Application deadline
Thursday 7 August 2025
Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships.
“I have felt very welcomed in this community – being able to talk to someone is particularly important as an international student. The academic environment is challenging and inspiring with field trips, laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment. Furthermore, I can find inspiration just walking round the historic town and the beaches.”
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
Entry requirements
- A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in a biological, environmental or physical science, geography, or other subject-related area. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
Application requirements
- CV or résumé
- personal statement
- one original signed academic reference
- academic transcripts and degree certificates.
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability.
Course details
The MSc in Environmental Science is a taught postgraduate programme run by the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
This degree places a strong emphasis on the provision of hands-on technical training grounded in theoretical concepts required to tackle the major environmental challenges of our century. This includes investigating and implementing solutions to global climate change, remediating and reducing the pollution of natural waters, and securing and managing the supply of natural resources. Candidates are trained in survey and experiment design, field-deployable as well as lab-based analytical techniques and technical report writing as a core element of the degree programme.
The course includes a set of core modules that provide graduate-level training on world-class analytical equipment and the application of this knowledge to quantitatively assess natural and polluted systems. The range of optional modules allows students to tailor the degree towards their personal background, interests, and career goals, spanning from managing Earth’s natural resources to the study of the oceans, atmosphere, and climate change.
Highlights
- Field excursion to a real-world site of extensive pollution (currently planned to be in Rio Tinto, Spain).
- Dissertation project centered around an environmental impact assessment.
- Training in industry-standard software packages, including GIS, R, Python, Geochemist’s Workbench, PHREEQC.
- Year-long training in field skills and sample analyses.
- Preparation for employment in the private or public sector.
- Small class sizes with frequent in-person interaction with your lecturers.
Modules
- Analytical Methods in Geochemistry: trains students in the advanced techniques and methodologies used to address fundamental and applied questions related to the Earth system.
- Geochemistry Field Excursion: covers best practice field skills in documenting the human, factors that lead to major environmental disasters such as the Rio Tinto contamination site, Spain. Students learn how to collect samples, perform geochemical analyses in the field and present data in a written report.
- Global Resource Challenges: tackles the economic, environmental, societal, geopolitical and ethical issues regarding mining, and future challenges shaping mineral exploration into the mid-21st century. It includes field trips to see the environmental impact of mining.
- Pollution and Aqueous Chemistry: provides a combination of the underpinning hydrological theory and the analytical tools required to better understand and ameliorate problems of water in the environment.
- Statistics and Analytical Sciences: provides students with a strong background in statistics and methods of data analysis used in Earth Sciences.
Students choose one module from the following list:
- Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Management: provides training in GIS systems and their use in environmental problem solving.
- Isotope Geochemistry: Theory, Techniques, and Applications: explores the theory behind, and geochemical applications of, the natural variability measurable in both radiogenic and stable isotope systems.
- Managing Natural Resources: examines the challenges encountered by organizations in managing biodiversity, climate change, and water resources.
Students choose two modules from the following list (if not previously taken):
- Coding and Modelling in Earth Sciences: focuses on building understanding of fundamental concepts in scientific coding, gaining practical coding experience using the popular Python language, and then the application of computer models to gain insight into topics across the Earth Sciences.
- Geochemistry: covers the origin and distribution of the elements, thermodynamics, redox reactions, and aqueous geochemistry.
- Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Management: provides training in GIS systems and their use in environmental problem solving.
- Isotope Geochemistry: Theory, Techniques, and Applications: explores the theory behind, and geochemical applications of, the natural variability measurable in both radiogenic and stable isotope systems.
- Managing Natural Resources: examines the challenges encountered by organizations in managing biodiversity, climate change, and water resources.
- Oceans and Atmosphere: discusses theoretical concepts in marine biogeochemical cycles, ocean and atmospheric circulation, climate, and weather.
- Special Topics in Climate Science: tackles a variety of advanced topical research subjects in climate science, such as climate sensitivity, past warm climates, external forcing, and geo-engineering.
- Subsurface Modelling and Geophysics for Earth Scientists: concepts, techniques, and practices of subsurface exploration and storage, including C storage.
During Semester 1 and 2, students are introduced to field and analytical skills in environmental monitoring. This includes coaching in defining an efficient project workflow, fieldwork preparation desktop studies, note-taking, sampling, field- and lab-based analyses, and data management. In the third semester, each student selects a field area and carries out an independent environmental impact assessment, guided by an academic supervisor and/or an external industry partner. The project will involve:
- project planning and workflow training
- desktop study strategy including background literature review
- project formulation
- analytical design
- data management, integration, and interpretation
- development of oral presentation skills
- production of a technical report.
The assessment is based on digital notes, a poster presentation, and a written dissertation in the form of an environmental impact assessment technical report. The completed dissertation of not more than 10,000 words must be submitted by a date towards the end of August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MSc, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, students finish their degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MSc.
Teaching
The MSc degree requires two semesters of full-time (or four semesters part-time) coursework, normally equivalent to a total of nine taught modules, and a 10,000-word dissertation, usually completed over the summer semester.
The assessment for the taught modules is based on coursework and written examinations.
Events
The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences holds weekly seminars during the semester, with expert guest speakers from the UK and abroad.
The School also holds an annual full-day ‘FRESH’ seminar series (Frontline Earth Science Research at St Andrews). Each year’s FRESH seminar focuses on a different scientific theme and welcomes internationally recognised guest speakers to participate. Previous themes include:
- The Evolution of Earth’s Atmosphere
- Volcanic Impacts on Climate, Environment and Society
Fees
Home
£12,030
Overseas
£29,990
Application fee
Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
15% Recent Graduate Discount
If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.
After your degree
Careers
This degree prepares students for employment in a range of public and private sectors, such as environmental monitoring and consulting, analytical sciences, the mining industry, or resource management, as well as academic research in environmental and climate science. Graduates will gain a range of specialized and transferrable skills that are sought after in industry and academia alike.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Further study
This comprehensive and rigorous course provides relevant preparation for pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science by incorporating a lab-based research dissertation. Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.
What to do next
Information sessions
Meet our staff, learn more, and ask questions about how our courses can work for you.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 3940
- earthsci@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
The Irvine Building
St Andrews
KY16 9AL