Environmental Science - Legislation and Management MSc

About the Course

The market leading Master’s course in Environmental Science with Legislation and Management addresses the management principles necessary for the successful implementation of sound environmental management practice and up-to-date legal processes involved in environmental control.

Specialising in Environmental Management and Environmental Legislation, the course bridges the gap between the fundamental scientific and technical data and the management decision-making process. You will also acquire the tools needed for environmental management, including project management, life cycle analysis, accounting and reporting, environmental reviews and audits.

Aims

This MSc is suitable for UK or International graduates or those with experience who wish to develop a career in the environmental industry and public bodies with environmental management and environmental legislation.

About the Institute for the Environment

During your MSc you will be based in the Institute for the Environment (IfE). IfE is a rapidly expanding research centre housing a strong team of leading experts held in high international regard in their respective fields. In 2011, IfE's research revealing the link between chemicals in rivers and reproductive health won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.

Enquiries

Institute for the Environment
Brunel University
Email ife@brunel.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)1895 266105

Course Director: Dr Stephen Kershaw
Email stephen.kershaw@brunel.ac.uk

Related Courses

Supriya Hajare studied Environmental Science

I’m originally from a small city in India and I came to the UK after marrying an investment banker. Having completed a chemical engineering course in India, I looked for opportunities to explore and grow in the UK.

Browsing through various educational magazines and the internet, I came across Brunel University and the variety of courses it had to offer. The MSc in Environmental Science – Legislation and Management interested me the most because it offered the perfect blend of topics which would use my knowledge in chemistry and give me the opportunity to learn its applications in the environmental field.

I was interviewed and selected by the course director, Abdul Chaudhary. He guided and motivated me not only during the course but even after graduation when he helped me in several ventures.

During the course I met and interacted with people from various backgrounds and diverse cultures. All the lecturers and other members of the university staff were very helpful, always ready to guide and support both home and international students.

I completed the programme successfully and went on to do a PhD in Nanotechnology in the Wolfson Centre Research School at Brunel University itself which means I can continue my development here.

I have had a wonderful time at Brunel!

Course Content

This course provides a rigorous academic treatment of the fundamental scientific principles and practice of assessing and controlling the extent of environmental damage by Man's activities.

The course emphasises the processes and techniques related to the reduction of emissions to air, land and water, and the effects of pollution together with the legislative framework in which they are set.

It is designed to allow those whose career choice lies in fields such as environmental science, health protection and regulatory processes, to acquire a broad based knowledge of the concepts involved. The course is vocational and provides effective entry into all professions related to environmental pollution assessment and control.

Modules (all core)

Sustainable Development in Practice

The key aim of this module is to develop the skills required to analyse, research and tackle sustainable development problems. This is achieved via a series of group projects that illustrate the complex interplay of environmental, societal and economic implications for a range of stakeholders in real sustainable development case studies. Developing the process of personal review, reflection and development is the second major aim of the module.

Research and Critical Skills in Environmental Sciences

Main topics of study: methods and techniques for knowledge analysis; skills associated with critical and reflective understanding/evaluation; skills associated with communication of scientific issues; issues associated with professional practice and research in environmental sciences; case studies in global climate change – development of an integrated understanding of the impacts of climate change on society and the environment and the increasing importance of sustainability as a guiding principle in all arenas of human activity.

Global Climate Change

Main topics of study include: relationship between climate and biophysical and social systems; instrumental record of climate and what it reveals about variability and reliability of climate; past global changes, including past climates and societal responses; climate models and predictions of future climates; future impacts: biophysical systems, agriculture, human health, resources, energy usage; rapid change caused by natural hazard processes.

Environmental Hazard and Risk

Conceptualising Hazard and Risk

Probability and the concept of risk
The Risk management cycle: risk assessment frameworks
Human versus Environmental Risk Assessment
Exposure characterisation: environmental transport and fate of chemicals
Hazard characterisation: toxicity endpoints from gene to community
Dose-response profiling: low dose effects and non-monotonic dose response relationships
Point-deterministic and probabilistic risk assessment procedures

Ecotoxicology

An introduction to environmental toxicology
Toxic substances in the aquatic environment
Aquatic toxicity testing in the laboratory
Field studies in aquatic toxicity
Bioaccumulation and Bioavailability
Metabolism of pollutants
Structure-activity relationships
A Specific example: oestrogenic chemicals in the aquatic environment and their effects on fish
Single chemical versus mixture toxicity: modelling mixture effects
Monitoring of the Aquatic Environment

Risk Perception and Management

The precautionary principle: late lessons from early signs
Risk management and risk communication
Perception of risk and stigma: socio-political influences on risk assessment

Environmental Management

Project management;
Resources for environmental appraisal;
Vulnerability of societies to environmental change and risk management;
Environmental management policy;
Environmental management systems;
Principles of waste management;
Waste management and duty of care;
Contaminated land;
Waste planning and strategy;
End-of-life waste directives;
Water resource management;
River quality management;
Water supply and distribution;
Reservoir management

EU and International Environmental Law

EU Environmental Law components:

Framework of environmental protection in EU Law and policy;
interface of environmental protection and market integration:
free movement of goods law and the environment;
legal basis for environmental policy development;
external relations of the EU in relation to environmental policy;
enforcement of EU environmental law;
selected sectoral analysis of EU environmental law – eg waste management

International legal aspects to environmental protection:

World trade law and the environment;
overview of key multilateral agreements at international level;
interface between EU environmental policy and
international environmental agreements

Dissertation

Recent examples of dissertations by students taking this course include:

Review of the effectiveness of international treaties;
Environmental impact assessment of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £5,800 full-time; £2,900 part-time

International students: £15,000 full-time; £7,500 part-time

Read about funding opportunities available to postgraduate students

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements

Normally at least a second class honours degree or equivalent. Applicants with appropriate experience and other qualifications will be considered.

English Language Requirements

IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
TOEFL Paper test: 580 (TWE 4.5)
TOEFL Internet test: 92 (R20, L20, S20, W20)
Pearson: 59 (51 in all subscores)
BrunELT 65% (min 60% in all areas)

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.

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