Program Overview
Do you want to do your part for the environment? This degree will give you skills and the practical learning you’ll need to address the pressing environmental issues we face — in Aotearoa New Zealand and globally.
Various disciplines of science intersect in this programme to create a layered understanding of complex sustainability challenges we face — for example in freshwater resources, marine contamination, coastal erosion, biosecurity, natural disasters, and climate change. You will assess impact resulting from disasters, ecological change, and human activity.
The Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours is accredited by the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) to deliver environmental practitioners for roles in industry, government, education and research, and the community.
- This degree combines mātauranga Māori and scientific knowledge to broaden your understanding and approach to environmental issues and future developments, using Ki Uta Ki Tai | From the Mountains to the Sea — the full journey and interconnectedness of the natural world.
- Lab and field work-based learning, with up to 400 hours of work experience.
- Courses cover a variety of subjects to give you a layered understanding of the sustainability challenges we face and to customise your degree with the issues you are most passionate about.
Christchurch, New Zealand
48 Months
NZ$ 35,538
IELTS: 6 TOEFL: 80
The Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours requires a minimum total of 480 points:
- 270 points of compulsory Environmental Science core courses
- a minimum of 135 points of courses towards a major
- a minimum of 60 points of elective courses.
You will also complete 400 hours of practical work placement through ENVR300 Environmental Science Work Experience (0 points, 0 fees).
The degree takes 4 years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to 8 years.
- Limited entry into fourth year
- All 300-level courses in the degree must be completed before proceeding to the final year. ENVR302 and ENVR304 must also both be completed with a B Grade Point Average.
If you are not successful in gaining a place, you may instead be awarded the Bachelor of Environmental Science, or you can normally credit completed courses to the Bachelor of Science or other UC degrees.
Major subjects
- Ecosystem Health and Biosecurity
- Environmental Change
- Environmental Contamination
- Environmental Hazards and Disasters
- Freshwater
- Sustainable Coasts
- Compulsory courses
100-level
- ENVR101 Introduction to Environmental Science
- BIOL112 Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- GEOG106 Global Environmental Change
- SCIE101 Science, Society and Me
- STAT101 Statistics 1
- CHEM111 Chemical Principles and Processes OR CHEM114 Foundations of Chemistry
- CHEM114 is recommended if you have not taken Year 13 chemistry (or equivalent) at secondary school.
200-level
- ENVR209 Environmental Science and Resource Management
- ENVR210 Practical Environmental Science and Management
- BIOL274 Principles of Ecology
One course chosen from these options
300-level
- ENVR302 Professional and Field Skills for Environmental Scientists
- ENVR304 Challenges in Environmental Science
- PSYC341 Environmental Psychology
- ENVR302 and ENVR304 must both be completed with a B Grade Point Average to move onto the next year (or may instead be awarded the Bachelor of Environmental Science).
400-level
- ENVR411 Case Studies in Environmental Science
- ENVR415 Assessing and Communicating Environmental Effects and Risks
- ENVR480 Research Project
Work placement course
You will also complete 400 hours of practical work placement arranged through UC with ENVR300 Environmental Science Work Experience (0 points, 0 fees).
You can choose to take this course during the summer months (November—February) in either year 2 or 3 of the degree.
Optional courses
Another 60 points (up to 75 depending on your chosen major) need to be chosen from the below.
Group 1
Choose 30 points from the following course options, or any language courses:
- Ancient Greek
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Japanese
- Latin
- Russian
- Spanish
- Te Reo Māori
Group 2
Choose your remaining points from the following course options, or courses at any level chosen from:
- Antarctic Studies courses
- Biological Science courses
- Biochemistry courses
- Chemistry courses
- Geography courses
- Geology courses
- Mathematics courses
- Statistics courses
- Water Resource Management courses
The BEnvSci(Hons) is open to anyone with entry to the University.
While no particular background is required, secondary school subjects such as biology, chemistry, geography, and sustainability are good preparation. Most important is a passion for the environment and our role as kaitiaki protectors of our natural world.
| APPROVED ENGLISH TESTS | MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS |
| IELTS | Academic with an average score of 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking |
| TOEFL iBT | Total minimum score of 80, with at least 19 in reading, writing and listening. Please note UC only accepts TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date, not MyBest scores. |
| TOEFL PBT | With a minimum score of 550 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5 |
| CCEL EAP | Level 2 with a minimum C+ grade |
| CAE or CPE | minimum score of 169 with at least 162 in reading, writing, listening and speaking |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) | PTE with an overall score of 46 and no PTE communicative skills score below 36 |
| NZCEL | Level 4 - Academic endorsement |
| FluentIQ | Overall mark of 8/10 with nothing less than a 7 being scored in a single category. |
| LanguageCert | B2 Communicator (LRWS) overall with High Pass |
| NZAPA | English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 2 (with no skill lower than Level 1) |
This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection $ 35,538
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Extensive practical experience in work and field settings.
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Only accredited degree in environmental sciences in Aotearoa, with eligibility for semi-professional accreditation from the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ).
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Graduates are in demand for their ability to identify, monitor, and solve a variety of problems associated with the environment. They help advise on sustainability, environmental risks, and environmental aspirations.
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Graduates will be ready for roles such as consultants, policy analysts, disaster and crisis response management, and researchers for contamination, pollution, and invasive species, and more.