Environmental Sciences MSci Placement offered

Level 1 - Dynamics of Natural Environments
You will learn about the interdisciplinary principles and processes that govern the environment. This will include the physical, chemical and biological knowledge required to develop a holistic Earth system perspective and will cover theoretical, practical and field-based approaches.

Level 1 compulsory
Biological Processes
Earth System Science
Environmental Chemistry
The Biosphere and Ecology
Natural History and the Environment
Research Skills, GIS and Fieldwork I
Natural Environments Case Studies
Leadership for Sustainability I

Level 2 - Environmental Change and the Anthropocene
Students will then examine how Earth systems have changed over time, with a particular focus on human influences. The “grand challenges” of environmental science will be introduced here, which include climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, land-use change and sustainability. In turn, the effect of these changes on environmental and human health will be investigated.

Level 2 compulsory
Ecosystem Stressors
Climate Change
Environmental Pollution
The Sustainability Challenge
Research Skills, GIS and Fieldwork II
Anthropocene Case Studies
Leadership for Sustainability II

Level 2 options (choose one)
Environmental Health
Biochemistry: Structure and Function
Introduction to Programming
Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics
Construction and Sustainability
Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering and Surveying

Level 3 - Environmental Solutions
The next stage of this programme will be to analyse and evaluate potential solutions to environmental problems. This will often involve the synthesis of ideas from different fields, such as sustainable development, systems thinking, technology, resource management, psychology, monitoring, modelling, policy/law or public health. Indeed, students select a number of optional topics to focus their studies on particular themes that have clear routes to employability and lead to a more specialised MSci pathway.

Level 3 compulsory
Sustainable Development
Environmental Governance
Planetary Health Case Studies
Individual Project
Leadership for Sustainability III

Level 3 options (choose two)
Pollution Solutions
Clean Technology
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Ecology and Conservation
Public Health
Epidemiology
Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology
Algorithms and their Applications
Software Development and Management
Civil Engineering Hydraulics
Water Engineering
Sustainable Construction
Sustainable Infrastructure Development
Geotechnical Engineering

Level 5 - Environmental Practice
For MSci students, the programme progresses to incorporate specialised content that develops the knowledge and skills required to practice as an environmental scientist at a high level. There is a particular focus on the synthesis of ideas across disciplinary boundaries within the MSci. To this end, students undertake a significant research project that allows them to develop their own ideas under the supervision of an expert in the field.

Level 5 compulsory
Group Project

Level 5 options (choose five)
Climate Change: Science and Impacts
Biosphere II
GIS and Data Analysis
Environmental Law
Environmental Management
Integrated Pollution (counts as 2 choices)
Environmental Monitoring (counts as 2 choices)
Priority Pollutants and Human Health Effects
Essentials in Ecotoxicology
Designing, Analysing and Interpreting (Eco) Toxicological Studies
Reproductive Toxicology and Endocrine Disruption
Big Data Analytics
Data Visualisation
Quantitative Data Analysis
Water Infrastructure Engineering
Water Treatment Engineering
Water Process Engineering

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

Students will be given a selection of dissertation projects to choose from or they can develop their own idea. These projects could come from a wide range of disciplines, such as: environmental change, pollution, water, resources, ecosystems, clean technology, public health, data analysis techniques and field techniques.