Environmental Assessment and Control
MSc

Our innovative MSc focuses on how to prevent and control the contamination of land and freshwater. With its strong emphasis on applying scientific knowledge to real-world problems, it offers you the chance to specialise in an increasingly important environmental field.

• Study on a course which is recognised for high professional standards: our MSc is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences
• Gain a specialist qualification to advance your career with government bodies, local authorities, consultancies and industry – in the UK and overseas
• Gain an in-depth and holistic understanding of policies and strategies to assess, prevent, manage and control land and freshwater contamination
• Apply your knowledge to real-world situations and evaluate the outcomes to make effective strategic decisions
• Undertake work placements with employers in a range of settings for practical-based training and practitioner-based learning
• Learn from an expert teaching team who conduct crucial research and consultancy work on environmental themes
• Embark on a pathway towards becoming a Chartered Environmentalist or Chartered Scientist
• Choose a route to suit you: our MSc is ideal for recent graduates seeking a full-time postgraduate course and for mature students already in employment wanting to balance part-time studies with work commitments

The MSc Environmental Assessment and Control gives you insights and skills in addressing land and water contamination problems both strategically and creatively.

Build specialist expertise

This is a multidisciplinary MSc bringing together expertise in areas such as conservation, biology, environmental health and ecosystems. In response to the needs of employers, it also takes an integrated approach to land and water management. Our teaching is underpinned by latest research and we place an emphasis on linking theory to live case studies.

You will explore aspects of contaminated land including legislation and regulation, identification of environmental issues, analysis and remediation, and human health exposure assessment. You will also focus on the environmental monitoring and assessment of freshwater, prevention and control of contamination, drinking water quality and flood defence.

A focus on practical experience

We have joined forces with a range of organisations – local authorities, government agencies, industries and environmental consultancies – to develop the MSc.

Workplace experience is a cornerstone of the programme. Our external partnerships enable you to enhance your practical skills via field and laboratory work and to undertake practitioner training through work placements. While on placement, you will be supported by work-based learning mentors.

Throughout the course, you will gain insights into problem-solving, decision-making and how environmental sampling and analytical techniques are applied in the workplace. Case studies, guest lectures and fieldtrips will bring an extra dimension to this ‘real-world learning’ approach.  

Professional recognition

Lending further credibility to your qualification, our MSc has been accredited by the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES), the education committee of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). CHES acts as the voice of the environmental sciences academic community and works to improve the quality of environmental education worldwide.

CHES-accredited programmes meet high standards, combine vital elements of practical, field and theoretical activities, offer excellent opportunities for training and work experience, and boast strong links to the professional environmental sector.

When you enrol, you can apply for free student membership of the IES which puts you on the fast track to full membership once you graduate. A CHES-accredited programme also sets you on the route to becoming a Chartered Environmentalist or Chartered Scientist.

Our research-active team

You’ll be supported by a highly qualified team renowned for their research and consultancy work in the field of environmental assessment. They publish influential papers, speak at global conferences and serve on the editorial boards of scientific journals. The team includes specialists with high professional standing, such as Chartered Scientist, Chartered Environmentalist, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Fellow of the Zoological Society of London and full member of the Institution of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

Skills to take you far

We place great emphasis on helping you plan for your personal, educational and career development. At every stage of the course, you will be encouraged to reflect on your own learning, performance and achievement.

Alongside your practical skills and professional knowledge, we equip you with broader attributes and qualities to meet the expectations of employers today. These include leadership, management, communication and teamworking skills – especially important because environmental assessment is usually undertaken by collaborative and multi-disciplinary teams. 

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

• The design and teaching of this course is strongly informed by our teaching team's scholarly and professional activities, such as research and consultancy.
• Our team is highly qualified, having specialist expertise in the subject area and high professional standing, such as Chartered Scientist, Chartered Environmentalist, full member of IEMA, Senior Fellow/Fellow of Higher Education Academy, Fellow of the Zoological Society of London.
• You will be taught in the classroom through lectures, guest lectures, seminars, and tutorials to develop a strong theoretical understanding of environmental aspects of contaminated land and freshwater to identify environmental issues. You will find practical solutions using case studies, field and laboratory work in independent and team settings, and attain employer-linked study experience through placements with employers.
• Assessment of knowledge and applied skills is by coursework, such as essays, practical reports, oral and written presentations, open-book assessment, and project reports/dissertations

Learn from an expert teaching team

• Dr Mark Bulling - Research interests include the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning; application of statistics for data analysis
• Dr Andrew Ramsey - Uses multidisciplinary approaches to research the ecology and conservation of species in cultural ecosystems
• Professor Karim Vahed - Research interests include entomology, evolutionary/behavioural ecology and conservation biology
• Dr John Pritchard - Research Methods
• Debbie Alston - Special interests include monitoring biodiversity and habitat management for specific species.

Entry requirements for UK students: You will usually need either an honours degree in a related scientific subject (at least second class) or equivalent experience

Entry requirements for EU/international students: International students should have the above or an international equivalent. If English is not your first language, you will need to hold IELTS 6.0 or above.

2020/21 Fees (August 2020 - July 2021)

*Note – at postgraduate level, you’ll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the awards below.

This means you will gain 180 credits in total to complete the full MA or MSc. If you are studying part time you will normally complete your studies over two or three years, depending on the course structure.

Please note that all fees may be subject to annual increase.

Additional costs and optional extras

This course paves the way to careers with government bodies like the Environment Agency and DEFRA, international organisations such as the UN, local authorities, environmental consultancies, water companies and in a wide range of industries where environmental assessment and control is vital. If you are already in employment, it will enhance your promotion prospects and confidence in applying for more senior roles.

The MSc also represents a valuable qualification for professionals working in allied areas who want to broaden their skills. If you are an environmental consultant, for example, you may wish to gain more specialist knowledge of issues like land remediation.

In addition, your studies will give you a firm basis for higher-level qualifications including MPhil/PhD research degrees.

Coupled with relevant experience, the MSc could also put you on the pathway to full membership of professional accreditation bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) or the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). Longer term, you could achieve professional status such as Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv). Gaining this recognition will open up new employment opportunities for you and enable you to keep up to date with latest developments in the field. 

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Additional information about your studies

Download programme specification

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Additional costs and optional extras

We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.

Included in your fees

• You will be provided with a laboratory coat and safety glasses as required
• All equipment and consumables needed for your experimental/field work are provided by the University, this is subject to the consumables required being costed by you and approval from your programme leader
• All-day fieldtrips are included in your course fee, previous day trips have been based in and around the city of Derby 
• Full access to Digimap online and a downloadable mapping service 

Mandatory costs not included in your fees

• You will need to purchase appropriate clothing and footwear for fieldtrips - approximate cost is £100
• Travel costs for your placement module/s - cost depends on your placement venue of choice

Optional costs not included in your fees

• Professional body accreditation from The Institution of Environmental Science (IES)

Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

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