A Guide to Finding a Great Environmental Manager Degree Program

Environmental management is an ideal career for people who are passionate about the environment and want to impact sustainability positively. 

Students can kickstart their careers by gaining a bachelor's degree. These programmes cover the skills required for a successful career in environmental management and expose students to practical experience.

At LIS, our bachelor’s degree programme takes an interdisciplinary approach to help students gain a wide range of skills in critical areas. We also provide networking and internship opportunities, making it easier to land a job after graduation.

This guide explores excellent degree programmes for environmental managers, how to choose the right one, and how to launch your career.

Table of Contents

• What is an Environmental Manager?
• Do You Need an Environmental Management Degree?
• Great Degrees for Environmental Managers
• Do You Need a Certification to Become an Environmental Manager?
• How to Plan Your Career as an Environmental Manager
• How to Choose the Best Degree for Environmental Managers For You

Environmental managers establish and monitor solutions for pollution reduction and prevention, renewable energy, waste management, and helping companies and organisations navigate ecological risks. 

Many environmental managers work with government agencies to help maintain, enforce, and improve ecological laws to build sustainable communities.

Here is what the job responsibilities of environmental managers include:

• Analyse environmental problems
• Create and implement environmental frameworks
• Ensure compliance with ecological standards and regulations
• Work alongside public health bodies to ensure public safety
• Audit environmental policies
• Produce environmental reports
• Drive environmental conservation initiatives
• Support investigations into environmental violations
• Manage ecological strategy budgets
• Develop environmental training for staff
  
  

Completing an environmental manager degree can equip students with all the necessary skills to complete these day-to-day tasks. 

Yes, you need a degree to become an environmental manager. Completing a bachelor's academic degree programme helps students gain the knowledge and practical experience they need to launch successful careers. 

At LIS, our interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree programme allows students to gain critical skills for successful environmental management careers. They can also transfer this expertise to various fields 

These degrees prepare students to become environmental managers and expose them to opportunities for practical experience. A college degree can also help students stand out in the job market, boosting their career outcomes

Here is a selection of great bachelor's degree programmes that can help students launch professional careers in the environmental field. 

Arts and Sciences: Interdisciplinary Problems and Methods (BASc) – The London Interdisciplinary School 

The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) offers the BASc degree to students who want to gain valuable interdisciplinary skills. In contrast to traditional degree programmes, this pathway covers core skills in a wide range of expertise that students can use in environmental management and many other career fields.

Students will work alongside industry experts to gain perspectives and ideas on complex problem-solving, innovation, and critical thinking. These industry experts include philosophers, artists, journalists, and epidemiologists. Eligible students can also leverage summer internship opportunities at LIS for at least five weeks yearly.

Key Curriculum:

• Problems 1B: Work in groups to research an environmental or climate-related challenge in your area. Collaborate with a non-profit, company or public sector organisation. 
• Quantitative Methods 1B: Learn key skills in data science, machine learning (ML) and statistics. 
• Problems 2B: Focus on issues surrounding urban futures. Participate in workshops, prototyping projects, and off-site exploratory walks.
• Telling the Story of a Wicked Problem: Students learn how to tell the story of a complex issue like climate change and put together an authentic multi-media campaign strategy.
• Mental Models and Superconcepts – Interdisciplinary Ways to View the World: Study superconcepts like evolution and entropy and how to apply these in creative ways to a real-world problem.
• Capstone Project: Choose a topic you are passionate about and develop a research-based project that reflects your quantitative and qualitative skills. 

Fees:

• £9,000 / a year for home students
• £17,000 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Hardship Grants: If you experience sudden financial challenges, you can apply for a hardship grant. LIS evaluates the benefits of these grants on a case-by-case basis. 
• Financial Support Bursary: Qualifying students can apply for between  £1,000 and £7,000 toward their studying expenses.
• Income from Internships: Eligible students who complete an internship and earn at least the London Living Wage can apply for financial support.  

Key Takeaways:

• Students can apply for internships and work alongside real-world companies to gain practical experience and establish industry connections.
• LIS provides many career and well-being resources to help students transition into work after graduation.
• With interdisciplinary skills, it's easier to transfer your knowledge to various career paths in the future. 

BSc Environmental Management – The University of Manchester

Aspiring environmental managers can complete the BSc Environmental Management degree at The University of Manchester for three years of full-time study. Students will learn the critical skills required to become a registered environmental manager. This includes how climate control works and impacts society, the importance of conversation, and sustainability practices.

There is also an opportunity to complete a two—or four-week work placement and work alongside industry experts, such as environmental scientists, managers, and consultants. In addition, this degree programme exposes students to practical skills through local and international field trips.

Key Curriculum:

• Environmental Processes and Change: The Global System
• Ecology and Conservation
• Climate Change: Science and Society
• Wildlife in the Anthropocene

Fees:

• £9,535  / a year for home students
• £31,000 / a year for international students

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Financial Aid:

• The Manchester Bursary: Eligible students can apply for between £1,300 and £2,600 for financial aid. 
• The Cowrie Foundation Scholarships: Caribbean and Black students from underrepresented groups may be eligible for financial support of  £8,000 for each year of study.
• The Raheem Sterling Scholarships: This scholarship awards £8,000 for each year of study for seven Black and Caribbean students from underrepresented groups.

Key Takeaways:

• There are many opportunities for students to gain hands-on skills in this bachelor's degree programme.
• Students will gain core knowledge working alongside industry experts.
• There are various scholarships available. 

BSc Ecological and Environmental Sciences – The University of Edinburgh

The BSc Ecological and Environmental Sciences bachelor's degree requires four years of full-time study. Students will focus on ecological and environmental sciences, learning how organisms interact with each other and key factors impacting how the environment is changing. This programme equips students to analyse environmental problems, keep up with environmental regulations, and understand what it takes to work in the private sector and with government agencies.

Students will also gain practical experience through field trips, workshops, lectures from industry experts, tutorials, practical classes, and project work. 

Key Curriculum:

• Computational Data Analysis
• Ecology
• Living Organisms 
• Data Science

Fees:

• £1,820 / a year for home students
• £36,800 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Access Edinburgh Scholarship: Eligible full-time students can apply for financial aid to pay their studying expenses. 
• Asylum Seeker Scholarship: The UniversityUniversity offers four grants to help refugees with living and studying costs.
• Travel funds: International learners can apply for funding to cover their travel costs to study abroad. 

Key Takeaways:

• The tuition fee for home-paying students is incredibly affordable.
• There are many financial aid solutions available for international students.
• There are various learning methods available. 

BSc Environmental Management and Sustainability – University of Reading

The BSc Environmental Management and Sustainability degree from the University of Reading requires three years of full-time study. Students will learn about scientific, socioeconomic, and technical aspects of environmental issues. They will also explore the fundamentals of hazardous materials management, environmental laws, and occupational safety in these environments.

Students will participate in fieldwork to gain real-world experience and access to the University's large farms with over 1,000 animal species. In addition, students will have access to coastal and urban environments in the UK and Netherlands. The University of Reading also enables students to complete a one-week mini-placement and spend two weeks studying abroad.

Key Curriculum:

• Ecology and Environmental Management
• International Development: Global and Local Issues
• Data Skills
• Transitions to Sustainability

Fees:

• £9,535 / a year for home students
• £29,950 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Disabled Students' Allowance: The Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) covers study-related expenses for students with mental health issues, long-term illness or other disabilities. 
• The Reading Bursary: This bursary provides £1,100 in cash or as a partial fee reduction. 
• Care Experienced and Estrangement Bursary: Qualifying students who are leaving local authority care or are recognised as estranged can apply for financial support. 

Key Takeaways:

• There is a wide range of scholarships available.
• Students will complete job placements and gain practical experience.
• There is an opportunity for students to study abroad. 

BSc (Hons) Environmental Management – Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University provides the BSc (Hons) Environmental Management for four years of full-time study. This bachelor's degree focuses on managing waste, land, water and their social and environmental impact. There are many specialisations students can choose from to complete a programme that aligns with their interests. 

Students will have opportunities to complete a work placement in the UK or Europe. They can also participate in industrial placements in America and India. This programme enables students to gain environmental skills through assessments and group work activities, complete ecological reports, and gain real-world experience.

Key Curriculum:

• Natural Resource Management
• Principles of Workplace Legislation
• Environmental Policy and Regulation
• Urban Regeneration Energy Resource Management

Fees:

• £1,820 / a year for home students
• £15,200 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Young Student's Bursary (YSB): Students under 25 with severe economic difficulties may receive financial assistance.
• Independent Students' Bursary (ISB): Qualifying students who meet the "independence" criteria can apply for support toward their living costs. 
• Care Experienced Bursary: Students leaving local authority care can apply for a bursary of £9,000. 

Key Takeaways:

• The tuition fees for home-paying students are incredibly affordable.
• There is a diverse range of financial aid solutions available.
• Students can gain real-world experience and establish industry connections through work placements. 

No, you don't need a certification to become an environmental manager. However, completing short courses can expand your skill set and give your resume a competitive edge. Instead of completing courses specialising in environmental management, students can complete any of our short courses at LIS and gain valuable skills in core areas. 

Our short courses at LIS include:

• Cross-functional leadership: Learn to become a leader, solve complex problems, and manage various departments. 
• Risk and Reputation: This course covers the fundamentals of leadership through interdisciplinary methods. It also studies the impact of online communities on decision-making.
• Systems Thinking for Sustainability: Understand how systems thinking impacts sustainability. Gain the resources and tools to guide companies to make ecological decisions. 

In addition to the education requirements for a career in environmental management, we will explore the top skills employees need and the job outlook. 

Top Skills for Environmental Managers

To become a successful environmental manager, students must have the key skills employers seek. These skills include:

• Environmental Compliance: Managers must develop strategies for agencies and firms to adhere to environmental legislation and standards. They must assess strategies to identify possible risks and implement solutions. 
• Environmental Policy: Environmental management professionals must establish eco-friendly policies and practices that guide how organisations interact with the environment. 
• Sustainable Development: Managers will design and implement sustainability strategies and oversee these initiatives to achieve their targeted goals.
• Project Management: Environmental managers lead green initiatives, set objectives and work with companies to fulfil those objectives. 
• Environmental Auditing: Managers in the ecological field must conduct regular audits to identify how to optimise eco strategies.
• Data Analysis: Interpreting and analysing data is critical to environmental management. Professionals must collect data and draw actionable insights to help businesses make sound ecological decisions. 

The Average Salary for Environmental Managers

The average salary for environmental managers in the UK is £45,000 per annum. Professionals in entry-level jobs typically earn £38,942 annually, while experienced environmental managers have a potential of £55,210 annually.

Students can increase their salaries by expanding their skills, obtaining a master's degree, or furthering their experience. 

Will Environmental Management Jobs Grow?

Environmental managers have many job growth opportunities in the UK. Green jobs are growing four times faster than other careers. Scotland has the highest proportion of green careers, at 3.3%, followed by London.

As the UK emphasises ecological initiatives, professionals in this field will see increased job demand. 

These are the top factors to consider when selecting the right degree for your environmental management career.

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Tuition Costs

The first factor to consider when choosing the right bachelor's degree in environmental management is tuition cost. Evaluate how much it would cost you to study the entire programme. You must calculate tuition, living expenses, accommodation, and commuting costs. 

Be specific in determining how much your studies will cost you and determine your plan to cover these expenses. 

Specialisation

Choose a degree programme that allows you to specialise in a topic that you're passionate about. Your degree pathway must cover skills that align with your interests and career goals. If you don't want a specialisation and prefer a broad understanding of critical environmental management skills, an interdisciplinary degree, such as LIS, is the best option for you. 

Financial Support

Some students can self-fund their entire degree programme. However, ensure the pathway you opt for offers financial support that applies to you. Studying is expensive, and the more resources you have to help ease the economic burden of your degree programme, the easier it will be for you to manage. 

Practical Training

A high-quality environmental management degree must deliver practical training. Gaining hands-on experience is the best way to understand what ecological jobs entail and what employers expect. 

This experience also gives you a competitive edge in the job market, as employers can see you've worked on real-world problems. 

Study with LIS and Become an Environmental Manager

Environmental managers help companies and federal agencies adhere to environmental laws, understand the impact of climate change, and maintain robust eco policies. 

Green careers in the UK are growing, and with more experience and qualifications, students can increase their earning potential. To choose the right degree for their career, it's vital to consider tuition costs, financial support, programme specialisations, and practical training.

At LIS, we provide an interdisciplinary degree programme to help students gain critical skills in various areas. Our approach equips students with all the resources they need to launch successful environmental management careers.

Ready to become an environmental manager? Contact LIS today.