Environmental Earth Science with a Year in Australasia

Description

Environmental Earth Sciences takes an integrated approach to studying the solid Earth. There are no fixed boundaries between the solid Earth and its environment.

Students explore the inter-relationships between the solid Earth and all aspects of its environment, including political, economic and social issues. Conventional subject boundaries are broken to give you an integrated education. You will use principles of geology, physical geography, chemistry, biology, maths and social science, to investigate how the solid Earth affects human society and how human society impacts on the solid Earth. Graduates in Environmental Earth Sciences from UEA are in great demand from industry because of the high esteem in which the School of Environmental Sciences is held in the wider geosciences community and for the levels of laboratory, field and transferable skills acquired during the course.

The Year in Australasia programme involves four years of study with the first two years at UEA following the BSc Environmental Earth Sciences programme. The third year is spent at a University abroad. You return for your fourth year to UEA and complete the final year modules from the BSc Environmental Earth Sciences.

Because the degree programme is taught within the School of Environmental Sciences you will be able to choose a very flexible path of study. The degree programme is designed to give you a solid foundation to your chosen career. The first year ensures you have the necessary building blocks to choose effectively from the wide range of courses on offer in the second and third years. The first year will also introduce you to a range of subjects you are unlikely to have come across until now.

Study Environmental Earth Sciences at UEA and find out the answers to the following questions and many more...

• What is plate tectonics?
• How do deep sea trenches form?
• How has sea level changed with time?
• How do beaches form?
• What causes the topography of the ocean floor?
• How do rivers, wind and ice sculpt hills and valleys?
• How do the oceans and atmosphere interact?
• How is Earth's weather produced?
• What can we learn from the geological record?
• How do rocks differ from each other?
• What happens during an earthquake?
• Why use coastal defences?
• How quickly do continents move?
• What happens to the Earth during a meteorite impact?
• Can we minimise the risks of flooding?
• What happens inside an erupting volcano?

Field Course Options

Field courses and practical classes are essential in training the environmental earth science students. You will be introduced to many different geological environments and learn a variety of practical techniques using specialist equipment through the wide range of field courses available.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline January 15 Tuition fee

• EUR 10560 Year (EEA)
• EUR 17480 Year (Non-EEA)

UK/EU £9,000; International £14,900

Start date September 2015 Credits (ECTS) 240 ECTS
Duration full-time 48 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Full-time Intensity Flexible

Course Content

Year 1

You will develop your basic scientific skills with compulsory modules covering mathematics, research and field skills, in addition to Earth science, providing you with a solid foundation to the honours years of your degree.

Year 2

You will develop your Earth science skills through a compulsory research skills module. In addition, you will choose a number of optional modules from the range available. Some options outside the School may be taken, for example a foreign language or, international development studies. Please note that the Year Abroad and Year in Industry are taken between years 2 and 3

Year 3

In the third year you will undertake an independent project under the supervision of a member of faculty which will involve collecting and analysing data, collating and interpreting results and presenting them in oral and written form. Previous students have conducted projects on a vast range of different topics including, for example: volcanic ash, British beaches, earthquake hazard and risk assessment, sandstone variability, sedimentary geochemistry, hydrogeology, and palaeoclimatology. The transferable skills this develops is invaluable in future careers. Alongside this you will have the opportunity to choose modules in your preferred area of the environmental Earth sciences from the wide range available.

Year 4 (MSci only)

During the final year of the integrated Masters programme you will study advanced Masters level modules chosen from the optional range and undertake a substantial piece of independent research under the supervision of a research active member of faculty. MSci projects may include topics such as:

• Palaeohydrology of the Yare River Valley
• Relationships between land use, surface runoff and sediment transport in the Blackwater sub-catchment of the River Wensum
• Fracture patterns in lavas
• Seasonal variation in spring water chemistry
• Quantifying and explaining variation in chalk cliff erosion rates
• A sheet sandstone – record of a catastrophic Jurassic flood?
• Modelling volcanic dome collapse.

Please note that course profiles may be reviewed and changed for future years of study.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 TOEFL iBT® test : 78

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test. More About IELTS

Requirements

• A Level: AAA
• International Baccalaureate: 34 (incl 3HL subjects at grade 6)
• Scottish Highers: AAAAA
• Scottish Advanced Highers: AAA
• Irish Leaving Certificate: AAAAAA
• Access Course: See below
• European Baccalaureate: 85% overall

Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading). Recognised English Language qualifications include:

• IELTS: 6. overall (minimum 5.5 in any component)
• TOEFL: Internet-based score of 78 overall (minimum 20 in Speaking component, 17 in Writing and Listening components and 18 in Reading components.
• PTE: 55 overall (minimum 51 in any component).

If you do not meet the University's entry requirements, our INTO Language Learning Centre offers a range of university preparation courses to help you develop the high level of academic and English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Interviews

The majority of candidates will not be called for an interview. However, for some students an interview will be requested. These are normally quite informal and generally cover topics such as your current studies, reasons for choosing the course and your personal interests and extra-curricular activities.

Gap Year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year, believing that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry and may wish to contact the appropriate Admissions Office directly to discuss this further.

Special Entry Requirements

Applicants are asked to have at least one science based A2-level or equivalent. Acceptable science subjects include: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics.
General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.

Intakes

The School's annual intake is in September of each year.

Alternative Qualifications

We encourage you to apply if you have alternative qualifications equivalent to our stated entry requirement. Please contact us for further information.
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 45 credits at Level 3, including 12 Level 3 Science Credits.

GCSE Offer

Students are required to have Mathematics and English at minimum of Grade C or above at GCSE Level.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of East Anglia.