Geography and Environmental Science

Geography and environmental science together form a powerful combination for understanding and addressing the ecological, social and spatial challenges of our time. Geography examines the relationships between human societies and the physical environments they inhabit, exploring how populations, economies and cultures are distributed across the world and how they interact with natural systems. Environmental science applies scientific methods to the study of those natural systems, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere, asking how they function, how they are being altered by human activity and how they can be managed to sustain both ecological integrity and human wellbeing.

At the University of Dundee this four-year, full-time programme equips you with the knowledge and skills to help build a cleaner future and address the large-scale challenges facing human societies on Earth. You will study physical geography, human geography, ecology, atmospheric science, soil science, water systems, environmental assessment and the quantitative methods used to monitor and model environmental change. Field skills, GIS, remote sensing and laboratory analysis are all developed throughout the programme.

The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to engage with different environmental contexts and academic traditions in another country, broadening your comparative perspective on global environmental challenges.

Graduates pursue careers in environmental consultancy, ecological assessment, sustainability, climate adaptation, government environmental agencies, conservation organisations, urban and regional planning, international development and research. The combination of geographical and environmental science training equips you for roles that require both spatial thinking and scientific rigour. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in environmental science, geography, climate change, ecology or related disciplines, and some move into academic research or science communication.