Entry Points (2023)
430

Course Overview

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary study which examines the interaction between humans and the environment, with specific reference to the effects of modern technological advances.

Today, the necessity to understand our environment has never been more urgent and the need for environmental scientists to deal with increasingly complex issues is growing. The course provides a thorough grounding in the basic sciences in the first year, followed by the application of this knowledge to current environmental problems in the later years. While studying a broad range of subjects, students are also given the opportunity to specialise in topics of their choice.

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Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint), Computer Science or Agricultural Science) and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

4 years

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades (2023)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

23

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

4 (More Info)

Closing Date
NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY308

Course code

Course Outline

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YEAR ONE

• Biology
• Hot Topics in Environmental Science
• Introduction to Law
• Introduction to Statistical Data and Probability With either:
• Chemistry
• Physics or
• Chemistry/Physics
• Introduction to Psychology I and II
• Introduction to Irish Habitats

YEAR TWO

• Environmental Modules
• Botany and Plant Science Modules
• Earth and Ocean Sciences Modules
• Microbiology Modules
• Zoology Modules
• Environmental Legislation

YEAR THREE

• Nature Conservation and Habitat Management
• Field Course with Environmental Skills
• Habitat Management Planning
• Legislation for Environmental Scientists
• Environmental Microbiology
• Microbial Genomics
• Plant Resources and Ecosystems
• Introduction to Biostatistics
• Plus four electives from a wide range of modules

YEAR FOUR

• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Environmental Science Seminars
• Advanced Field Course in Environmental Science
• Final Year Project
• Plus four electives from a wide range of modules 

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Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits
You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module
An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject
Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional
A module you may choose to study.
Required
A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject
A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester
Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Further Education

Postgraduate research opportunities in the field of Environmental Science leading to MSc and PhD degrees are available within the college. Research areas currently include the fields of agri-environmental research, biodiversity, biological control, and habitat management and wetland studies.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the programme have worked with such government bodies as the Environmental Protection Agency, Geological Survey of Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Teagasc, the Regional Fisheries Boards, the National Biodiversity Records Centre and Waterways Ireland, as well as for local authorities, as environmental consultants and for Rural Environment Protection Scheme Planning Agencies. Opportunities also exist in the private sector and working as researchers.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€7,268 p.a. (€7,408 p.a. including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Tuition

€4,268 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€26,000 p.a. (€26,140 p.a. including levy) 2024/25


EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy** €140.  **Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI.  Further detail here.

Find out More

Dr Mike Gormally
Programme Director
Centre for Environmental Science
T 353 (0)91 493 334
F 353 (0)91 494 578
E mike.gormally@universityofgalway.ie
www.universityofgalway.ie/applied_ecology_unit/


What Our Students Say

Brendan

Brendan Canning |   BSc (Environmental Science)

...The four years I spent studying environmental science instilled in me a keen interest in the biological sciences and has given me a deeper appreciation of the natural world around me. The combination of lectures, lab work, and outdoor field trips, I feel has provided me with both the knowledge and enthusiasm I need to succeed in my future career...