A BSc degree in Environmental Science can open up a lot of career possibilities. Depending on your course, you’ll be able to choose from a range of modules – from water management to conservation, climate change to engineering – which means you can pursue a career that suits your interests.

✅ Top tip

When choosing a university and degree programme in Environmental Science, look for those that allow you to specialise or that include a placement year, as both of these can boost your career prospects.

Skills

An undergraduate degree in Environmental Science should give you a solid grounding in these key areas:

  1. Interpreting, analysing, and presenting data
  2. Practical fieldwork and specialist laboratory skills
  3. Project management and people skills
  4. Proficiency in computer software relevant to the field of study (e.g. GIS)

Knowledge

A BSc in Environmental Science will also furnish you with an excellent understanding of environmental issues. Key topics you’ll learn about include:

  1. Earth systems
  2. Global environmental challenges (GECs): e.g. soil degradation and climate change
  3. Ecology and biodiversity
  4. Scientific research methods

Jobs in the environmental sector for Environmental Science graduates

A degree in Environmental Science is multidisciplinary, meaning you could work in many different areas – including conservation, research, and policy-making. Potential employers are similarly diverse – for example, you could end up working in the public sector, for an environmental NGO, or for a business.

Here are some career options made possible by starting with a degree in Environmental Science:

1. Sustainability Consultant

Sustainability consultants are responsible for working on an organisation’s sustainability initiatives, programmes, and goals. In this job you may work for a consultancy, or within an organisation’s dedicated sustainability team, to lead the conversation on how to reduce a company’s environmental footprint. You’ll use the in-depth knowledge of environmental issues that you gained from your degree to advise your employer (or client) on how they can make their business more sustainable. If you’re ready to start applying for sustainability jobs, take a look at our current sustainability vacancies!

💡 Want to know more about working in sustainability?

We spoke to Hannah James from VetPartners UK to find out how she became a sustainability professional.

2. Climate Change Officer

If you want to effect positive change in response to environmental problems, a job as a Climate Change Officer might be for you. Thanks to Net Zero initiatives, local authorities are increasingly recruiting graduates with a technical grasp of environmental challenges. Climate Change Officers usually help formulate and implement climate change strategies, engage with local communities, and help to bring about environmental policy change. You’ll use your knowledge of environmental issues and legislation to negotiate with stakeholders, and your data analysis expertise to support the delivery of climate projects. You’ll need an up-to-date understanding of policy – such as the Climate Change Act (2008) and decarbonisation targets – to create clear and actionable goals, reports, and project plans.

3. Water Quality Advisor

Good water infrastructure is becoming increasingly important, particularly over the last few years, which have seen record amounts of waste released into our waterways and seas. Water management is a broad sector, encompassing jobs in surface water control (including SUDs), engineering, and flood risk management. As a Water Quality Advisor, you will most likely work for a government body (such as the Environment Agency), a water company, or a consultancy, to monitor water quality and report on pollution levels. This job combines technical work out in the field with compliance auditing, stakeholder management, and problem-solving. To be successful in this job, you’ll use your skills in project management, communication, and data analysis. If working in water quality sounds appealing, check out our latest water and hydrology vacancies.

4. Environment Officer

The exact responsibilities of this job vary depending on the employer, but an Environment Officer’s main purpose is usually to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, within an organisation or government body. This can include monitoring the conditions of, for example, woodlands, waterways, or urban environments, and reporting on any environmental changes or impacts. You may also spend time shaping your organisation’s policies on environmental issues, and you’ll use your knowledge of current legislation and initiatives to advise other teams and stakeholders. You could be investigating complaints, violations, and non-compliance matters, writing reports, and conducting site visits. This job requires a broad understanding of environmental issues and policies, alongside practical fieldwork and monitoring skills. Sound good? Take a look at new vacancies in environmental management roles.

5. Data Analyst

If you enjoy numbers, statistics, and interpreting data, a job as a Data Analyst might be right for you!  You’ll need an excellent understanding of the importance of data in different environmental contexts and scenarios. In this job, you'll use your technical skills to analyse and interpret data, and you’ll present visual representations of data to engage different audiences. Good communication skills are also a bonus in this field. If a career in environmental data analysis appeals to you, have a look at our latest vacancies.

6. Energy Manager

With many organisations aiming to reduce energy consumption and opting for more sustainable energy sources, there are a lot of opportunities in the energy management sector – and an Environmental Science graduate is well-placed for a career in this field. To succeed in this job, you’ll need detailed knowledge of energy systems and project management. The job’s day-to-day duties can involve managing and delivering renewable energy projects, working with multi-disciplinary teams, shaping policies, and identifying new opportunities for energy efficiency. If you enjoy innovation, fast-paced environments, and project delivery, this might be a career for you! Start by checking out our carbon, climate and energy vacancies on the website.

Further education, qualifications, and training

For some careers, further qualifications, training, and memberships of professional bodies are necessary.

Looking for a BSc in Environmental Science?

🗒️ Further resources