Undergraduate degrees in environment and geography

Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/environment-geography/study/undergraduate/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/subject-explorer/

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The environment sustains all life, supporting biodiversity, regulating the climate, and providing resources essential for human health, agriculture and the global economy.

Climate data shows we're in the middle of a worsening crisis. This is intensifying other global challenges, including environmental damage, food shortages, and inequality.

Studying environment and geography will enable you to analyse the complex relationships between physical landscapes, ecosystems and the social, economic and political forces that shape them. We will equip you with the confidence, skills and knowledge to devise interdisciplinary solutions. We'll help you build your personal and professional networks to succeed in a fulfilling career.

Our courses

Our teaching covers the natural, physical and social sciences. The majority of our courses are accredited by the Institute of Environmental Sciences (the-ies.org).

Contact us

Environment, Economics and Ecology courses

Environmental Science courses

Human Geography and Environment courses

Physical Geography and Environment courses

Global Development courses

Global Development (BA)

Ecology and Conservation Biology courses

or search all undergraduate courses

Course options

Most of our undergraduate courses are available as three year Bachelors degrees or four-year integrated masters (MEnv). There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course. You'll also have the chance to take a placement year.

If you're studying at a university outside the UK, you may be able to spend up to a year in York as a visiting student.

https://youtu.be/5o317odlGas

Scholarships and funding

Find out about scholarships and studentships that are available to students in the Department of Environment and Geography.

Undergraduate funding

2nd for 'Academic Support'

among Russell Group universities included in the National Student Survey 2024 for Physical Geographical Sciences.

Joint 2nd for research impact

according to the Times Higher Education's ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

5th for 'Assessment and Feedback'

among Russell Group universities included in the National Student Survey 2024 for Environmental Sciences.

Athena Swan Silver Award

for our continuous commitment to equality.

Our facilities

Our research labs are designed for analytical chemistry, environmental sample handling and preparation. We also have experimental areas dedicated to microbiology, physical geography, environmental fate, and microscopy. There is also a suite of specialised, constant-temperature rooms that replicate environmental conditions.

Depending on your course, you might also access facilities in the Departments of Politics and Biology. The teaching labs focus on the environmental chemistry of water, soil and air, as well as ecology and environmental biology. They are also used for practical work in geography and geology.

You'll have access to all of our research labs when working on your final-year project. Our experienced technical staff are on hand to supervise and support you, with expertise across our teaching areas. We also have social spaces with kitchen facilities for you to use while you study.

Sustainable and inclusive fieldtrips

Field trips are an integral part of studying an environment and geography programme. They allow you to take the theoretical knowledge gained from lectures and apply it in the field.

They provide valuable hands-on experience to practice different analysis techniques, develop leadership skills, and improve teamwork in diverse environmental and social settings.

We recognise the importance of making our teaching activities, especially field trips, more eco-friendly. We are committed to lowering the carbon footprint of these trips while also ensuring they are fair and inclusive.

Learn more about field trips

Careers

Our Careers and Employability team will support you throughout your degree with workshops, application help, one-to-one appointments, guest speakers and networking events. We integrate employability into the curriculum, working with academic staff, the University careers service and industry partners to help you to develop relevant skills.

Our strong connections with local, national and international businesses ensure you gain real-world experience and understand how to apply their knowledge. We maintain relationships with alumni who return to share their success in roles such as:

Environmental Consultant
Sustainability Project Manager
Graduate Ecologist

Learn more about careers and employability

Find your career advantage: Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we’ll help you succeed.

Student and graduate stories

Hear what our students and graduates have to say about studying with us.

Our lecturer explained how the landscape had formed while we sketched, which linked the exercise to our studies of geomorphology. I find it really interesting to learn which processes are responsible for the landforms we see.

Bec, BSc Environmental Geography. Read Bec's blog post.

This summer, I was selected for an eight-week internship with ECORISC. I got to do field trips doing river sampling in the Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Moors and the Lake District.

Nic, BSc Biology. Read Nic's blog post.

Free online courses

Get a taste of studying environment and geography with our online course. You'll discover how our research at the University of York is helping to develop sustainable solutions to environmental problems.