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Environmental Sciences at UEA
Find out more about studying Environmental Sciences at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreBSc (Hons) Environmental Sciences with a Foundation Year
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- UCAS Course Code
- 8F90
- Typical Offer
- CCC
- Contextual Offer
- CDD
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Start Dates
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1st
In the UK for Research Quality in Geography and Environmental Sciences
The Times University Rankings 20254th
In the World for citations per paper in Earth and Marine Sciences
QS World University Rankings 2025Course Overview
Why BSc Environmental Sciences at UEA?
UEA is ranked first in the UK for Research Quality in Geography and Environmental Sciences (Complete University Guide 2026), with teaching by world-leading researchers. Our foundation year is your launchpad to become an environmental scientist equipped to tackle the defining challenges of our time.
Why choose UEA
- Flexible, interdisciplinary learning: Choose from biology, chemistry, physics, human geography, or IT modules - then transfer to ANY degree in the School of Environmental Sciences
- World-leading experts: Learn from leading scientists who study and solve real environmental problems at a school ranked first in the UK for research
- Professional academic support: Your personal academic adviser and foundation year course director guide you every step of the way through this important first year
What are Environmental Sciences?
How can we effectively address sustainability issues? What are the best options for a low-carbon world? How is climate change reshaping our natural world — and how can we respond? Our foundation year at UEA prepares you to explore these questions and more, building the knowledge and confidence you need to thrive in an environmental sciences degree. You can tailor your foundation year to your interests, choosing from a variety of optional modules, and transfer to your desirable degree in the School of Environmental Sciences. At UEA, you’ll conduct experiments in our state-of-the-art laboratories and develop highly valued transferable skills in data analysis, spatial visualisation, IT, and science communication.
Each semester you’ll build your data science skills at a pace matched to your ability and confidence. Lectures are delivered by world-leading researchers, and small-group seminars will challenge and sharpen your thinking. Once you’ve successfully completed your foundation year, you’re guaranteed to transfer to BSc Environmental Sciences. We also believe students should have the freedom to follow where their interests lead - so you may transfer to BA or BSc Geography, Geology with Geography, or Geophysics, depending on the optional modules you’ve taken and grades achieved.
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School of Environmental Science
We're proud to be one of the most developed schools of our kind in Europe. But what does it mean to be an excellent institution for environm...
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New £4.25m project to investigate climate ‘tipping points’ in marine ecosystems
Led by the University of East Anglia (UEA), the work has been awarded a grant by the UK Government’s Advanced Research + Invention Agency (A...
Accreditations
This course is accredited by The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).
Students enrolled on IES accredited programmes can apply for free Student Membership of the Institution. Look for the CHES accreditation logo which provides a mark of quality and indicates that an educational institute is planning the career paths of its students.
After graduating you may choose to progress to a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) or Chartered Scientist (CSci) status. This will demonstrate to employers your commitment to continuing to develop the knowledge and skills gained in your degree.
Careers
Career Pathways
With a BSc in Environmental Sciences, you could launch a career in:
- Environmental consultant
- Conservation officer
- Environmental analyst
- Renewable energy adviser
- Graduate carbon management consultant
Career Support
Employability is embedded throughout your foundation year, helping you build the career aspirations and skills you’ll need as a graduate. We work closely with UEA’s careers service, Career Central, to help you meet employers (including alumni), explore career options, speak to industry mentors, and apply for internships, volunteering, and exciting graduate jobs.
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
After the Course
Once you successfully complete your foundation year, you’ll transfer onto your choice of degree within the School of Environmental Sciences -well-placed to build towards a rewarding career. Our graduates go on to make a real difference to the environment, as specialist practitioners, policy advisors, or researchers pushing the boundaries of what we know.
Study and Modules
Structure
During your foundation year, you’ll choose modules alongside the compulsory ones. In addition, each semester, you’ll also take a module to develop your data science skills at a level that fits your ability and confidence. The balance of your foundation year study is from optional modules with a choice of biology, chemistry, physics, or you may opt for human geography modules on global challenges.
Over the year, you’ll explore various aspects of our natural environment, and you’ll discover where your passions lie. This will help you decide which BSc, BA or MSci degree course to transfer to at the end of your foundation year.
Your personal academic adviser and the foundation year course director will be on hand to support and advise you, ensuring that you make the most of the options and opportunities in this important first year.
For the years of study beyond the foundation year, please see the full range of degrees in the School of Environmental Science.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(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.
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Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
Our teaching is modular, with around 15 contact hours per week depending on your chosen modules. You’ll learn across a range of methods: lectures by world-leading researchers, seminars that sharpen your thinking, laboratory practicals, fieldwork, and IT practicals, each designed to build your subject knowledge and your ability to think and communicate as an undergraduate scientist.
Most lectures are recorded and remain accessible throughout the rest of your degree. Beyond contact hours, your foundation year is also about becoming an independent learner. You’ll read around topics covered in taught sessions, engage in group work, and draw on resources available on Blackboard, UEA’s online learning platform. Optional support sessions run alongside several modules to help you build confidence and prepare for assessment. The skills you develop (curiosity, self-direction, and critical thinking) are exactly what employers value most.
Assessment
We use a variety of assessment methods across your modules, contributing in different proportions towards your overall module mark. Depending on the modules you take, assessments may include written reports, problem sheets, class tests, presentations, and exams, and some modules combine two or more of these formats.
Crucially, every module gives you the chance to practise first through “formative” assignments - work that closely mirrors the graded summative assessments and comes with detailed feedback, so you can refine your approach before your marks count.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK fee-paying students. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes(opens in a new window).
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
CCC
Contextual offer: CDD
BTEC
MMM
Contextual offer: MMP
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
Access to HE Diploma
Pass Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3.
T levels
Obtain an overall Pass.
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
28 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
6 subjects at H4
Scottish Highers
BBCCC
Scottish Advanced Highers
DDD
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
- 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 a minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
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- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement, or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
Progression from a Foundation Year may also be dependent on meeting the prerequisite module requirements of the course you wish to progress to. Please note subsequent changes to study or course can affect your tuition fee liability and the amount you are required to pay.
- Recent Study
We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £10,050
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International Students: £29,300
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
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
In your foundation year, much of the guided reading is available from the UEA library as textbooks or digital resources.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: