Environmental Science and Environmental Biology
You might have chosen your degree because of your interest in nature and our changing ecosystems, or perhaps the desire to make a positive impact on climate change. You could even have a passion to develop new sustainable solutions for farming, fuel and wastewater treatment.
Whatever your reasons were, as an environmental science or environmental biology student your degree will enable you to follow any number of different career paths.
What skills will I gain during my degree?
In addition to your subject-specific knowledge, your environmental science or environmental biology degree will equip you with a range of transferable skills including the ability to:
- Design and conduct field-based experiments demonstrating good field practices through clear note taking
- Discuss the social context and ethical considerations of environmental decision making
- Analyse and interpret large and varied data sets resulting from field and laboratory measurements.
Biosciences Core Graduate Competencies
You will also develop 12 competencies which have been divided into these four headings:
- Fundamental skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Personal aspiration and development
- Professional responsibility
Explore the Biosciences Core Graduate Competencies
How can I develop my skills and experience during my degree?
Consider a Year in Industry
If you are interested in working within the scientific sector, it is worth thinking about a year in industry. Placements take place between years two and three of your degree and help to develop your skills, gain practical experience of science in the workplace and expand your understanding of scientific industries.
Year in Industry
As part of this, it is possible to gain accreditation from the Science Council as a
Get a summer internship
If you’re thinking of moving into consultancy after graduation, the Nottingham Consultancy Challenge will provide you with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience within a team of managing a short-term project for a local business, charity of organisation.
Nottingham Consultancy Challenge
Sustainability Challenge
Summer internships are also a great way to gain experience, whether in science or non-science based roles. Search for roles:
Nottingham Internship Scheme
Sources of vacancies for internships
Try out some voluntary experience
Volunteering can help you to build your experience and develop new skills, as well as giving something back.
Explore summer research placements
If you’re interested in the scientific side of your degree, the summer research placements might be a good option for you. You can find these through the School of Biosciences by approaching a relevant academic who is working in the area you are interested in.
There are also sponsored opportunities and funding for summer research placements, visit:
Get involved in Students' Union activities
Involvement in relevant SU activities including volunteering, sports clubs and societies will always look good on your CV.
Join the Nottingham Advantage Award
Through the completion of extracurricular modules, the Nottingham Advantage Award helps you develop key life and work-based skills and reflect on your experiences, allowing you to demonstrate your achievements and skills more effectively when applying for jobs.
Nottingham Advantage Award - find out more and explore the modules on offer
Keep up to date with industry news
Knowing about the latest developments is important for a couple of reasons: firstly it may spark off your interest in a particular part of the sector and secondly, employers often ask questions about the factors that may be affecting their company at an interview as a way of gauging your interest in their business.
Apply for part-time jobs
The university advertises part-time, casual and temporary jobs on campus and with local businesses.
Created just for you, the advertised vacancies can fit around your studies and other commitments.
Part-time jobs
What are the range of careers I could enter?
Environmental science and environmental biology graduates enter a wide range of areas after graduation, including conservation, consultancy, project management, energy, education, agriculture, ecology and waste management. Find out more about the sub sectors of environmental careers.
Destinations of Nottingham graduates
Some of the employers who have recruited our graduates
- ADAS
- AHDB
- ARUP
- Charlotte Tilbury Beauty
- Environment Agency
- L&R Wildlife Trust
- Leicester City Council
- Mott MacDonald
- Nestlé
- Network Rail
- Nicholls Colton
- World One
Some of the roles secured by our graduates
- Assistant Ecologist
- Environment Officer
- Environmental Analyst
- Environmental Consultant
- Graduate Net Zero Consultant
- Graduate Project Officer
- Project Manager
- Safety Heath and Environmental Sustainability Graduate
- Sustainability Manager
- Technical Consultant
- Trainee Analyst
- Trainee Reserve Officer
What are my further study options? Watch our webinar on PhD study.
Each year a number of environmental science and environmental biology graduates start postgraduate courses either at Nottingham or other universities. Some examples of the types of courses Nottingham graduates study include:
- MSc Environmental Leadership and Management
- MSc Environmental Sustainability
- MSc Sustainable Energy Engineering
- MSc Biological Photography and Imaging
- PGCE Secondary Science with Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
- PhD Environmental Science
- PhD Plant and Crop Sciences
- PhD Geography
Search for further courses and find out about funding
Thinking about a PhD? How to get started and how to apply
In these two videos, Dr Judith Wayte from the 糖心原创 provides clear and wide-ranging advice on:
- how to get started: what to take into account, and how to gather relevant information
- on the application process and how to prepare for interviews
- Alumni: Email us to gain access to the webinar