
£ 38,442. |
University of Alberta |
PhD in Environmental Earth Science. |
4 years |
£ 38,677. |
University of British Columbia |
PhD in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. |
3 – 4 years |
£ 43,365. |
McMaster University |
PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences |
3-4 years |
£ 25,315. |
University of Waterloo |
PhD in Social and Ecological Sustainability – water |
3-5 years |
£ 91,309. |
Academic Requirement:
- A degree with a 50 per cent average, a CGPA of 3 or above on a 4-point scale, or a B grade point average.
- Applicants with 16 years of professional study may be qualified if they meet the minimum requirements through the appropriate program of the relevant authority at any time during the year.
- Note: Applicants to postgraduate research programs must establish their research readiness. It can be accomplished by using examples of critical writing, documentation of relevant professional experience, or the publication of research articles.
English Language Requirement:
- IELTS: 6.5 overall, not below 6.0.
- TOEFL: at least 90 overall and at least 20 in each component.
- PTE: 70 overall, no less than 59 in each component.
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Top Environmental Science University in the UK: Scholarships
Although various Canadian universities offer direct scholarships to international students pursuing a Bachelor’'s or Master's degree in environmental science and a PhD, while most institutions evaluate students for scholarships automatically, some may require an additional application while applying for admissions. The following are some of the UK's most popular university-specific scholarships for international students.
Scholarship with estimated costs and university names:
University/ Awarding Institute |
Scholarship |
Amount Offered (Approx.) |
Aberystwyth University. |
Global Wales Scholarship |
£10,000 |
University of Birmingham |
University of Birmingham Commonwealth Scholarships 2022/23 |
£3,000 |
University of Birmingham |
Global Masters Scholarships 2022/23 |
£10,000 |
University of Cardiff |
Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship for Research Excellence |
Full funding |
University of Oxford |
Clarendon Fund Scholarships at the University of Oxford |
£15,009 annually, along with a study support grant |
University of Edinburgh |
Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarship |
Full funding |
Queen's University Belfast |
International Office Undergraduate Scholarships |
£2500 - £3000 |
Pursuing a degree in a country as expensive as the United Kingdom may also be costly. Nonetheless, several scholarships for international students are available in the UK, which may help to alleviate the financial load. Besides scholarships, international students can seek financial assistance. They can work part-time or apply for student loans while studying in the United Kingdom.
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Top Environmental Science in the UK: Scope
With a degree in Environmental Science in the UK, you can pursue various job paths- from Acoustics Engineers to Nuclear power Engineers
Job Title |
Average salary GBP per year |
Compliance Manager |
£58,000 |
Land Manager |
£55,000 |
Scientist |
£26,798 |
Project Engineer |
£30,000 |
Project Manager |
£33,394 |
Environmental Analyst |
£46,000 |
Apart from these titles, with a degree in environmental science in the UK, you can pursue many other environmental careers like conservation officer, ranger, waste management, hydrologist, climate analyst, sustainability analyst, ecologist, and so on.
As the environment is a cross-cutting issue and is seen as the most significant component in every development and preservation sector, government projects, development organizations, conservation areas, construction industry, biofuel plants, and manufacturing companies hire environmental science graduates in the UK and worldwide.