Subject area: Ecological and Environmental Sciences

Why choose Ecological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Edinburgh?

We are ranked top 50 in the world for Environmental Sciences in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

We are also in the world's top 50 and the UK's top 10 universities for natural sciences, environmental sciences, Earth and marine sciences (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).
Field trips are at the heart of our degrees.

Our hands-on approach to learning takes you beyond the classroom to develop real-world experience and practical skills valued by employers.

While your field experiences will challenge you at times, they are rewarding, fun and also free.
Learn from one of the UK's largest and most successful groupings of geographers, Earth and environmental scientists. Many are world experts in their field.

We keep your degree up-to-date, diverse, and exciting by sharing our discoveries with you.
With our research and industry networks, we open up a world of opportunities and give your degree real-world relevance.
Edinburgh is ranked 2nd in the UK and 16th in the world in the QS Best Student Cities 2024. A fantastic place to live, its also the perfect location to see first-hand the subjects you are studying.

Diverse ecological and environmental locations surround the city and beyond, including rugged coastlines, misty mountains and forest glens.

Study abroad

Since I was a child, I have always cared deeply about the natural environment. And I wanted to learn more about how our ecosystems function. This degree gave me a broad perspective on the interconnection between an ecosystem's components - and the processes that link them. It has also opened doors to a wide range of career pathways from policy making to consultancy and business innovations. Most of all, after studying here, I feel empowered and inspired to make a change.

Giada Barzaghi BSc (Hons) Ecological and Environmental Sciences with Management

Introducing Ecological and Environmental Sciences

If you are:

passionate about the environment
interested in the interactions between humans and nature
concerned about our impact on the planet

Then ecological and environmental sciences may be for you.

Our world is suffering from:

rapid climate change
the over-exploitation of natural resources
the degradation of natural habitats

Our degrees help you address some of our planet's greatest environmental challenges.

Ecological sciences study how organisms interact with each other and their physical, chemical and biological environments.
Environmental science is an integrated science. We apply biological, chemical and physical sciences to understand the natural environment and how it is changing.

Understanding both is important for managing changing environments for a more sustainable future.

Life-changing field trips

Field trips are at the heart of our degrees.

We know that getting out in the world is essential for understanding how it works.

Our field courses and day excursions are challenging and fun. Often, they will provide some of your most memorable moments.

You could be:

splashing through rivers, counting insects
trekking through the forest, measuring trees and taking leaf samples
applying your skills to field conservation in wild and remote areas
learning how people manage land for conservation, forestry and agriculture

Our hands-on approach to learning helps build your confidence and gives you field skills valued by employers.

The locations and experiences of each trip will vary. We want to give you a broad understanding of how the world works. Our goal is to reduce our carbon footprint while providing you with the best training opportunities.

Our compulsory field trips or field courses are free, including travel and accommodation. To make sure our degrees are accessible and inclusive, we offer alternative learning experiences where necessary.

Edinburgh is your ideal base

Our vibrant capital has a blend of history and modern city life.

Edinburgh is not only a fantastic city to live in; it is also the perfect location to see the subjects you study first-hand. We have rich ecological and environmental locations to explore right on our doorstep.

We will take you on day trips throughout your studies to help you make the most of our local surroundings.

It is no surprise we are regularly voted one of the most desirable places to live in the world.

Take a virtual tour of Edinburgh and the University

An extraordinary reputation

We are one of the largest and most successful groupings of geographers, Earth and environmental scientists in the UK. Many of us are world experts in our field.

Our staff will include their latest research in your teaching and share our discoveries in a range of areas, from the tropics to the poles.

Your dissertation also provides practical experience and is an opportunity to connect with potential employers and real-world issues.

Within our ecological and environmental science programmes, you are linked to researchers from world-leading research centres, such as:

What is it really like to study with us?

No one knows what it's like to study here better than the students themselves.

Our students are sharing their experiences, from studying to living in Edinburgh and everything in-between.