BSc Environmental Science with Professional Experience

You’ll explore Earth’s natural systems – its physical, chemical and biological interactions – and use this knowledge to develop strategies for tackling major environmental issues such as climate change and pollution.

This three-year degree has a strong scientific focus. Your learning will span from the single cells and atoms that form the building blocks of our world, to the cycling of matter and flows of energy into, between, and within the:

• solid Earth and its surface
• hydrosphere
• atmosphere
• biosphere.

Gain essential skills needed by today’s professional environmental scientists. Our balance of practical and theoretical learning enables you to gain experience in the field and enhance your specialist subject knowledge with real-life experience – preparing you for a career, or further research, in the environmental sector.

Choose BSc Environmental Science with Professional Experience at the University of Reading

• Accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).
• Study at the UK’s leading university for environmental and ethical performance (the University of Reading is ranked 1st in the People and Planet University League, 2023/24).
• The University is among the top ten UK universities for Environmental Sciences in world rankings (Reading is 9th out of the UK universities ranked in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024, Environmental Sciences).
• Ranked 3rd in the UK for research power in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (Times Higher Education, Institutions Ranked by Subject, based on its analysis of the latest REF 2021).
• In 2023, the University of Reading was the first ever winner of the Times Higher Education (THE) award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership.
• 100% of our students said teaching staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024, responders from the Department of Geography and Environmental Science).
• The University of Reading has been named Sustainable University of the Year in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

The flexibility of this degree allows you to make an informed decision about where to focus your study, providing the opportunity to adapt your degree to your chosen interests as they develop.

Alternatively, you can choose from a variety of specialist pathways, including:

• water resources and quality
• conservation and sustainability
• climate and palaeoclimate change
• pollution and remediation.

BSc Environmental Science with Professional Experience placement year

A key component of this degree is a year-long professional placement, which occurs between your second and final year.

Working with a local company or organisation, you will:

• deepen your knowledge and put your learning into practice
• develop your research, survey, data analysis and presentation skills
• build your professional network
• gain insight into the sector and potential career options.

Some of our students choose to complete their dissertation in conjunction with an outside agency, engaging in research for major organisations such as Natural England and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Visit the Geography and Environmental Science 'How you'll study' page for more information.