This multidisciplinary MSc programme provides underpinning knowledge of the physical and chemical operation of Earth’s oceans, atmosphere, climate and terrestrial water cycle, and the ways that human activities are disturbing these systems. The development of this understanding is coupled with training in the essential skills of scientific research, critical analysis and communication, coding, and data analysis and visualisation, which will equip students to enter professions requiring contextual knowledge of environmental systems to solve related problems, inform policy or continue to further study. Students can select across a range of modules to either develop a broad understanding of Earth system processes and their representation in numerical models, or to develop understanding of more regionally important issues like air quality and groundwater, in addition to skills in environmental assessment, data acquisition and analysis.
The core taught components of the course are delivered in three modules and cover critical thinking and science communication, coding for data analysis and visualisation, environmental field data collection and interpretation and the societal context of environmental problems and potential solutions.
The optional modules on the course cover a wide range of specialist topics, which are grouped into three categories: Global Earth system processes and their representation in numerical models (e.g., ocean, atmosphere, terrestrial biosphere, biogeochemical cycles), regional processes with a more applied component (e.g., air quality, groundwater), and skills (e.g., machine learning and statistics, environmental assessment, geographical information systems, remote sensing). Students can select across all optional modules* or choose selected groups of modules designed to develop skills in Earth systems and numerical modelling or focus on the more applied and skills-based aspects of environmental science practice.
The final component of the course is an independent research project. Projects ideas are developed with supervisors in semester 2 and completed in semester 3 and can be offered in a wide range of areas from primary data collection, computer modelling, database interrogation, and policy-oriented literature reviews. Projects can be formatted as either a scientific paper or a technical report plus policy brief, provided the format is appropriate to the study.
The knowledge and skills you’ll acquire throughout the course can lead to careers in consultancy, the public sector and regulatory bodies, non-governmental bodies, industry and further research.
* As long as a credit balance between semesters is maintained and pre-requisites for individual modules are met.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOEE5025M | Environmental Science Practice | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| SOEE5035M | Environmental Science Research Project | 60 | 1 Feb to 30 Sep | PFP |
| SOEE5710M | Advanced Data Analysis and Visualisation for Environmental Applications | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| SOEE5915M | Scientific Quality and Discourse | 15 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study 75 credits of optional modules.
Semester 1 optional module basket
Choose 30 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEOG5052M | Environmental Data Visualisation & Analysis | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| SOEE5081M | Air Quality Drivers and Processes | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| SOEE5232M | Biogeochemical Cycles of the Earth System | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| SOEE5836M | Advanced Atmosphere and Ocean Climate Change Processes | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Semester 2 optional module basket
Choose 45 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEOG5710M | Digital Image Processing for Environmental Remote Sensing | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| GEOG5830M | Environmental Assessment | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SOEE5283M | Sustainable Groundwater Futures | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SOEE5680M | Dynamics of Weather Systems | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SOEE5970M | Terrestrial Biosphere in the Earth System | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| SOEE5980M | Machine Learning and Statistics | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Last updated: 29/04/2025 13:17:01
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