BSc Environment and Development

at London School of Economics

The degree involves studying courses to the value of 12 units over three years, plus LSE100. 

This degree is designed to develop core knowledge and skills, while also allowing you to follow particular interests in environmental and development studies. It includes some exposure to natural science concepts in the course Environmental Change: Past, Present and Future. The other environment-related courses build upon this understanding of the natural world but adopt a social science perspective. These environment-related courses include some economic analysis, particularly in the course Applied Environmental Economics.

There is the option of a fieldtrip (normally overseas) as part of the second-year course Field Methods in Geography and Environment (see Fees and Funding section for details of costs). You will also have the opportunity to undertake your own individual research project in the final year.

First year
In the first year of the programme, you will take two courses which deal with the natural environment and with global issues relating to environmental change and sustainable development, a third course on contemporary geographical issues. You will choose a fourth course from within the Department, or an approved outside option, and will also take LSE100. 

(* denotes a half unit course)

Environmental Change: Past, Present and Future
Explores the forces responsible for our dynamic environment and the changes that shape all life on Earth, our species, and society.

Sustainable Development
Examines how the natural world is affected by development decisions and how these decisions shape human development across geographical regions and socioeconomic groups.

Introduction to Geography
This course provides students with an introduction to Geography at LSE, including human, economic and environmental geography.

LSE100*
A half unit, running across Michaelmas and Lent Term in the first year, LSE100 is compulsory for all LSE undergraduate students, and is designed to build your capacity to tackle multidimensional problems through research-rich education.

Either

One approved geography and environment option

Or

One approved outside option

Second year
In the second year, you take an international development course, an environment course and an environmental economics course. You will also take another course from an approved list of geography and environment and outside options.
 

Introduction to Global Development
Deals with analysing global development, focussing on key development, theories, strategies, problems and trajectories
 

Environment: Science and Society
Examines debates concerning the nature, cause, and effects of, and alternative solutions to, the key natural environmental degradation and pollution problems faced by human societies.
 

Courses to the value of two units from a range of options.

Third year
In the third year you study geography and environment options to the value of four units, one of which may be an independent research project (i.e. Dissertation).

Below we list our entry requirements in terms of GCSEs, A-Levels (the entry requirements should be read alongside our A-level subject combinations information) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. We accept a wide range of other qualifications from the UK and from overseas.

GCSEs

• A strong set of GCSE grades including the majority at A and A*
• GCSE English Language and Mathematics grades should be no lower than B (or 6)
• We also consider your overall GCSE subject profile

A-levels*
 

AAB
We also consider your AS grades, if available

Contextual admissions A-level grades**
BBB

IB Diploma
37 points overall, including 666 at higher level

Contextual admissions IB grades**
35 points overall, including 655 at higher level

Every undergraduate student is charged a fee for each year of their programme.

The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees

Home students:
The 2023 tuition fee for new Home students has not yet been set. As a guide the 2022 fee for Home students is £9,250 per year. The Home student undergraduate fee may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years.

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Geography and Environment

Median salary of our UG students six months after graduating: £28,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

• Financial and Professional Services
• Accounting and Auditing
• Education, Teaching and Research
• Information, Digital Technology and Data
• Real Estate, Environment and Energy

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2018-19 were the second group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

Recent graduates have gone on to work in all areas of environmental policy and economics at the local, national and international level, whether in the public sector for government departments and agencies, in the private sector for industry and environmental/management consultancies, or in the NGO sector for pressure groups and think tanks. A number of recent graduates have also gone on to further study at graduate level.