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Keele University: Study Environmental Science and Sustainability in the UK
22 Feb 2018
Keele holds the key to success
Situated in scenic Staffordshire in the heart of England, Keele University is the ultimate location for the study of environmental science and sustainability, with its 600-acre campus of abundant woodland, lakes and diverse natural habitats making it Number 3 in the world in 2017 for its green setting by the UI Green Metric World University ranking. And with its dedication to energy efficiency and carbon reduction, Keele has also secured 17th place worldwide for overall campus sustainability, and 5th in the world for performance in ‘Energy and Climate Change’.
Be in the heart of the English countryside
Keele’s quintessentially-English countryside setting makes it the perfect place for environmental science and sustainability studies. Stepping onto this institution’s extensive rural campus is an incredible experience for any new student. There are sprawling woodlands, lakes and an internationally-recognised arboretum for you to discover. Everything you could ever need for your UK study experience can be found within Keele’s 600-acre campus.
The institution resides in the heart of the UK, so students gain access to many conveniently located field course environments. This, along with its campus, presents a prime advantage for environmental science and sustainability students, putting them close to many natural study environments that complement Keele’s specialised environmental science labs.
When taking a well-deserved break from your studies, in addition to the usual student sports clubs and societies, there’s the opportunity to join the many student-led sustainability activities. Campus-based food-growing projects are particularly exciting and proving to be popular among the international student community. With campus schemes such as these in place, it’s the combination of location and sustainability efforts that draw international learners to Keele.
As second-year environmental student, Chi from Vietnam, explains, “My teacher back home recommended I look at Keele, it was like discovering a jewel! It’s a really affordable place to be and there’s an amazing woodland campus and great ecological restoration schemes. It has all the things that I want to experience in England.”
Students also get excited about upcoming environmental events, including the national sustainability conference of the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) that will be held on-campus.
Sustainability-driven innovation
Keele University has been recognised for embedding sustainable principles into all activities; from campus operations to the estate and even the curriculum – sustainability is everywhere at Keele. For lessons, environmental students have enjoyed being taught in Keele’s Sustainability Hub. As one of the university’s flagship sustainable refurbishments, it houses many different sustainable technologies and renewable energy resources. Students also have the opportunity to live in the ‘Sustainable Student Bungalow’, an on-campus house set up by four environmental students who wanted to ‘live what they were learning’ and be exemplars of sustainable student living.
Emeline, a current student from Seychelles, loves the authentic appeal of Keele, plus the flexibility and choice in the environmental courses that are available. “I was looking at environmental science courses but, really, I was more interested in sustainability and wanted the social science side too – I saw Environment and Sustainability at Keele and found the perfect combination.”
Another unique feature of Keele University is the Smart Energy Network Demonstrator project (SEND). By working with graduates, academics and businesses alike, the university is in the midst of creating Europe’s first ‘at scale’ living laboratory where new energy-efficient technologies can be researched, developed and tested in a real-world environment. This is an exciting opportunity for everyone as it will make Keele the largest integrated heat and electricity smart energy network in Europe and North America.
Other projects the university is involved with include the HyDeploy project, where the potential of blending hydrogen in the gas grid is being tested, plus various research projects that review the benefits of alternative energy sources. Click here to find out more about Keele’s sustainability and environmental activities.
Courses that advance your career
Keele’s BSc Environment and Sustainability course it taught across three faculties, transcending the boundaries between natural and social science. This offers a truly transdisciplinary approach to undergraduate study that has received a 100 percent rate of student satisfaction.
The BSc Environmental Science course equips students with field and laboratory skills, as well as expertise across an array of subjects like ecology, environmental chemistry, and soil and water management. It can be studied as a single or combined honours degree, the latter giving you the chance to study another subject alongside environmental science; with BSc Environmental Science and Geography and BSc Environmental Science and Biology being popular combinations. That’s why Vincent from Hong Kong enjoys his student experience, “Combined honours is one of the best things about Keele,” he says, “you get to match the things you really want to discover in a way you can’t do at other places and you can also further your studies with the MSc in Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology.”
Keele holds the key to your future in environmental science and sustainability. Taught in small classes of passionate students by highly-qualified, internationally-recognised and award-winning staff, you’ll receive tailored and extensive learning support to help you succeed in your studies.
Since these courses help you acquire valuable field and laboratory skills, you’ll have a vast amount of experience to take to your future workplace. Every second-year student, for example, gets to carry out an extensive semester-long Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) group project using a local case study that includes a site visit day for detailed fieldwork with staff.
Or, if you wish to take your professional experience one step further, there’s also a work placement module in place that allows every student to gain two weeks’ (or more) relevant experience within an environment-related role. With the chance to get involved with local government organisations, private businesses and the charity sector, there are plenty of unmissable opportunities open to students at Keele. You can even take a supported work placement year and make it into a four-year sandwich degree – the choice is yours.
Plus, with interactive courses embedding ‘real-world’ experience, the opportunity to get involved in staff research projects and the chance to study abroad; future employers are bound to be impressed with your hands-on approach to learning and specialised environmental knowledge!
The Admissions Tutor for the environmental programmes, Dr Adam Moolna, would be delighted to hear from you. Contact Adam on a.moolna@keele.ac.uk if you’d like to find out more.
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