Overview
Environmental science and outdoor education careers are in high demand. This is due to climate change and sustainability initiatives. Environmental stewardship has entered the top 10 fastest growing skills (World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025).
Our Environmental Science and Outdoor Education degree gives you a unique set of skills and knowledge. You’ll not only learn about environmental and ecological cal issues. You’ll also be ready for an active outdoors career.
Develop science skills employers need
- Gain analytical, lab and field skills needed to face environmental challenges.
- Explore the complex interactions between people and the environment.
- Understand the science that shapes our natural environment.
- Gain computational skills such as programming in R, data management. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing.
The scientific and digital skills you’ll gain match the needs of careers in environmental consultancy, conservation, sustainability and ecological monitoring.
Gain practical outdoor education training
Your learning in outdoor education is hands-on. You’ll:
- learn how to design, lead and deliver outdoor programmes with environmental and ecological learning outcomes,
- be immersed in outdoor learning on field trips to schools and outdoor education centres,
- plan and design outdoor activities to a range of learners from primary age children to adults.
A major part of the course is mountain or lowland outdoor leader training. Our leading mountaineering instructors and outdoor specialists will teach you:
- outdoor leadership,
- mountain skills,
- environmental education.
There’s also the option to gain the Mountain or Lowland Leader Award, endorsed by the Mountain Training Association.
This is a physically demanding degree. You need to have a good level of health, fitness and mobility.
We ensure the Environmental Science and Outdoor Education course is industry relevant by working with closely with:
- Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre
- Active Stirling
- Glenmore Lodge Outdoor Adventure Centre
Extensive hands-on environmental fieldwork training
Our degree in environmental science and outdoor education gives you lots of opportunities to get practical experience. We regularly use the wide range of habitats on our biodiverse campus for practical work and data collection.
Fieldwork skills you'll gain include:
- environmental monitoring,
- fauna and flora identification,
- experimental design for environmental surveys,
- landscape history and management.
The course also offers the choice of two residential field trips:
- South Africa (10 days). Explore different physical and environmental processes and ecosystem functioning. You’ll also learn about managing international landscapes.
- Scottish Highlands (7 days). A residential experience to study geological, geomorphological and environmental processes at work.
Travel, accommodation, and subsistence on residential field courses are not included in the course fees.
We know that residential field courses can be difficult for some students to attend. They can also have an environmental impact. To widen participation and reduce this impact, we offer a non-residential field-based module. This focuses on day trips around the University.
Get industry experience
A great way to get hands-on experience is to take our optional outdoor education placement module. Past students have completed placements with environmental charities, government agencies and industry partners including:
- Mountaineering Guides
- National Trust
- Scouts
- Active Stirling
- Loch Lomond National Park
- Jupiter Nature Reserve
- Scottish Wildlife Trust
- Green Space, Glasgow
Top reasons to study with us
Prizes or awards
At the end of year 3 the Altajir scholarship of £500 is awarded to the two best performing students in Environmental Science and Environmental Geography.
Faculty Facilities
Take a tour of our Environmental Sciences labs
Entry requirements
Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
Highers
ABBB
A-levels
BBB
IB Diploma
28 points
BTEC (Level 3)
DDM
Essential subjects
To include one of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics.
Essential subjects must have been taken within the last five years to ensure your required subject knowledge is current. Recent work experience can be taken into consideration in place of a formal qualification.
Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other Scottish qualifications
Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.
SWAP access course - for mature students only.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B
Essential subjects
To include one of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics.
Essential subjects must have been taken within the last five years to ensure your required subject knowledge is current. Recent work experience can be taken into consideration in place of a formal qualification.
Other qualifications
English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions
English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Essential subjects
To include one of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics.
Essential subjects must have been taken within the last five years to ensure your required subject knowledge is current. Recent work experience can be taken into consideration in place of a formal qualification.
International entry requirements
Advanced entry
Advanced entry is not available for this course.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- TOEFL exams taken before 21 January 2026: 80 overall with 18 in reading, 17 in writing, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking.
- TOEFL exams taken from 21 January 2026: 4 overall with no less than 4 in any band.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses
Course details
We blend lecture-based teaching, substantial field-based learning about the environment and practical training in navigation, mountain hazards and outdoor safety. We’ll also train you to design and deliver outdoor courses with environmental and ecological learning outcomes.
Modules
Course details
Teaching
You'll be taught through a mix of lectures, on-line materials, field and laboratory practical exercises and tutorials. You'll have the opportunity to gain work-based experience as part of your degree, which will count towards your degree progression.
Fieldwork
We have a wide range of habitats on campus and regularly use them for practical work. Some modules also include short excursions to visit sites and species close to the University. Our residential Scotland field course will offer you the opportunity to gain practical experience in the Scottish Highlands.
You will also have the choice of a residential overseas field trip. Our 10-day field course to South Africa will develop your field research skills. The trip provides an opportunity to develop an understanding of different physical and environmental processes and ecosystem functioning, alongside the conservation and management challenges of international landscapes.
Travel, accommodation, and subsistence on residential field courses are not included in the course fees.
We know that residential field courses can be difficult for some students to attend and incur an environmental cost. To widen participation and increase sustainability in our teaching, there is the option of a non-residential field course module based on day trips around the University.
Assessment
Students are assessed through a diversity coursework assessments that allow them to demonstrate their understanding and skills on a range of topics. These include written work (outdoor education lesson planning, landscape interpretation and preparing environmental consultancy reports), presentations (in groups or individually) and practical demonstrations. This’ll give you highly relevant training for employment as you study for your degree.
Study abroad
During Year 3 you can spend one or two semesters abroad where you study courses equivalent to those taken at Stirling and have the opportunity to broaden your environmental and cultural experience.
In addition to the exchange opportunities available to all Stirling students, Environmental Geography has a well-established exchange programme with universities including the University of Agder, Norway, University of Guelph in Canada and the University of Fairbanks, Alaska.
Contact
Dr Alan Law, Programme Director for Outdoor Education Degrees
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
Scottish students
This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, if you are domiciled in Scotland you can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on your behalf.
You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. Students from the Republic of Ireland are eligible for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,535 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
We also offer additional funding for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities section below for more information.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy and terms and conditions.
International students (including EU)
Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £10,000-£20,000 over the duration of your course. See our range of generous scholarships for international undergraduate students.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
We subsidise costs for fieldtrips, but you’ll be required to make a financial contribution.
Funding
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Students from Scotland
Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Eligible students will receive our Stirling Success Scholarship which is worth £5,000.
International students
Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £10,000-£20,000 over the duration of your course. Find funding opportunities for international students.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
After you graduate
The combination of scientific field skills, outdoor leadership training and geospatial expertise prepares you for a wide range of careers, such as:
- conservation,
- ecological surveying,
- outdoor education,
- sustainability,
- protected area management,
- nature‑based tourism.
Our industry partnerships help you develop professional insights long before you graduate.
Some graduates choose to continue their studies. Our course gives you the foundation for a postgraduate taught or research degree in the environmental field.
Our BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Outdoor Education does not qualify you to become an outdoor instructor. You must gain additional outdoor education qualifications independently for this type of career.
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