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Sustainable Environmental Management

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Why Study Sustainable Environmental Management ?

Our environment is experiencing significant pressure from many areas, such as climate change, pollution, population increase and biodiversity loss. It is therefore vital that we develop the capacity to act to reduce such pressure, minimise impacts, and manage resources with due regard to environmental and social concerns. This requires people that can work across several disciplines, who have a flexible and holistic approach to environmental issues, and who can balance environmental issues with societal requirements to achieve sustainable development.

The Sustainable Environmental Management course aims to develop student’s understanding across a range of disciplines, and in the many pressures that are on our environment, within the context of appropriate biological, scientific, geographical and social science subjects. The focus is not only on developing an understanding of these issues, but also in learning current best practice in identifying and applying solutions. These include techniques in areas of sustainable development, environmental impact assessment, environmental management systems, and environmental economics. In addition to studying subjects covering the disciplines above, studies can be supplemented by elective options in areas of interest to individual students.

This course can be studied full-time or part-time. The latter option allows students to maintain a mix of study and work or family commitments, whilst progressing towards a qualification. In addition, the first year of the course (HNC) can be taken as a distance learning course. Study through this option is mainly online and self-study, supplemented with three study weekends through the year.

A course leaflet can be downloaded from the right of this page.

About The Course

Sustainable Environmental Management is a broad-based course that aims to equip students with a sound understanding across many disciplines. Some of these focus on technical understanding and techniques, such as in waste and pollution control, ecology/habitat management, and environmental sciences. However, this course also covers the mechanisms and drivers of implementation, such as societal pressures, legislation and policy, and economic issues. Content covered includes not only theory, but also the practical application of appropriate techniques in sustainable development and in environmental and resource management.

Students can select from a variety of optional studies focusing on specific environmental issues, ecology, economics, environmental policy and business management.

The course has close links with the environmental sector, and students benefit from visits to a range of sites and establishments illustrating important environmental issues and/or sustainable management. These visits, combined with specialist guest speakers and lecturers, ensure that students keep up to date with the latest developments in the sector.

The course normally comprises one year of full-time study for HNC Countryside and Environmental Management, two years for HND Environmental Management & Sustainability, three years for BSc Sustainable Environmental Management and four years for BSc (Hons) Sustainable Environmental Management.

Students may enrol for the degree on entry (depending on qualifications) or may progress through to the degree through the HNC and HND qualifications. For all students, the first year consists of the HNC year common to all our environmental degrees. In the second year, the HND Environmental Management & Sustainability is followed, with students following the Sustainable Environmental Management stream within that HND. However, students with any environmental HND can enter the degree year of the Sustainable Environmental Management programme. Students completing the degree year can then proceed to the honours year, graduating with BSc (Hons) Sustainable Environmental Management.

Flexible progression routes mean that direct entry into years 2 or 3 of the degree for students with appropriate higher national or other qualifications is welcomed.

Awards Available

Click on a course title for further details

BSc/BSc (Hons) Sustainable Environmental Management

UCAS Codes

Study In Aberdeen: SAC S01 FN82 X BSc/SEM

Study In Ayr: SAC S01 FN82 Y BSc/SEM

Study In Edinburgh: SAC S01 FN82 Z BSc/SEM

Length Of Course

The general degree course takes 3 years full-time, the honours degree takes 4 years. Part-time study is also available.

Validating University

The Sustainable Environmental Management degree is awarded by the University of Edinburgh.

Minimum Entry Requirements

3 Highers (BCC) or 2 A-Levels (CC) to include a science or geography. Those with proven experience of managing environmental resources will also be accepted. Entry is also possible with SWAP Access to Science or equivalent qualifications. 

English and Maths are required at Standard Grade/GCSE pass level or equivalent.

Progression Routes

Applicants offering an appropriate HND are encouraged to apply for entry into year 3 of the degree course.

HND Environmental Management and Sustainability

UCAS Codes

Study In Aberdeen: SAC S01 47DF X HND/EMS

Study In Ayr: SAC S01 47DF Y HND/EMS

Study In Edinburgh: SAC S01 47DF Z HND/EMS

Length Of Course

The HND takes 2 years full-time.  Part-time study is possible. 

The HND Environmental Management and Sustainability runs with a choice of two specialist streams - Environmental Protection (EP) and Sustainable Environmental Management (SEM). The SEM stream is available at all three campuses: Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Ayr. The EP stream is available in Edinburgh and Ayr. 

Minimum Entry Requirements

2 Highers (CC) or 1 A-Level pass, preferably to include a Science subject or Geography.

Progression Routes

Those completing the HND can progress into Year 3 of the following courses:  BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management, BSc Rural Resource Management, BSc Countryside Management.

HNC Countryside and Environmental Management by Flexible Learning

UCAS Codes

Study In Aberdeen: Apply direct to SAC

Study In Ayr: Apply direct to SAC

Study In Edinburgh: Apply direct to SAC

Length Of Course

The HNC takes 2 years to study by flexible learning. Study is mainly at home, and there's a weekend study school once a term.

The HNC Countryside and Environmental Management runs with a choice of two specialist streams - Countryside Management or Environmental Management.

Minimum Entry Requirements

2 Highers (CC) or 1 A Level pass.  Entry also with an Access to Science qualification.  Relevant experience will also be considered.

Progression Routes

Those completing the HNC can progress into Year 2 of the following courses: 

From the Countryside Management stream: BSc/HND Countryside Management, BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management

From the Environmental Management stream: BSc/HND Rural Resource Management, BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management, HND Environmental Management and Sustainability.

HNC Countryside and Environmental Management

UCAS Codes

Study In Aberdeen: SAC SO1 057F X HNC/CEM

Study In Ayr: SAC SO1 057F Y HNC/CEM

Study In Edinburgh: SAC SO1 057F Z HNC/CEM

Length Of Course

The HNC takes 1 year full-time.  Part-time study is possible.  The HNC can be studied part-time on campus or by flexible learning.

The HNC Countryside and Environmental Management runs with a choice of two specialist streams - Countryside Management or Environmental Management. The Environmental Management stream runs at all campuses, the Countryside Management stream runs at the Ayr and Aberdeen campuses.

Minimum Entry Requirements

2 Highers (CC) or 1 A Level pass.  Entry also with an Access to Science qualification.  Relevant experience will also be considered.

Progression Routes

Those completing the HNC can progress into Year 2 of the following courses: 

From the Countryside Management stream: BSc/HND Countryside Management, BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management

From the Environmental Management stream: BSc/HND Rural Resource Management, BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management, HND Environmental Management and Sustainability.

Course Content

Further information is available in SAC's undergraduate prospectus and in our course leaflet, which can be downloaded from this page. Please contact us for further information.

The course is delivered using a mixture of lectures, site and fieldwork visits, laboratory classes, computing sessions, tutorials, seminars and group discussions. Modules are assessed using a combination of techniques, including written assessments (reports, essays, reviews), tests and exams, and seminars or group work.

Year 1: 

The first year provides a foundation in the environment and sustainability in general, as well as in biology, human impacts and geography and associated sciences. A broad range of topics are covered, including environmental awareness, pollution and waste management, planning and land use, ecology and biodiversity. Basic academic and core skills are also developed. Elective choices include business management, transportation studies, and soil management.

Year 2:

The second year builds on topics introduced in first year, in areas such as waste and pollution control, the application of the sciences to addressing environmental issues, ecology, habitat management (including freshwater and terrestrial systems), and economic issues in resource management. New topics are introduced such as environmental management systems, environmental education, tourism, and countryside access. Elective choices may include topics such as ecological surveying, marine habitats, renewable energy systems, land reclamation, and rural development.

Year 3:

The third year provides more advanced theoretical and applied training. Global environmental change is addressed as is sustainable development, and a key tool, GIS, is studied through practical application. The use of sustainable management in practice is covered in conservation management planning, and in environmental impact assessment in the planning system. Generic skills in research and data handling are taught to all students. There are a wide range of elective options, including those addressing pollution issues (control mechanisms and monitoring/analysis), ecology and habitat management, education and tourism, and business/economic studies.

Year 4:

This year focuses on an Honours Project, where the students choose a topic from a selection offered, or develop their own topic. Subjects studied include advanced issues in sustainable management, the economics of resource valuation, use and management, and current environmental issues. Electives available include waste reduction and recycling, biodiversity conservation, environmental modelling and risk assessment, policy analysis, marine ecology, and rural sociology.

Career Opportunities

Employment pathways for HND graduates include:

  • Waste and recycling assistant
  • Environmental management assistant
  • Environmental field centre assistant
  • Conservation advisor

Employment pathways for degree graduates include:

  • Environmental management systems manager
  • Energy auditor
  • Community environmental projects officer
  • Tourism advisor
  • Parks ranger

Some gradates have continued their studies at postgraduate level by taking up one of a wide range of MSc or PhD opportunities that are available to them.

Please refer to the external weblinks for one of the many environmental jobs sites, for more information on current careers opportunities.

Course Contacts

Aberdeen Course Contact

Mr John MacDonald
Lecturer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Cruickshank Building, Craibstone Estate,
Aberdeen
AB21 9TR
TelWork 01224 711098
Fax 01224 714591

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Aberdeen Campus General Contact

Ms Suzanne Hay
Student Recruitment Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn
Aberdeen
AB21 9YA
TelWork 01224 711189

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Ayr Course Contact

Mr David Rackham
Programme Leader
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, Riverside Campus, University Avenue,
Ayr
KA8 0SX
TelWork 01292 886159
Fax 01292 886199

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Ayr Campus General Contact

Mrs Jill Thomson
Student Recruitment Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC Ayr, Riverside Campus, University Avenue,
Ayr
KA8 0SX
TelWork 01292 886196

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Edinburgh Course Contact

Dr Alistair Hamilton
Programme and Team Leader
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work King's Buildings, West Mains Road
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4417

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Edinburgh Campus General Contact

Miss Claire Morrison
Student Recruitment Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work King's Buildings, West Mains Road
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4391

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Student Experiences

Dermott Keith's profile can be downloaded from the right of this page. 

Reuben Chesters is currently studying Sustainable Environmental Management at SAC Aberdeen.

His keen interest in the environment has been enhanced by his increasing knowledge of sustainability issue, and he is particularly interested in social and ethical concerns related to sustainability.

He considers that the course offers a good mix of urban, rural, and social sustainability issues, and will lead to a range of employment opportunities.