Overview
How does human activity affect our planet? How can these effects be managed?
This course develops your understanding of environmental problems at a master’s level and gives you the skills to analyse and develop long-term solutions. You’ll be able to oversee environmental performance in the private, public and voluntary sector, ensuring that improvements are made where possible and legislation is followed. This course looks to raise your ability to understand and analyse environmental problems, in order to develop long-term solutions.
You can choose with or without a work placement and the course is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES)
If you opt for the placement route, you’ll have the opportunity to work on various projects and graduate with hands-on professional experience - something that'll make you stand out when you embark on your career. At Brunel, we have excellent links with many organisations through our research activities, so you can be assured of a high-quality placement at a relevant organisation. Opportunities for our master's students include placements at The Environment Agency and international placements at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
For information on Vice Chancellor's Excellence Award which offers £5000 fee reduction for self-funded international students please click here
Dean’s International Scholarship This course is eligible for a £2,000 fee waiver, per academic year, subject to availability. This Scholarship is for full-time international students only. Find out more.
Course content
The compulsory modules of your course will provide you with an academic understanding of the principles of environmental practice. You can choose to follow one of the three themes from the optional modules.
Compulsory
- ES5701 - Strategic Sustainable DevelopmentThe main aim is to learn about core concepts of 'strategic sustainable development' (SSD), including a thorough understanding of a structured planning and decision making model for application to real world issues known as the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD).
- ES5702 - Climate Change and Planetary HealthPlanetary health is a new framework that seeks to unite the traditional distinctions between human health, societal well-being, and ecological integrity. This module identifies the interrelationships between human health and the state of natural systems on which it depends.
- Environmental Management and LegislationThis module enables students to understand the key management principles necessary for the successful implementation of sound environmental management practice, to understand the environmental, methodological and technological and legislative issues in environmental management, and to understand the main environmental legislation and policy at the level of the European Union as well as internationally.
- ES5700 - Research and Analytical SkillsThis module aims to develop professional, research and critical skills necessary to support higher learning and an integrative approach to problem solving, necessary for success in careers in a variety of disciplines and in an academic environment. It aims for students to become familiar with, and critically reflect on, methods and techniques for data gathering and knowledge development (experimental design concepts), including approaches to problem formulation, literature searches, and systematic review methodology.
- ES5500 - DissertationThe dissertation allows students to undertake an in-depth study of a topic, using primary or secondary data sources, that is of relevance to the modular block, and to develop an integrated, and where appropriate interdisciplinary, understanding of the topic chosen.
- ES5604 - PortfolioThe main aim of this modular block is to provide the students with hands-on experience of applying the tools and techniques learnt within the MSc and to spend a six-month Professional Development period the purpose of which is to help launch the students into their environmental sector career.
Optional
- ES5601 - Chemical Risk Assessment and ManagementThis module aims to develop an understanding about the ways in which toxicity data are used to anticipate risks to human health and wildlife that stem from exposure to chemical substances, to distinguish between reversible and irreversible toxic effects and to become familiar with the various approaches that exist in regulatory and risk assessment practice for dealing with such effects, and to become proficient in hazard, exposure and risk assessment for chemical entities in human and ecological toxicology.
- ES5603 - Clean Technology and the EnvironmentThis module is designed to provide knowledge and understanding to learners on how to develop clean technologies with an emphasis on those industrial and utility processes that enhance sustainable resource use and minimise pollution during resource extraction, processing and manufacture.
- ES5602 - Environmental Pollution and MonitoringDuring the module, students will study fundamental scientific aspects of environmental pollution with an emphasis on sources, pathways and receptors and technical approaches to controlling exposure. You'll also study the environmental and technological issues in the management and control of water, air and land pollution. You'll learn the key aspects of sampling techniques in acquiring representative samples of air, soil and water for environmental monitoring and the key analytical techniques and develop the practical skills in monitoring of environmental pollution. Finally, you'll study the practical methods for the investigation of air, soil and water quality.
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
After completing the course, you'll be equipped with the skills to pursue a range of environmental careers. You may wish to work as an environmental manager, an environmental analyst or perhaps start up your own consultancy or business. Many of our graduates go on to PhD level and research green technology. Some have started their own businesses supporting SMEs to remove toxic chemicals from wastewater treatment. There are opportunities in business, industry, education or government and local councils.
UK entry requirements
- A 2:2 or equivalent internationally recognised qualification. A wide range of disciplines are acceptable, for example: Environmental Science; Engineering; Physics; Chemistry; Biology; Geography; Environmental Health; Marine Science; Maths; Agricultural Science; Law; Business; Commerce and Economics.
- Applicants with a third class honours degree or other qualifications will be considered with any relevant work experience. Such applicants may be required to attend an interview.
Additionally, you should submit a personal statement of between 500 and 1000 words in length, and which addresses your understanding of the MSc Environmental Management course at Brunel University London, your motivations for studying this course and how your skills, knowledge and experience will help you succeed.
EU and International entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2024/25 entry
UK
£12,650 full-time
£6,325 part-time
International
£25,000 full-time
£12,500 part-time
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
Lectures, seminars and practical sessions will take place on campus - with few exceptions - and you'll be expected to be present in order to benefit fully from the immersive and interactive sessions that underpin problem-based and inquiry-based learning approaches, and the collaborative approach to learning that we use.
To supplement our full timetable of on-campus teaching, learning will be supported with a range of resources on our new Brightspace Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) including e.g. lecture recordings, videos, interactive activities, and links to additional reading etc.
Please note, that while recordings and online resources will help if you're unable to attend a particular teaching session, learning from the online materials alone won't be an adequate substitute to participating in a lively in-person discussion on campus alongside your peers.
Keep in mind that this is a campus-based degree programme, not an online programme – and attendance on campus will be essential for some events (e.g. lectures, seminars, workshops, practical sessions, demonstrations and student-led sessions in class). Module / block leaders may offer additional briefing, revision, and/or Q&A sessions on online platforms where appropriate to support on-campus learning.
Coursework will be submitted via WISEflow and exams will be a mix of on-campus in-person invigilated written exams and online open-book style assessments that'll require access to a personal computer.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
You’ll be taught by environmental scientists whose research into exposure to harmful chemicals has changed government attitudes and policy. The Environmental Sciences team at Brunel are previous winners of the Queens Anniversary Prize for two decades of pioneering research. This means that our award-winning lecturers will bring their experience, passion and renowned expertise to your lectures.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
Assessment will take the form of written coursework, reports, written exams and assessed teamwork.