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Environmental Sciences at UEA
Find out more about studying Environmental Sciences at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMSc Environmental Sciences with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2026
Course options
Other Start Dates
Gain a competitive edge with a placement year
This course is also available with an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master's degree
Other Start Dates
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UEA is ranked 4th overall for research quality in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisCourse Overview
Why MSc Environmental Sciences with a Placement Year at UEA?
Explore environmental systems through an interdisciplinary lens, learning from researchers across environmental sciences.
Develop practical, job-ready skills with real datasets and flexible module choices that let you specialise without narrowing too early.
Why Choose UEA
- Research-led teaching: Our curriculum links natural processes, human systems, and solutions for environmental management
- Flexible degree: You may choose from a range of modules from climate, oceans, freshwater, land, ecology, resources, to policy and economics
- Hands-on training: We use real-world case studies and applied assessment tasks in data analysis, GIS, modelling and communication
What is MSc Environmental Sciences with a Placement Year?
This MSc is an interdisciplinary study of atmospheric, oceanic, freshwater, and terrestrial environments, and how they interact with society.
You build a solid understanding of Earth’s processes, human impacts, and evidence-based approaches to sustainable management.
You develop advanced skills in collecting, analysing, interpreting, and presenting diverse environmental datasets.
You gain practical experience with analytical tools such as GIS and numerical models to support complex decision-making.
You choose optional modules across topics such as biodiversity conservation, sustainability, environmental economics, impact assessment, and climate change.
Your research dissertation and transferable skills prepare you for roles in agencies, NGOs, consultancies, industry R&D and further study.
Placement Year
Gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master’s degree through our integrated postgraduate placement year. Designed to help you develop the skills, confidence and professional experience employers are looking for, this additional year gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in a real-world setting.
As part of your programme, you’ll take part in an employability programme focused on preparing you for the UK job market. You’ll develop essential workplace skills, receive guidance on securing opportunities, and benefit from personalised support throughout your placement search.
During your placement year, you’ll have the opportunity to either complete an industry placement with a UK organisation or work on three employer-led industry projects with different organisations across a range of sectors. Whichever route you take, you’ll gain practical experience, build your professional network and strengthen your CV before you graduate.
You’ll take ownership of securing your placement, supported by employability workshops, one-to-one coaching and expert guidance from our specialist placement partner.
If you’re unable to secure an industry placement, you’ll complete three employer-led projects, giving you the chance to work on real challenges with UK organisations and gain valuable hands-on experience.
Discover our postgraduate placement year opportunities(opens in a new window) and take the next step towards your future career.
Careers
Career Pathways
With a MSc Environmental Sciences degree, you could launch a career in:
- Environmental consultant: Deliver assessments, monitoring plans and evidence for development, infrastructure and compliance decisions
- Sustainability and ESG analyst: Evaluate environmental risks, metrics and reporting for organisations, investors and supply chains
- Environmental data/GIS analyst: Analyse spatial and time-series datasets to support planning, modelling and targeted interventions
- Conservation and land management officer: Plan and evaluate actions for habitats, biodiversity, protected areas and nature recovery
- Water, catchment or coastal specialist: Support flood risk, water resources, water quality and coastal management programmes
Career Support
You’ll build career-ready skills through applied modules, project work and research dissertation. You’ll develop employer-valued technical skills, including data analysis, GIS and modelling, using real environmental datasets. You’ll practise writing for different audiences and presenting evidence clearly, from technical reports to decision-focused outputs. Alongside academic guidance, UEA’s Career Central(opens in a new window) offers appointments, events and vacancies to support your next steps.
After the Course
Graduates progress into roles across consultancies, environmental agencies, NGOs and industry. Others move into research, including PhD study or research assistant posts. Your dissertation can act as a portfolio piece to demonstrate specialist expertise. The MSc Environmental Sciences with a Placement Year builds your confidence to work across disciplines and tackle complex environmental challenges.
Study and Modules
Structure
The MSc Environmental Sciences with a Placement Year is a two-year full-time course combining taught modules, an independent research project and a dedicated placement year.
Through your choice of taught modules, you can carve your own curriculum pathway – you could focus on a specific area of environmental sciences or include a range of interdisciplinary subjects that complement your existing skills. You’ll discuss your career goals with your adviser and course director to select modules from our wide range of options, helping you tailor your studies to your interests and future ambitions. You can also choose modules from other schools if they contribute to your study in the field of environmental sciences. You’ll complete your taught modules over two semesters.
You’ll start planning your independent research project in the autumn semester, submit your project proposal in the spring semester, and hand in your final project report in early August. Your research project work is developed from the spring semester onwards through the summer. You’ll present your research project at the end of August in a research seminar.
Before starting your placement year, you’ll complete an employability module designed to prepare you for success in the workplace. Through practical activities, workshops and personalised support, you’ll develop the skills and confidence needed to navigate the UK job market.
You’ll gain experience in key areas including CV writing, interview preparation, professional networking and career planning. Successful completion of this pass/fail module is required to progress to your placement year.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 40, Max Credits: 60)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 40, Max Credits: 60)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll complete a 60-credit placement module, giving you the opportunity to gain industry experience directly related to your area of study.
During the first semester, you’ll focus on securing your placement with support from dedicated employability specialists and a programme of in-person workshops. These sessions will help you identify opportunities, strengthen your career plans and reflect on your professional development.
If you’re unable to secure a placement, you’ll complete three employer-led industry projects with different organisations, allowing you to gain practical experience and work on real-world challenges.
The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis through a portfolio documenting your placement search and a reflective report on your placement or industry project experience.
By the end of the year, you’ll have developed valuable workplace skills, gained insight into your chosen sector, expanded your professional network and enhanced your confidence as you prepare for your future career.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
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Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
You’ll learn through lectures, seminars, practical classes, IT labs, and field visits.
Teaching is research-led and links environmental science concepts to real case studies and datasets.
You’ll be supported to build independence through directed reading, guided study tasks, and feedback.
An independent research project lets you investigate a topic of your choice with an academic supervisor.
Core modules build foundations and skills in data analysis, GIS/modelling, and research design. Field and practical sessions develop observation, sampling, and interpretation across environmental settings.
Assessment
Assessment methods vary by module and test both intellectual and practical skills across environmental sciences.
You may complete essays, reports, position papers, presentations, problem sheets, mini-projects, and an independent dissertation.
Coursework assesses practical and numerical skills, plus your ability to analyse data and communicate clearly.
Your research proposal and dissertation assess project design, evidence use, and overall capability as an environmental scientist.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any Science or Social Science subject including Geography, Politics, Economics, Law and Business Studies. Strong applicants from other backgrounds with experience relevant to Environmental Sciences are also encouraged to apply.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Any Science or Social Science subject including Geography, Politics, Economics, Law and Business Studies. Strong applicants from other backgrounds with experience relevant to Environmental Sciences are also encouraged to apply.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each component.
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.(opens in a new window)
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £12,350
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International Students: £25,700
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.