Discover environmental conservation and sustainability, exploring the interactions of natural and socioeconomics systems.
Year of entry: 2019
F7LC
Y50
4 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
£9,250 per year (2018/19)
£21,330 per year (2019/20)
Get to know us better and find out what studying and living in York is really like.
Book nowEnvironment, 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 Institute of Environment 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.
Our Department has strong links to global policy makers including UNEP and WHO
Our core curriculum provides fundamental knowledge of ecological, and environmental economic 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.
The University has exchange agreements with a number of other universities across the world. Typically one or two students from the environment department study abroad every year in places such as Australia, Canada, the USA, Hong Kong and Singapore.
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.
All first year modules are core.
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'll choose 40 credits from the below options:
You can also choose option modules from a range of electives from other Departments.
You specialise further in Year 3 with a range of core and option modules.
You'll choose three option modules from the following:
Or you can replace some option modules with electives from other Departments.
In Year 4 you undertake further advanced training, vocational modules and a significant independent research project tailored to your research interests and career ambitions.
You'll choose one of the following:
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
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.
For me, the most important thing at York has been the community. You always feel like you’re part of a family.Chloe, second year student. Read more on Chloe's blog.
The fees and funding figures below are based on data from 2018 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year.
| UK/EU | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £21,330 |
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 will meet the full cost of flights in most cases. However, in certain circumstances, you may have to make a contribution.
UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK, EU or international student.
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.
We offer a number of scholarships to help cover tuition fees and living costs.
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.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. 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.
As a guide, students on this course typically spend their time as follows:
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures and seminars | 228 hours | 252 hours | 228 hours | 492 hours |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
The rest of your time on the course will be spent on independent study. This may include preparation for lectures and seminars, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours will vary from person to person. In UK higher education the expectation is that full-time students will spend 1200 hours a year learning.
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.
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.
Environment, Economics and Ecology graduates have progressed to careers in:
Some graduates opt to continue their studies at postgraduate level.
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
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| A levels | ABB or equivalent including two subjects from the following:
|
| GCSEs | GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above, or equivalent |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC | National Extended Diploma or QCF BTEC National Extended Diploma with DDM |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, M2, M2 |
| European Baccalaureate | Overall average of 75 per cent or higher |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points |
| Irish leaving Certificate | H2,H2,H3,H3,H3,H3 |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | AAABB without Advanced Highers AB + AABBB Advanced Highers and Highers |
IELTS
6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in all units
Pearson (PTE Academic)
61 overall and 51 in all parts
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
Grade A
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
Grade C
To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
All applications must be made through UCAS. Applicants who are offered a place are encouraged to attend one of the Departmental visit days during the Spring Term.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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