Overview

If you want a sound science degree that also takes you teaching and guiding outdoor activities, this unique degree has been designed for you.

The University of Stirling is a superb place to study Environmental Science, with our history of innovation in environmental research and study. This course blends the academic elements of our Environmental Science degree with practical training in navigation and outdoor safety. You’ll learn how to design, lead and deliver outdoor programmes with environmental and ecological learning outcomes.

You’ll explore global environmental issues, contemporary environmental science, landscape evolution, and scientific techniques.

Our leading mountaineering instructors and outdoor specialists will teach you outdoor leadership, mountain skills and environmental education.You'll have the opportunity to gain the Mountain Leader Award, endorsed by the Mountain Training Association. This is a physically demanding course requiring a certain level of health, fitness and mobility.

This is a unique degree that offers a solid grounding in environmental science complemented with outdoor experience and leadership –balancing scientific training with broad career opportunities.

Daniel Souto, BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Outdoor Education

Top reasons to study with us

#1 Our specially designed degree blends modules across Outdoor Education, Geography and Environmental Science

#2 We’ve strong links with conservation and environmental management employers

#3 You’ll learn from some of the UK’s top mountaineering instructors and outdoor educators

Professional accreditation

The Mountain Leader Award is recognised by the Mountain Training Association and the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA).

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for your country/region

Please select your country/region of residence:

Course details

We blend lecture-based teaching, substantial field-based learning about the environment and practical training in navigation, mountain hazards and outdoor safety. We’ll also train you to design and deliver outdoor courses with environmental and ecological learning outcomes.

We’ve strong links with conservation and environmental management employers, giving you the opportunity to get hands-on experience working with industrial partners during your degree.

In the outdoor education components you’ll learn from some of the UK’s top mountaineering instructors and outdoor educators. The optional but included Summer Mountain Leader Award requires you to complete a minimum of 40 quality mountain days.

This degree requires a high level of health, fitness and mobility and a commitment to outdoor pursuits (in particular, mountain walking).

We’ve a proud history of innovation in Environmental Science. University of Stirling was one of the first universities to establish a degree course in Environmental Science in 1980 and we are still committed to training graduates with the skills valued by employers today. We offer the only Environmental Science MSci course in Scotland, which is accredited by the Institution for Environmental Sciences (IES).

Modules

The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery in the next academic intake of this course. These may be subject to change as the University regularly revises and refreshes the curriculum of our taught programmes.

Course details

Teaching

We've been awarded five star excellence for our teaching by the QS World University Rankings 2020.

You'll be taught through a mix of lectures, field and laboratory practical exercises and tutorials. You'll have the opportunity to gain work-based experience as part of your degree, which will count towards your degree progression.

Fieldwork

You’ll spend a considerable amount of time out in our exceptional Scottish landscapes, both on fieldtrips and gaining experience for your Mountain Leader Award.

The course includes an optional five-day fieldtrip in the UK in Year 2, and the option for field classes in Spain or Iceland in Year 3. Costs for these are subsidised, but a financial contribution is required.

The Outdoor Education modules are taught primarily via residential field classes, which take place in some of Scotland’s most stunning locations.

Assessment

Coursework assessments include outdoor education lesson planning, landscape interpretation and preparing environmental consultancy reports. This’ll give you highly relevant training for employment as you study for your degree.

Study abroad

In addition to the exchange opportunities available to all Stirling students, Environmental Geography has a well-established exchange programme with universities including the University of Guelph in Canada and the University of Fairbanks, Alaska.

There are also options for an Erasmus exchange to universities in Sweden and Germany. During Year 3 you can spend one or two semesters abroad where you study courses equivalent to those taken at Stirling and have the opportunity to broaden your environmental and cultural experience.

Find out more about studying abroad.

Contact

Dr Alan Law, Programme Director for Outdoor Education Degrees

+44 (0) 1786 467770

alan.law1@stir.ac.uk

Fees and funding

Fees and costs

Select fee status:

Academic year:	2019/20	2020/21
Scottish/EU students	£1,820*	£1,820^*
Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland	£9,250*	£9,250^*
Overseas (non-EU) students	£14,820	£15,600

*This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.

You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.

Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, students domiciled in Scotland or the EU will be able to apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have tuition fees paid by the Scottish government on their behalf. If you’re unsure of your fee status, you can check your eligibility online.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you’ll be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Note for EU students

The Scottish Government has confirmed that EU students enrolling in the 2020/21 academic year will be entitled to free tuition fees in Scotland. EU students will retain that status for the duration of their four year degree. The University will make decisions on fee levels for EU students enrolling in 2021/22 when further guidance is available from the Scottish and UK Governments, and we will publish any updates on our University and Europe information pages.

* This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.

You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. We also offer additional funding – such as our Honours Year Scholarship – for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. See our funding opportunities below for more information.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Additional costs

There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.

We subsidise costs for fieldtrips, but you’ll be required to make a financial contribution.

Funding opportunities

See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.

Students domiciled in Scotland and the EU

The University of Stirling offers undergraduate funding opportunities for students domiciled in Scotland or the EU. To find out if you’re eligible to apply for an award, use our scholarship finder.

Students domiciled in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (RUK)

The Undergraduate Choice Scholarship provides a £1,000 cash award to all students from England, Wales or Northern Ireland who meet the conditions of their offer and select the University of Stirling as their Firm or Insurance choice on UCAS.

The University also offers the Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, which is awarded to selected students and provides a £1,000 cash award per year for years 1-3 of study. To be considered for the Merit Scholarship, students require a minimum of AAB at A-level or equivalent.

In addition, students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who enter in year 1 and progress successfully through years 2 and 3 will receive our Honours Year Scholarship, which covers the cost of undergraduate tuition fees in the Honours year of study.

You don’t need to apply for the awards listed above - we'll automatically identify your eligibility as part of the admissions process.

To explore other scholarships and learn more about funding opportunities, use our scholarship finder.

Students domiciled overseas

The University of Stirling offers generous undergraduate funding opportunities for overseas students. To find out if you're eligible to apply for an award, use our scholarship finder.

Cost of living

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

EU and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling.

Payment options

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.

After you graduate

What jobs can you get with an Environmental Science and Outdoor Education degree?

Our combined approach for this degree will allow you to enter a wide range of relevant careers, from outdoor instructor through to environmental consultant or ecologist. Graduates have found work as countryside rangers, guides and environmental science or geography educators (raising public awareness of environmental issues), and other careers specific to outdoor education.

In addition, students will be prepared for employment in the same professions as our standard Environmental Geography and Environmental Science graduates, such as education, conservation and the environment, science and technology, travel and related occupations, and sports and fitness.

Our course will give you the foundation for graduate entry to postgraduate taught and research degree courses in the environmental field.

This course is not designed to train you to become an outdoor instructor. However, you may wish to gain additional qualifications independently (e.g. SPA or BCU awards) or undertake a suitable postgraduate programme in outdoor education which would qualify you for this type of career.

Stirling is ranked in the top 5 in Scotland for Geography and Environmental Sciences (Guardian University Guide 2020)
The University of Stirling consistently earns five QS Stars for employability, with more than 97% of our students in employment or further education within six months of graduating. (HESA DLHE 2016/17)

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BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Outdoor Education

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

Professional accreditation

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for your country/region

Course details

Modules

Course details

Teaching

Fieldwork

Assessment

Study abroad

Contact

Fees and funding

Fees and costs

Note for EU students

Additional costs

Funding opportunities

Cost of living

Payment options

After you graduate

What jobs can you get with an Environmental Science and Outdoor Education degree?

Discover Uni

Flexible study

What next?

BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Outdoor Education

Discover Uni

Flexible study

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What next?