Options with environmental science
An environmental science degree equips you with essential skills that could lead to a job in the environment sector or a range of other occupations...
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. To find out what jobs would suit you, log in to My Prospects.
There are real benefits to gaining work experience and voluntary work in areas related to your choice of career and there are many opportunities related to environmental issues.
Working in a voluntary capacity in an environment-related role may often be the first step into more specialist, paid employment. Many students get involved in clubs and societies while still at university or take up volunteering roles with conservation organisations, such as The Wildlife Trusts , or become active in campaigning groups in their local area.
Volunteering gives you experience that is difficult to gain elsewhere and shows commitment. Some students attend conferences and debates on environmental concerns, subscribe to relevant magazines and journals or go travelling. All these experiences may be persuasive to an employer.
Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.
Typical employers for environmental science graduates include:
There are many vacancy sites for environmental volunteering jobs but the following also have paid graduate jobs across a range of related areas:
Find information on employers in environment and agriculture, the public sector, energy and utilities, and other job sectors.
Studying environmental science provides you with very specific skills according to your particular course or specialist area. You will also develop a broader set of transferable skills, including:
Some environmental science graduates embark on further study to train for a particular career path, e.g. teaching or management, while others are supported by their employer to gain directly relevant professional qualifications. Studying at postgraduate level enhances your employability by increasing your research skills, specialist knowledge and communication skills.
Postgraduate courses may be aimed at developing knowledge of a particular specialist area or entering a sector, such as environmental health, where a postgraduate qualification is an essential requirement.
For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see postgraduate study in the UK and search courses and research.
Almost 60% of environmental science graduates are employed in the UK or overseas six months after graduating. Around a fifth of graduates work in professional and technical occupations. Smaller percentages are employed in commercial, industrial and public sector management (10%) and scientific research and development (7%). Some directly relevant occupations taken up by graduates include environmental adviser, scientific officer, laboratory analyst and research editor.
Nearly 18% of environmental science graduates go on to undertake further study, with a further 7% combining work and study.
For a detailed breakdown of what environmental, physical geographical and terrestrial sciences graduates are doing six months after graduation, see What Do Graduates Do?
Graduate destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
