Discover environmental conservation and sustainability, exploring the interactions of natural and socioeconomic systems.
Year of entry: 2022/23
F7LC
Y50
4 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
Join us on campus to find out what life at York is really like.
Next Open Day: Friday 1 July
Book your placeEnvironment, Economics and Ecology is a unique interdisciplinary degree that advances your critical abilities to tackle real-world environmental challenges, manage economic and social pressures in a sustainable manner, and integrate the benefits that people derive from the environment into policy decisions and practice.
It focuses on ecosystem services as the linkages between human and natural systems, and the need for a holistic socio-ecological approach to understand challenges and solutions to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences.
Our staff collaborate with a broad range of private and public organisations including UNEP, DEFRA, Forestry Commission, Natural England, Overseas Development Institute, Willis Global Insurance Broker.
The Stockholm Environment Institute at York is based in our Department and is among the top think tanks on environmental policy in the world. As a student here you may be taught by staff from the institute and may have the opportunity to carry out your research project with them.
Our Department has strong links to global policy makers including UNEP and WHO
We're proud to announce that we've been shortlisted for two prestigious University of the Year awards.
Our core curriculum provides fundamental knowledge of ecology, economics and social sciences, as well as training in a range of technical skills required for careers in these areas. You can select among a broad range of knowledge and skills-based options to develop your understanding of effective approaches to local and global sustainability.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
The first year modules introduce you to the main ideas and concepts giving you the foundation to progress to more advanced material in later years.
You will take core modules which may include:
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
You will take a range of core modules to develop your knowledge of the environment, economics and ecology. You can then begin to tailor your degree to your own interests with a choice of option modules.
You will also study two option modules. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:
You can also choose option modules from a range of electives from other Departments.
The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. For further information please get in touch.
You'll specialise further in Year 3 preparing for your potential career. You'll chose the subject of your independent research project and chose from a range of option modules to focus on those areas which interest you.
You will take core modules which may include:
You will also study two option modules. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:
Or you can replace some option modules with electives from other Departments.
The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. For further information please get in touch.
In Year 4 you'll undertake further advanced training, vocational modules and a significant independent research project tailored to your research interests and career ambitions.
You will also study two option modules. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:
The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. For further information please get in touch.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Our course structures are changing in September 2023. Find out more about how this course may be affected.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The fees and funding figures below are for 2022/23 entry. If you take a placement year - for example a year abroad or a year in industry - you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £24,000 |
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
Field work is integral to your course, so in Years 1 and 2, there are core residential field trips. The travel and accommodation costs of these are included in your student fees.* Compulsory trips include both residential and day trips. Optional field trips are not paid for, and you will be asked to contribute to the cost of these.
* The Department covers the costs of flights up to a maximum based on typical flight costs from regional airports bought in good time
| Type | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Textbooks | Optional additional expense | £100 |
| Field trips | Included in course fees | £0 |
| Travel to non-UoY locations | Optional additional expense | £0 |
| Specialist clothing, uniforms, lab coats, laundry... | Included in course fees | £0 |
| Equipment/facility hire and insurance | Included in course fees | £0 |
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2022/23 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Teaching includes field-based learning, research-led teaching and a more traditional combination of lectures, tutorials, and seminars. Practical work is a key feature, both in individual projects and in groups.
Field trips form an important part of your course, with excursions (residential and non-residential) each year.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 4-6 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 1-2 hours per week |
| Workshops | 2-4 hours per week |
| Practicals | 2-4 hours per week |
| Field trips | 1 week |
These figures are based on an average student in an average week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities. Our course structures are changing in September 2023. Find out more about how this course may be affected.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during term time. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
Our state-of-the-art building contains purpose-built labs, lecture theatres and seminar rooms.
You will be based in the Department of Environment and Geography, which is based on Campus West.
Your contact hours will be divided between the Department of Environment and Geography, the Department of Biology and other locations nearby.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Each module will be assessed either by coursework, closed examination or a combination of both. Coursework can include:
In your final year, you will complete an independent research project based on your interests and career aspirations.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 35% | 54% | 17% | 8% |
| Coursework | 60% | 39% | 78% | 89% |
| Practical exams | 5% | 7% | 5% | 3% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17. Our course structures are changing in September 2023. Find out more about how this course may be affected.
Our superb, £12.5m state-of-the-art building contains purpose-built labs, lecture theatre and seminar rooms as well as featuring a spectacular living wall
Academic and industry speakers are invited to talk about key and policy-relevant areas of environmental research
Get a taste of university-level study on one of York's free short courses, including our subject course, 'Tackling environmental challenges for a sustainable future'.
Your degree will equip you with the specialist skills and knowledge for a career in environmental management or a related field. Many of our graduates also find careers in other areas with the transferable skills they learn during this course. Find out more about careers and employability.
My degree has provided me with a good mix of both hard and transferable skills. The numerical skills I gained – such as applied statistics and mathematics – as well as the fact checking and research skills are part of my role today.Graham Neale Contracts Officer National Grid Environment
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | ABB including one of the following subjects: Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher including Business, Economics or Science-related units. |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDM. Please contact us at ug-admissions@york.ac.uk for details on whether your BTEC will be considered for entry. |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, M2, M2 including one of the following subjects: Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology |
| European Baccalaureate | 75% overall including one of the following subjects: Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points including one of the following subjects: Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology at Higher level |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
You should also have GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above, or equivalent.
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| Core Maths | If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Duolingo | 110 overall, with a minimum of 100 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT | B2 Communicator High Pass with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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