Environmental Engineering - Cornwall

Environmental engineering applies engineering principles to the protection and improvement of the natural environment and to the sustainable management of natural resources. It addresses some of the most critical challenges of our time: treating water and wastewater, managing waste, remediating contaminated land, controlling air pollution, designing resilient infrastructure in the face of climate change, and developing the technologies and systems that reduce the environmental footprint of human activity. Environmental engineers work at the interface of science, engineering and policy, combining technical expertise with an understanding of ecological systems and regulatory frameworks.

At the University of Exeter, this three-year full-time degree is taught at the Cornwall campus, which places you in one of the UK's most distinctive natural environments and close to industries involved in renewable energy, environmental monitoring and coastal management. The programme is available with a foundation year for students who need additional preparation in science and mathematics before entering degree-level engineering study. You will develop knowledge of water engineering and treatment, waste management, environmental impact assessment, pollution control, atmospheric science, sustainable energy systems and the ecological principles that underpin environmental management.

Engineering design is integrated throughout, developing your capacity to apply scientific principles to practical environmental challenges.

The Cornwall location and Exeter's research strengths in environmental science and engineering give the degree a particular relevance to the real-world challenges of sustainable resource management and the energy transition.

Graduates from environmental engineering programmes move into water and wastewater engineering, environmental consultancy, waste management, renewable energy, government environmental agencies, regulatory bodies, infrastructure development, and international development organisations. Many pursue Chartered Engineer status through the relevant professional engineering institutions, and postgraduate study in environmental engineering, sustainability or related fields is a well-established pathway.