BSc Global Sustainability (including Foundation Year)

Our BSc Global Sustainability (including foundation year) course will be suitable for you if your academic qualifications do not yet meet our entry requirements for the three-year version of this course and you want a programme that improves your skills to support your academic performance.

This four-year course includes a foundation year (known as Year Zero) which is delivered by our Essex Pathways Department, followed by a further three years of study in our School of Life Sciences. During Year Zero, you study three academic subjects relevant to your chosen course as well as a compulsory academic skills module, with additional English language for non-English speakers. After successful completion of Year Zero, you progress to complete your course with our School of Life Sciences.

This course is focused on addressing the grand challenges facing Planet Earth and its living systems. It will involve you in problem solving at a global scale and equip you with the tools needed to address complex problems through a highly innovative and interdisciplinary degree.

You will study the interaction of humans and nature at the local, regional and global level, whilst acquiring the data handling skills needed for a future career in sustainability. You will be trained with the knowledge and skills to tackle the most complex problems faced by our planet, led by our research-intensive academic staff.

Based in our our BSc Global Sustainability course cuts across multiple disciplines. You can choose optional modules from other subject areas including economics, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and politics, each taught by internationally recognised experts in their fields.

You will harness the world-leading expertise from across the University of Essex and develop the tools to improve humanity’s future. You will have the opportunity to join our ongoing work with governmental, non-governmental and commercial partners with impact at local (eg Colchester Oyster Fishery), national (eg CEFAS) and International (eg Mars Corporation) scales.

The grand challenges we will tackle include the interacting climate, biodiversity and nature crises as well as pollution, inequality and social injustice. Together, we will understand how to manage these challenges and plan appropriate responses to them. You will study the relationship between the environment, human cultures and values, while working with stakeholders on the analysis, resolution and communication of complex global issues.

The diverse opportunities offered by this course include, as with all our degrees, options to spend a year abroad or in industry. This allows you the flexibility to shape a degree to suit your interests.

Sustainability at Essex

To learn about the initiatives and actions the University of Essex is taking to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises, visit our sustainability page.