| UCAS code | C305 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Penryn Campus |
| Discipline | Ecology and Conservation |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBC Prof. Placement/Study Abroad: |
| UCAS code | C307 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Penryn Campus |
| Discipline | Ecology and Conservation |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBC Prof. Placement/Study Abroad: |
| UCAS code | C306 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Penryn Campus |
| Discipline | Ecology and Conservation |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBC Prof. Placement/Study Abroad: |
Overview
- Learn from leading experts across natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
- Tailor your degree with a range of optional modules and choose your dissertation focus to graduate with a BA or BSc.
- Study at our Penryn Campus, home to the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI), a leading research centre tackling environmental challenges.
- Examine sustainability challenges at local, regional, and global scales, fostering a deep understanding of interconnected social and ecological systems.
- Develop skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary collaboration, preparing you for careers in sustainability, environmental management, and beyond.
4th in the world for Ecology
Shanghai Rankings Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024
Top 15 in the UK for Geography and Environmental Science
11th in the Complete University Guide 2025
Study climate change, biodiversity, business, and environmental policy
Gain interdisciplinary skills and knowledge to address critical global challenges
4th in the world for Ecology
Shanghai Rankings Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024
Top 15 in the UK for Geography and Environmental Science
11th in the Complete University Guide 2025
Study climate change, biodiversity, business, and environmental policy
Gain interdisciplinary skills and knowledge to address critical global challenges
Entry requirements (typical offer)
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | ABB
AAB (with Professional Placement/Study Abroad) |
n/a |
| IB | 32/655
34/665 (with Professional Placement/Study Abroad) |
n/a |
| BTEC | DDM
DDD (with Professional Placement/Study Abroad) |
n/a |
| GCSE | C or 4 |
C or 4 in English Language |
| Access to HE | 24 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade. 30 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade (with Professional Placement/Study Abroad) |
N/A |
| T-Level | T-levels not accepted | N/A |
| Contextual Offer * Please note: The contextual offer shown is an example based on offers made to students starting in 2025, and is for guidance only. We will confirm the contextual offer for 2026 entry later this year.* Please note: The contextual offer shown is an example based on offers made to students starting in 2024, and is for guidance only. We will confirm the contextual offer for 2025 entry later this year. |
A-Level: BBC Prof. Placement/Study Abroad: |
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 B2. 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
Course content
How we transform our societies to live sustainably on this planet is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Guided by world-leading experts, this interdisciplinary course equips you with the skills and knowledge to address critical global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and renewable energy, while promoting sustainable and socially just solutions.
This course provides foundational training in sustainability during the first year, with modules spanning diverse disciplines such as Geography, Environmental Science, Politics, and History. In subsequent years, you can tailor your studies through optional modules and conduct a final-year dissertation project.
The Penryn Campus provides an unmatched setting for this programme with a high concentration of academic staff from across disciplines united in conducting internationally acclaimed sustainability and environmental research.
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.
Stage 1: 90 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEO1408B | Global Issues in Environmental Science | 15 |
| BIO1438 | Introduction to Interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies | 15 |
| ENE2014 | Energy Policy, Markets and Law | 15 |
| BEP1150 | Environment, Society and Business | 30 |
| HIC1010 | Foundations of Environmental Humanities | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BA/BSc Global Sustainability S1 opt modules 26/27 | ||
| GEO1405B | Earth System Science | 15 |
| GEO1401B | Approaches to Geographical Knowledge | 15 |
| LAW1016C | A Legal Foundation for Environmental Protection | 15 |
| HUM1005 | Climate Emergency - An Introduction to Environmental Humanities | 15 |
| GEO1423 | Biodiversity and its Conservation | 15 |
60 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO2468 | Social-Ecological Systems: Cooperation, Sustainability, and Conservation | 15 |
| BIO2469 | Sustainability Field Course | 15 |
| BEP2230 | Foundations in Sustainable Solutions | 30 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BA/BSc Global Sustainability S2 opt modules 26/27 | ||
| BEP2150 | Ecological Economics | 15 |
| ECE2002 | Health, Place and Wellbeing | 15 |
| HIC2009 | Ecology and Empire | 15 |
| BEP2210 | Circular Enterprise Economy | 15 |
| LAW2016C | Environmental Regulation and Redress | 15 |
| POC2114 | Green Politics in Theory and Practice | 15 |
| GEO2441 | Remote Sensing for Environmental Management | 15 |
| GEO2458 | People and Nature | 15 |
| BIO2465 | Wildlife Exploitation | 15 |
| GEO2467 | Climate Change: The Physical Basis of the IPCC | 15 |
| HIC2038 | Caribbean Histories: Colonialism, Resistance and Environmental Crisis | 15 |
| ENE2009 | Renewable Energy Systems | 15 |
Find out more about placement and study abroad options under Course variants.
with Professional Placement
120 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LES3002 | Professional Placement | 120 |
with Study Abroad
120 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO3137 | One Year Study Abroad | 120 |
75 credits of compulsory modules, 45 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
a You must choose one of the two Dissertation modules. To exit with the award BSc (Hons) you must select BIO3446 and to exit with the award of BA (Hons) you must select BIO3447
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO3446 | BSc Sustainability Dissertation [See note a above] | 40 |
| BIO3447 | BA Sustainability Dissertation [See note a above] | 40 |
| LES3001 | Preparing to Graduate | 5 |
| BIO3448 | Global Sustainability Field Course | 30 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BA/BSc Global Sustainability S3/4 opt modules 26/27 | ||
| BEP3011 | Business and Climate Change | 15 |
| BIO3433 | Ocean Management and Conservation | 15 |
| CSM3409 | Politics, Mining and Sustainable Development | 15 |
| GEO3437B | Climate Change and Society | 15 |
| GEO3470 | Marine and Coastal Social-ecological systems | 15 |
| LAW3301C | Law and Policy for Sustainable Organisations | 15 |
| POC3095 | Environmental Knowledge Controversies | 15 |
| POC3117 | The Politics of Climate Change | 15 |
| GEO3475 | Sustainable Cities | 15 |
| HIC3010 | Pacific Histories: Environment, People and Politics | 30 |
| ECE3001 | Living with Environmental Change | 15 |
Course variants
UCAS code: C307
Why choose a professional placement year?
During your placement year you will gain valuable experience, apply the skills learnt during the first and second years, improve personal and transferable skills, make new contacts and enhance your employability.
Work placements allow you to develop your career focus and are extremely valued by employers.
Where can I do my placement?
On this four-year variant of the BA/BSc Global Sustainability degree you will spend your third year on a self-organised work placement with an organisation relevant to your degree. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements.
What support is available during my placement?
Your module convenor provides support while you are researching and applying for positions and you are encouraged to consider a range of organisations, including consultancies, charities, NGOs, research institutes and universities. During your placement you will have regular contact with the module convenor to identify what support you might need.
Does it count towards my degree?
The professional placement year counts towards your degree through the completion of your placement and associated coursework. It contributes to your final degree classification, and the words ‘with Professional Placement’ will appear in your degree title.
How does it affect my tuition fee?
If you spend a full year on a work placement (in the UK or abroad) you will pay a reduced fee. Find out more.
How do I apply?
You can apply to BA/BSc Global Sustainability with Professional Placement directly through UCAS using the code above. You must achieve an average mark of at least 60% in Year 1 to progress to the Professional Placement year.
UCAS code: C306
Why study abroad?
Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all qualities employers are looking for.
Where can I study abroad?
If you choose to take the four-year ‘with Study Abroad’ degree, you have the option to spend your third year abroad, studying in a university with which we have established links. We have over 30 partner institutions around the globe; you can find a complete list of International Exchange partner universities on the Study Abroad website.
What will I study whilst I am abroad?
This depends on the university you attend and the modules that are offered there. Once a place has been confirmed, you will liaise with both your host institution and the Exeter study abroad coordinator to decide a programme of study during your year abroad.
Does it count towards my degree?
Credit for academic work during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree at Exeter.
Transferring to a Study Abroad programme
If you are not sure about studying abroad when you apply for your degree, it may be possible to apply to transfer to a four-year programme at the end of the first year of a three-year programme. Permission to take part in Study Abroad in all cases will depend on your academic progress and the places available in your chosen country.
How does it affect my tuition fee?
If you spend a full academic year studying abroad you will pay a reduced fee. Find out more.
How do I apply?
You can apply to BA/BSc Global Sustainability with Study Abroad directly through UCAS using the code above. To qualify for your Study Abroad year, we would expect you to have successfully completed your Year 1 studies with an average mark of at least 60%.
Further information
For further information on where you can go and all the issues surrounding study abroad, see the Study Abroad website.
I am an interdisciplinary researcher with a background that spans the social and natural sciences. My applied research projects address issues of sustainable community-based natural resource management and conservation.
I am currently conducting applied research projects with pastoralist communities in Kenya and other parts of East Africa. The goal is to understand how communities can manage their grasslands sustainably in ways that support their traditional livelihoods based on livestock herding and that are also good for the wildlife they share the land with.
I am also investigating ways in which communities can reduce the impact of human-wildlife conflicts, so that they can benefit from and co-exist with wild animals. I also have general interests in understanding how humans interact with their environments to create social-ecological systems (SES), and how people cooperate and act together to achieve collective goals. These issues underpin political and economics systems, and are important for understanding how we can sustainably manage our natural resources and environments.
Read more from Dr Thomas Currie
Dr Thomas Currie
Fees
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
UK students: £9,535 per year
International students: £30,900 per year
Year Abroad and Professional Placement
If, as part of your four-year degree programme, you spend a full academic year studying abroad, you will pay a reduced fee of 15 per cent of the maximum fee for that year. If you spend a full year on a work placement (in the UK or abroad) you will pay a reduced fee of 20 per cent of the maximum fee for that year.
Fieldwork
Please note, some optional/alternative field courses may incur additional costs. You may also need to provide your own specialist personal equipment appropriate to the field course destination. You may incur additional costs depending on the specific demands of the research project chosen.
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.
Learning and teaching
How will I learn?
You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and field courses led by internationally respected academics at the forefront of research in their fields.
Learning is interactive and dynamic, involving group tasks, discussion groups, and challenge-focused activities, as well as independent study.
Our teaching approach emphasises active participation, encouraging you to present your ideas, tackle case studies, and debate key theories. This process develops critical and analytical thinking alongside transferable skills such as time management, teamwork, and effective verbal and visual communication.
You’ll also work closely with our academics, contributing to research projects and discussing the latest findings in seminars and tutorials, becoming an active member of a research community.
Learn from experts
You will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of field courses, in Cornwall and further afield, and through these and other modules you'll learn first-hand from businesses, practitioners, and stakeholders about the sustainability challenges people are facing and the solutions that are being implemented.
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a personal tutor for advice and support, ensuring a well-rounded, research-inspired learning experience that equips you with the skills and knowledge to excel in your field.
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 to the module.
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, a hub of environmental and social sustainability expertise.
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 specified subjects, you may have the words 'with proficiency in’ added to your degree title when you graduate.
I am an interdisciplinary scholar with expertise in the literatures and creative expression of the Hispanophone and Anglophone Caribbean and US and their intersections with history, colonialism, decolonial politics, politics, law, human rights, the environment, natural hazard, as well as ideas of place, belonging, and home.
I am also Co-Director of the Centre for Environmental Arts and Humanities, which brings colleagues together from across the university community who are committed to working collaboratively to apply arts and humanities research and methods to tackle the intractable global environmental issues that we face, locally and globally, from resource extraction, ecological crises, to the climate crisis.
Read more from Dr Wendy McMahon
Dr Wendy McMahon
Your future
This flagship degree prepares you for careers in sustainability and related fields, embedding employability skills throughout the programme and positioning you at the forefront of efforts to create a more sustainable future.
The breadth of career opportunities open to graduates is vast, including areas such as:
- environment
- health
- conservation
- education
- third sector work
- culture and heritage
- and community work.
With training in both science and humanities, your options are likely to be broader than from a more narrowly focused subject. You’ll gain skills that are highly sought after across public, private, and NGO sectors, preparing you for roles such as Sustainability Manager, Environmental Planner, Programme Manager, or Project Manager.
Many graduates also choose to continue their education through postgraduate study or research.
Our dedicated, award-winning Careers Service provides personalised support to help you achieve your goals.
Through services like employer visits, mentoring, and employability workshops, as well as initiatives like the Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award, you’ll be equipped with the tools and experience to stand out in the competitive job market. Whatever your chosen path, your degree will prepare you for a successful and impactful career.
