Environmental Science at Sheffield
Our courses pull together the environmental expertise of two internationally-renowned departments – the Department of Geography and the Department of Animal & Plant Sciences – with over 60 academic staff at the forefront of environmental research and the application of environmental techniques.
Our staff inform their teaching with the latest research findings and developments to provide a stimulating, state-of-the-art, and research-led teaching and learning experience. We aim to produce graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to take advantage of a very wide range of career opportunities in environmental science, whether in industry, consultancy, research or education.
Our teaching and impact
In 2010 and 2011, in excess of 85% of our Environmental Science graduates were awarded a 2:1 or greater. Both departments were rated Excellent in the latest Teaching Quality Assessment and student satisfaction rates in the core environmental science teaching areas of Physical Geography and Biological Sciences are 98% according to the 2011 National Student Survey (NSS).
We are ranked 4th in the UK for the impact of our published research over the past decade in the subject areas of Environment and Ecology. The most recent world-ranking using the same criteria placed us 7th globally and ranked second among UK universities.
(Times Higher Education Supplement, July 2011 and June 2008)
About our departments
The Department of Animal & Plant Sciences is one of the largest and most successful departments of its type in the UK. The department was ranked joint-3rd in the UK in RAE 2008 and has outstanding modern teaching and research facilities. The department ranks on average 3rd for Biological Sciences in the UK according to The Times Good University Guide 2003–2011.
The Department of Geography was founded in 1908 and is located in a modern purpose-built building on the edge of Weston Park. The 2011 NSS placed the department at the top of the Russell Group of leading UK universities and the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008) placed us firmly within the top-10 geography departments in the UK.
Our courses
We offer two courses: a three-year undergraduate BSc Environmental Science and a four-year undergraduate MEnvSci Masters in Environmental Science. Both courses are accredited by the Institute of Environmental Sciences (IES).
Applications to our four-year Masters course are considered for both courses. In addition, applicants holding an offer of a place on our four-year course are guaranteed an alternative place on our three-year course, provided that the appropriate course requirements are met.