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You will benefit from the programme's strong practical element, which includes field-based teaching and visits to environmental organisations.
Your degree will be built on a foundation of core modules that ensure you understand environmental issues and acquire the skills you'll need to analyse, interpret and manage the environment sustainably.
Many of our courses are taught in small groups and involve lots of practical application.
We use a wide range of teaching and learning approaches, including lectures, small group workshops, tutorials, laboratory and computer practicals and field trips.
Practical work is an essential part of your degree and during your first and second years you will make regular visits to sites and organisations such as the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the New Forest.
The aim is to study different aspects of management and issues, such as conservation, renewable energy and sustainability, using diverse environments as study areas. You'll have the opportunity to visit habitats such as moorlands, rivers, coasts, national parks, and natural and plantation woodlands as you learn about the complexities of maintaining and managing specific resources.
In your final year, you'll look at specific issues addressed by environmental management organisations, often using case studies or practical work examples. You will also work on an independent research project on a subject of your choice.
Our academics and researchers influence government policy, new innovation and product development. Many are often featured in international press coverage on topics such as climate change, biodiversity and food security.
We're a significant contributor to the University-wide centres for climate change and soils research, and the Institute for Food Nutrition and Health, and host innovation centres in food, agrimetrics and environmental analytics.
We also work with other institutions, many of them overseas, to conduct research in more than 50 countries.
Because our staff are actively engaged in world-class research, they tailor their teaching to reflect changing trends within the sector. And when transferred to a teaching environment, our research excellence enables students to develop similarly excellent research skills that are highly regarded by employers.
Many companies and organisations working in environmental management operate in a global environment. Understanding another language gives you skills that are highly valued by potential employers and puts you on a par with your multilingual, international peers.
You can learn a language during your time at Reading through the Languages for All programme. Modules are offered at up to five different levels (from beginner onwards) in a range of languages.
A placement is a fantastic opportunity to gain work experience, develop industry-specific knowledge and skills, and network with potential future employers.
Getting the balance right between theory and practice is a vital part of maximising your future career prospects.
We've developed links with professional bodies and industry contacts in the sectors that are relevant to you, and we offer work experience opportunities during term time and in the vacation periods. Additionally, all environmental management and sustainability students do a short professional placement during their second year.
We also encourage our students to take part in a wide-range of volunteering opportunities related to conservation or habitat management through local environmental groups and the Reading Experience and Development (RED) Award.
Many of our students apply for placements with large organisations such as the United Nations Environment Programme, or big multinational corporations with a Corporate Social Responsibility programme - such as Samsung.
Students have also spent a rewarding year working for smaller-scale non-governmental organisations or charities, such as The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, both abroad and in the UK.
Recent placements in Environmental Management and Sustainability have included:
We have a dedicated placement officer who offers support, including CV checking and placement search, and a large Careers Team that organises one-to-one support sessions and employer-led events.
Please visit the School's undergraduate placement page for further information on the benefits of placements, how the School supports you in finding a placement, and placement FAQs.
Joe Bishop, BSc Environmental Management with a placement year at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Many of our students undertake three months of paid work experience during the summer vacation to gain further insight into the career path they want to pursue.
You can also participate in the Reading Internship Scheme. These internships are generally completed in the summer before your final year.
Stand out from the crowd by considering our Study Abroad option. By choosing to do a four-year degree, you can apply to study at one of our partner institutions for a year, or spend six months abroad and another six months working in the sector.
In an increasingly international and mobile world, studying abroad can help boost your future employability. It provides an exciting opportunity to acquire numerous transferable and desirable skills, and study specialisms additional to what's offered at Reading. It's also a fantastic life experience.
To qualify for the Study Abroad option, you must meet the requirements of the host institution. This option is highly competitive and is therefore not guaranteed.
All courses offered by our partner universities are taught in English.
