Our Degree Courses

Environmental Science teaching modules are offered at all four levels of undergraduate study, providing pathways leading to three possible Environmental Science degrees:

BSc Environmental Science
BSc Environmental Science and Geography
MA Environmental Science and Geography

How many years?

Most students study for a four-year degree, achieving an Honours degree after successfully completing studies at each of four levels of study (Level 1 ... Level 4, one each year). Highly qualified students may apply for a 3-year course, entering at Level 2. A small proportion of our students choose to graduate after progressing only to successful completion of their Level 3 studies, e.g. in order to take up an offer of employment, and graduate with an Ordinary Degree. Part time study is available, and allows students to extend their studies over a longer period of time with a reduced workload.

Student monitoring water quality

Degree Structure

The university year is structured around two teaching periods (semesters), one either side of the Christmas/New Year break. Courses are delivered as modules, and are typically taught throughout one semester, and fully assessed by the end of that semester. A full-time student is required to complete modules worth 120 SCOTCAT points each year. At Levels 1 and 2, students take 3 modules in each semester, making a total of six in each year. At Levels 3 and 4, modules are normally worth 30 points, so two modules are normally taken in each semester. At Levels 1 and 2, Environmental Science provides one module in each semester, and students are required to complement these modules with others from cognate disciplines, according to their interests and strengths, and the College to which they are admitted (e.g. Environmental Biology, Molecular Science, Genetics, Animal Function, Chemistry, Psychology, Geography, English, History, Economics, Information Technology and many more).

BSc or MA?

Students tend to choose between BSc and MA pathways according to their entry qualifications: students with strengths predominantly in the pure sciences tend to be admitted to BSc programmes, providing access to additional modules offered by the College of Life Sciences, while students with a bias towards the social sciences are admitted to the MA programme and have access to additional modules offered by the College of Arts & Social Sciences. The MA is the traditional undergraduate degree offered in arts and social sciences in the ancient Scottish Universities (Aberdeen, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow), and at Dundee which was granted its independence in 1967 after a long association with the University of St Andrews.

Student emptying rain gauge

Assessment methods

The course follows best practice in assessing student learning by a range of assessment methods. Many modules are assessed entirely continuously, i.e. without a degree exam at the end, using field and lab reports and essays as the basis of assessment. At Levels 1 and 2, modules are assessed either entirely continuously, or with a maximum of 50% derived from examinations. The final degree is based on assessment of Level 3 and Level 4 work alone, and is made up of approximately 40% exam assessment and approximately 60% from a range of continuous assessment styles, including a final-year independent project.

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