Environmental Management MSc

As with most courses, this Master’s course in Environmental Management is taught in a range of discrete modules for teaching and assessment, throughout the academic year.

However, it is convenient to consider the course as being divided into three equal portions in order to emphasise the course structure and content. The three portions overlap in time, throughout the academic year, and aim to maintain an even balance of work throughout the study period, whether full- time or part- time. The three portions are outlined below:

Environmental Management & Legislation

This modular block includes content from a wider range of topics relating to environmental management and environmental legislation. The aims of this modular block are to understand the key management principles necessary for the successful implementation of sound environmental management practice, to understand the environmental, methodological and technological and legislative issues in environmental management and to understand the main environmental legislation and policy tools that are used at the level of the European Union as well as internationally.

Strategic Sustainable Development

This study block focuses on the major sustainability challenges facing our society today, and to learn the importance of taking a whole-systems perspective when trying to identify problems and plan solutions. You'll also learn, critique and apply different sustainability tools and concepts available for practitioners to assist with sustainable development.

Climate Change and Planetary Health

Planetary health is a new framework that seeks to unite the traditional distinctions between human health, societal well-being, and ecological integrity. The main aim of this study block is to identify key human health effects and indicators across the lifespan related to planetary health and climate change.

Research and Analytical Skills

In this study block, you'll learn to develop professional, research and critical skills necessary to support higher learning and development of an integrative approach to problem solving, necessary for success in environmental and life sciences careers in public or private sectors or the academic environment.

Theme 1: Chemical Risk Assessment & Management

The aim of this theme is to study the ways in which toxicity data are used to anticipate risks to human health and wildlife that stem from exposure to chemical substances. You will be able to distinguish between risk assessment, risk management, reversible and irreversible toxic effects and familiar with various approaches that exist in regulatory and risk assessment practice for dealing with such effects. The theme is designed to allow those who wish to have a career as environmental managers with an emphasis on chemical risk assessment and management practices.

Theme 2: Environmental Pollution & Monitoring

The aim of this theme is to provide a practical approach to measurement methods and techniques normally used to analyse quantitatively the levels of pollutants present in different environmental samples. The theme is designed to allow those whose career choice lies in the field of environmental pollution and environmental monitoring processes to acquire a broad-based knowledge of the concepts involved. Training is given to students who wish to have a career as environmental analysts with an emphasis on analytical methods & techniques used for analysing environmental samples.

Theme 3: Clean Technology & the Environment

The main focus of this theme is to introduce the process-related innovation strategies which can be used to minimise the level of pollutants which are being emitted/produced by different processes. The process related innovations are commonly divided into end-of-pipe technologies and clean technologies. The end-of-pipe technologies are basically designed for installation at the end of the production process, without altering the chemical reactions manufacturing the main product. The clean technology, on the other hand, is a type of technology with which pollution is eliminated from within the production process, meaning that pollutants do not form in the first place.

Having professional experience in your field of study makes you a much more appealing candidate to future employers. Our aim, therefore, is to integrate a work placement (or Professional Development phase) into the programme. Staff members will closely work with the Professional Development Centre to negotiate agreements with public, private and charitable sector organisations to allow our students to work on various projects related to environmental issues. We are well connected with many relevant organisations through our research activities, particularly water companies, environmental consultancies and government departments and agencies.

The Environment Agency has confirmed that they will be pleased to provide Professional Development opportunities to our MSc students. Further opportunities exist internationally with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

There are also exciting opportunities for students to combine environmental science with entrepreneurship through an existing relationship between Brunel and the Central Research Laboratory.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel and what you will learn on the course.

The dissertation topic is linked to the optional module theme selected by you that integrates elements of your learning from different parts of the programme.