Environmental Science and Environmental Biology

Measuring the pH and conductivity of Highfields lake

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.

MyCareer

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 Registered Scientist (RSci)

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:

My Career - internships from companies targeting Nottingham students

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.

Students’ Union: Volunteering

Environmentjob volunteering vacancies

Volunteer with the Wildlife Trusts

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:

Royal Society of Biology - undergraduate studentships

Get involved in Students' Union activities

Involvement in relevant SU activities including volunteering, sports clubs and societies will always look good on your CV.

Conservation and Nature Society

Environmental Science Society

Volunteering

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.

Institution of Environmental Sciences - FREE membership for UoN students

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: