| UCAS code | N116 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Penryn Campus |
| Discipline | Business and Management |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB - BBB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB - BCC |
| UCAS code | N118 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Penryn Campus |
| Discipline | Business and Management |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB - BBB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB - BCC |
| UCAS code | N117 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Penryn Campus |
| Discipline | Business and Management |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB - BBB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB - BCC |
Overview
Our mission: to prepare future leaders to drive sustainable business.
A pioneering programme: at the forefront of sustainable business and management education; part of a world leading centre for sustainability.
Interdisciplinary experience: equipping you with essential business skills, complemented by a deep understanding of the balance between business, society, and nature.
Flexible studies: 45 credits of optional modules in years 2 and 3, tailored to your interests and career aspirations.
Highly employable graduates: capable of confidently navigating the transition towards a more sustainable economy.
Beautiful location: study at our Penryn campus in Cornwall, a hub of environmental and social sustainability expertise, close to the sea and areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Business School of the Year
Times Higher Education Awards 2022
Top 10 for Business and Management
9th in The Complete University Guide 2025
All Business School departments are top 10 for graduate prospects
The Complete University Guide 2025
Triple accredited Business School
AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS
Business School of the Year
Times Higher Education Awards 2022
Top 10 for Business and Management
9th in The Complete University Guide 2025
All Business School departments are top 10 for graduate prospects
The Complete University Guide 2025
Triple accredited Business School
AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS
Entry requirements (typical offer)
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | AAB - BBB | N/A |
| IB | 34/665 - 30/555 | N/A |
| BTEC | DDD - DDM | N/A |
| GCSE | C or 4 B or 5 |
Grade C or 4 in English Language, and Grade B or 5 in Mathematics (or: GCE A-level/AS Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Pure Mathematics or Core Mathematics) |
| Access to HE | 30 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade - 24 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade. | N/A |
| T-Level | Distinction | N/A |
| Contextual Offer | A-Level: BBB - BCC |
Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers. |
| Other accepted qualifications | ||
| English language requirements |
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B1. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country. |
|
NB General Studies is not included in any offer.
Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply
The Business School in Cornwall is future facing which I think is needed for a Business degree in the 21st century. It is not just looking at ideologies and theories but actually putting it into practice.
Living in Cornwall is an absolute dream. You have outstanding beauty on your doorstep and some of the best beaches in the UK. There is also an amazing heritage and culture in Cornwall. At the Penryn Campus, you combine learning in a space of outstanding beauty with opportunities you wouldn’t get at other universities such as sailing and surfing. It is a match made in heaven.
Matt
BSc Business and Environment
Course content
BSc Business and Environment focuses on the interdependence of business and the natural environment. It equips business leaders of tomorrow with the skills and insights to tackle the most pressing challenges facing society.
This course examines how business needs to change in order to address intensifying environmental issues and to achieve a sustainable economy. It is designed for anyone interested in becoming an adaptable and resilient leader, wishing to contribute to long-term ethical solutions. The programme is interdisciplinary, covering a range of topics including:
- Ecological economics and how business can contribute towards tackling the ecological crisis.
- Environmental science and how data helps us gain new insights into the eco-systems that support our lives.
- Climate justice and the role of environmental laws, regulation and policies in shaping our relationship with nature.
You’ll be part of a seminar-style international learning community, resulting in stronger peer networks with learning reinforced through one-to-one interaction with lecturers and researchers.
What do our students think?
“Being interdisciplinary, BSc Business and the Environment encompasses a diverse range of topics, from ecological economics to environmental science. This, combined with a high level of module flexibility, has opened up a wide range of career options for me, whilst enabling me to study what I'm most passionate about.” - Isaac
“I think that BSc Business and the Environment is so special because it provides us with such a variety of modules and allows us to build a wider and stronger range of knowledge. I have loved the experience and really enjoyed exploring topics I may not have explored if I didn't take this programme.” - Olivia
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
You may take option modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
120 credits of compulsory modules, 0 credits of optional modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEP1150 | Environment, Society and Business | 30 |
| LAW1016C | A Legal Foundation for Environmental Protection | 15 |
| BEP1070 | Accounting | 15 |
| BEP1100 | Understanding Work and Organisations | 15 |
| GEO1419 | Introduction to data science | 15 |
| GEO1408B | Global Issues in Environmental Science | 15 |
| POC1026 | Power, Inequality and Global Justice | 15 |
75 credits of compulsory modules, 45 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEP2060 | Research Inquiry for Practice | 15 |
| BEP2150 | Ecological Economics | 15 |
| BEP2040 | Strategic Concepts for Business | 15 |
| BEP2210 | Circular Enterprise Economy | 15 |
| BIO2406 | Biodiversity and Conservation | 15 |
Optional modules
a You must select at least 15 credits of optional modules from this list of Environmental modules
b You must select at least 15 credits of optional modules from this list of Business modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BSc Business and Environment optional modules S2 24-25 envinronment modules [See note a above] | ||
| GEO2440 | Geographical Information Science and Systems | 15 |
| BIO2425 | Introduction to Ecological Consultancy | 15 |
| GEO2441 | Remote Sensing for Environmental Management | 15 |
| GEO2451 | Ice Sheets: Glaciology, Climate and the Oceans | 15 |
| LAW2016C | Environmental Regulation and Redress | 15 |
| POC2114 | Green Politics in Theory and Practice | 15 |
| GEO2463 | Hazards and Human Society | 15 |
| GEO2445 | Rural Social Issues | 15 |
| GEO2444 | Landscape Evolution | 15 |
| GEO2450 | Biogeography | 15 |
| GEO2458 | People and Nature | 15 |
| GEO2454 | Waste and Society | 15 |
| GEO2456 | Social and Cultural Geographies | 15 |
| ECE2001 | Oceans and Human Health | 15 |
| BSc Business and Environment optional modules S2 24-25 business modules [See note b above] | ||
| BEP2050 | Finance for Business | 15 |
| BEP2190 | Understanding Financial Statements | 15 |
| BEP2030 | Business Practice (Placement/Work Experience Project) | 15 |
| BEP2070 | Social Enterprise Management | 15 |
| BEP2110 | Workplace Wellbeing | 15 |
| LAW2115C | Legal Foundations for Sustainable Business | 15 |
| BEP2120 | Digital Technologies and the Future of Work | 15 |
| BEP2300 | History of Black Entrepreneurship | 15 |
| BEP2020 | Project Management | 15 |
| BEP2140 | Business Analytics | 15 |
This degree offers you the opportunity to spend a year working in a related industry or studying abroad.
If you choose one of these options your placement year will take place in your third year, before returning to complete your degree at Exeter in your fourth and final year of study.
You can apply directly to one of these options via UCAS, or you can apply to the standard 3 year course and transfer onto one of these options in the first term of your first year.
75 credits of compulsory modules, 45 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEP3011 | Business and Climate Change | 15 |
| BEP3020 | Practice-Based Consultancy Management | 15 |
| BEP3130 | Biomimicry | 15 |
| BEP3050 | Future-Facing Dissertation/Project | 30 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BSc Business and Environment optional modules S3/4 24-25 | ||
| GEO3455 | Marine Climate and Environmental Change | 15 |
| BEP3090 | Business Field Trip | 15 |
| BEP3010 | Social and Technological Innovation | 15 |
| BEP3070 | Crisis: Change and Creativity in Organisations | 15 |
| BEP3110 | Marketing Strategy | 15 |
| BEP3171 | The Economy of Space | 15 |
| BIO3428 | The Complexity of Human Societies | 15 |
| BIO3411 | Science in Society | 15 |
| BIO3415 | Ecological Responses to Climate Change | 15 |
| GEO3437B | Climate Change and Society | 15 |
| GEO3475 | Sustainable Cities | 15 |
| GEO3461 | Arctic Frontiers: Can We Preserve the Arctic Environment? | 15 |
| LAW3016C | Legal Response to Environmental Destruction | 15 |
| GEO3470 | Marine and Coastal Social-ecological systems | 15 |
| BEP3030 | Globalisation and Internationalisation | 15 |
| BEP3040 | Local-Global Innovation (Cornwall Research Seminar Series) | 15 |
| BEP3172 | Future 17: Sustainable Development Goals Challenge | 15 |
| ECE3001 | Living with Environmental Change | 15 |
| ECE3002 | Frontiers of Global Health | 15 |
| BEP3003 | Sustainability Accounting and Reporting | 15 |
Course variants
Our Business and the Environment degree offers you the opportunity to spend a year working in a related industry or studying abroad.
If you choose one of these options your placement year will take place in your third year, before returning to complete your degree at Exeter in your fourth and final year of study.
You can apply directly to one of these options using the UCAS codes below, or you can apply to the standard Business and the Environment course and transfer onto one of these options in the first term of your first year.
UCAS code: N118
Why choose a year in industry?
- Gain a proven work history that is excellent to discuss at job interviews and gives you a head start in the working world
- Get paid! Typical salaries range from £19,000 to £23,000 but can extend from £15,000 to £52,000
- Over 50% of students are offered graduate jobs from their placement employer
- 97% of With Industrial Experience graduates were in graduate employment or postgraduate study within 6 months of graduating, compared to 93.5% of non-WIE graduates (DLHE 2017)
- Increase your confidence and resilience, and make friends for life
What does a year in industry mean for me?
The ‘With Industrial Experience’ (WIE) pathway is a four-year version of your degree, in which your third year is spent in a professional placement before returning to university for your fourth and final year. The Business School Careers Team supports you every step of the way, helping you identify placement providers, create a strong application, practice interview techniques, and support you while you are in placement. The placement year assessment currently comprises of:
- Progress reports provided by employers
- A reflective essay
- A business report
How do I secure a placement and where can I go?
You are responsible for sourcing and securing a work placement, but you will be supported throughout by the Business School Careers Team and assigned an academic tutor for the duration of your placement. Placements are available internationally. Previous placement providers include Adidas, Apple, ASOS, Bank of England, Deloitte, Disney, EY, GlaxoSmithKline, Goldman Sachs, PwC
Does it count towards my degree?
The placement year is assessed and contributes 1/7th of your final degree classification when you graduate.
Does it affect my tuition fee?
During your placement year you will pay a reduced tuition fee of approximately 20% of the maximum fee for that year. Find out more on our tuition fee webpages.
How do I apply?
‘With Industrial Experience’ is available on all our undergraduate programmes. You can apply through UCAS or ask to transfer onto WIE in the first term of your first year. Find out more on our Careers pages.
Other work experience options
If you choose not to undertake the four-year WIE pathway, there are other ways to gain work experience, from the Business Internships and Placements Module, to summer internships. Find out more on our careers pages.
UCAS code: N117
Why choose a year abroad?
- In a complex and hyper-connected world, it is more important than ever to demonstrate a global outlook to employers
- A report by Universities UK International shows that graduates who are mobile during their degree are more likely to earn more than non-mobile peers
- Broaden your perspective in a way that benefits you for life: accelerating your resilience and flexibility, developing your ability to communicate across cultures, and demonstrating that you take the initiative
- We find students return from their year abroad with heightened self-confidence and an impressive work ethic.
What does a year abroad mean for me?
The ‘With Year Abroad’ (WYA) pathway is a four year version of your degree, in which your third year is spent studying at one of our 60 partner universities (spanning 26 countries), before returning to university for your fourth and final year. There is also the opportunity to combine study and work abroad, doing a semester of study at one of our partner universities followed by a semester of work in a placement that you secure anywhere in the world. The Business School Study Abroad Team supports you every step of the way, helping you to decide where to go, create a strong application, and supporting you while you are abroad.
Where can I go?
We have partners in: Canada, USA, Mexico, Peru, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Slovenia, Italy, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand
Does it count towards my degree
The placement year is assessed and contributes 1/7th of your final degree classification when you graduate.
Does it affect my tuition fees?
If you spend a full academic year studying abroad you will pay a reduced fee of approximately 15% of the maximum fee for that year.
How do I apply?
Year abroad options are available on all our undergraduate programmes. You can apply for the four year ‘With Year Abroad’ variant of your degree through UCAS or ask to transfer onto the WYA programme in your first year. Acceptance is dependent on satisfactory academic performance and the level of research you have undertaken into your chosen institution. Find out more on our study abroad webpages.
Other study abroad options
If you choose not to undertake the full year studying abroad, there are other ways to gain a taste of the study abroad experience. You can spend two to six weeks at one of our international partner universities. Find out more on our study abroad webpages.
Fees
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
UK students: £9,535 per year
International students: £24,700 per year
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.
Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.
* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
I have loved living in Cornwall, I truly understand what attracts visitors to it during the holidays: the friendly locals, beautiful beaches, locally owned businesses and great food. Cornwall’s diverse geological landscape makes it an ideal terrain to study the many natural science and ecological degrees offered on campus.
My programme has an overarching Business and Environmental Science focus made up of relevant transdisciplinary modules, which I believe is not only crucially relevant and important within the challenge of climate change we are currently experiencing, but also allows for obtaining unique skills and perspectives which can be applied in any type of business setting.
Liné
BSc Business and Environment
Learning and teaching
How will I learn?
Although lectures are one of the main forms of teaching, you will also learn through participation in workshops, tutorials and seminars. As well as tackling case studies, discussing current issues in business and debating key theories, you will also develop presentation, team working, communication and problem solving skills. You’ll have a personal tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies.
Study hours
Timetabled contact hours, made up of lectures, seminars and tutorials, vary over the duration of programmes and between programmes and are on average between 11 and 14 hours. In addition, you will be expected to complete an average of 20-25 hours of independent or group study per week.
How will I be assessed?
Modules are assessed through a mixture of:
- Group work
- Coursework
- Project work
- Presentations
- Examinations
The weighting of these components varies according the module. Coursework is typically between 2,500 and 6,000 words in length, and exams are usually held at the end of the module in January and May/June.
First year assessments
You have to pass the assessments in your first year to proceed to the second year but they do not count towards your final degree classification.
Where will I study?
You will study on our beautiful Penryn Campus in Cornwall, the South of England.
Optional modules outside of this course
Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.
Proficiency in a second subject
If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.
- A Foreign Language
- Data Science
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation
- Law (Penryn Campus only)
- Leadership
- Management
- Social Data Science
Your future
The University of Exeter Business School provides a range of careers and employability support for Undergraduate students. Visit the Business School Career Zone web page for more information.
Global opportunities
The BSc Business and Environment degree adopts an international outlook meaning you will develop an understanding of the global business environment. Combined with the opportunity to study abroad or work a year in industry, you will be well-placed to work for local or international companies.
Careers
The wide range of business, management and environmental skills developed throughout the Programme will result in flexible employment options including roles such as project manager, marketing manager and sales manager. You will have employment advantages in private companies, public organisations, investment banks, NGOs, and third-sector industries, including key areas for Cornwall such as, water, renewables and food supply chain.
This combination of ethical, work-based, and global skills will create students who can compete at the highest levels and progress onto graduate Programmes to become CSR managers, change managers and environmental consultants.
Your degree demonstrates that you have the following professional skills
- Understanding of organisations and the environment they operate within, with an appreciation for the changing needs of modern business.
- Proven ability to work with modern data technologies and critically appraise challenges.
- Being able to identify and confidently communicate management strategies to provide sustainable solutions to complex business problems
- Excellent teamwork and communication skills including negotiation as well as sensitivity to the diversity of people and cultures.
- Project management, leadership and consultancy skills applicable to a range of fields.
