Great Degrees for Environmental Consultants

There is growing demand for businesses and organisations to consider sustainability and implement green initiatives and practices to protect the environment. 

As a result, there is also a demand for environmental consultants. Aspiring professionals who want to earn a green degree and become environmental consultants will get to work on topics like climate change, natural resources, energy, and sustainability, with the aim of making a positive impact on the planet's future. 

At LIS, we provide all the resources students need to launch their green careers. Our degree program specialises in critical interdisciplinary skills, and we equip you with expertise you can transfer to other fields.

This guide explores excellent degrees for environmental consultants and how LIS can help you launch your career.

Table of Contents

• Do You Need A Degree to Become an Environmental Consultant? 
• What Do Environmental Consultants Do?
• Great Degrees for Aspiring Environmental Consultants
• Do You Need a Certification for Environmental Consulting?
• Planning Your Degree for Environmental Consultants
• How to Choose the Right Environmental Program

Yes, you will likely need a bachelor's degree to become an environmental consultant. In addition to a bachelor's degree, students could go on to gain a master's degree or complete certificate programs to make their job applications stand out.

Aspiring professionals can achieve a degree in various fields, such as:

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Management
• Environment and Sustainable Development
• Geology

Majoring in any of these fields is a strong step toward securing an environmental consultant position. These pathways cover the critical skills students need to launch a green career.

Environmental consultants combine the work of environmental engineers and their research to help companies make strategic decisions. These professionals are critical in helping organisations and ecological agencies adhere to their regional environmental policy, test and mitigate environmental risks, and develop sustainable initiatives.

These are typical job duties of environmental consultants:

• Provide insights and expertise on environmental risks and challenges
• Develop sustainability and environmental policy
• Establish relationships with ecological stakeholders and agencies
• Oversee and implement ecological and sustainable strategies
• Conduct risk, quality assurance, and field assessments

While the exact job responsibilities of an environmental consultant will vary between professions, these are the duties that aspiring professionals can expect.  

Unsure about the right green degree to become an environmental consultant? We've put together a collection of fantastic degree pathways to launch your green career. 

They vary in scope – some focus on environmental science while others are environmental sustainability degrees. 

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

The BASc degree at The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) is a fantastic choice for students who want to gain valuable skills in core disciplines. This degree covers scientific thinking, the importance of sustainable practices and critical problem-solving. What's unique about this program is that students can transfer this expertise to diverse career pathways in the future.

In other words, traditional green degrees prepare students for jobs specifically in this field. However, with the BASc degree from LIS, students can make a career change without studying for another degree. LIS also provides hands-on training through summer internships for eligible students, so they can work alongside real-world companies and apply the knowledge they have gained. 

In addition, students will have many career support resources by learning from a wide range of industry experts, including philosophers, artists and epidemiologists. 

Key Curriculum:

• Problems 1B Sustainability: Direct experience with environmental problems, consulting with real organisations on local environmental issues.
• Quantitative & Qualitative Methods: Data science, environmental impact modelling, and systems thinking are crucial for consulting roles.
• Superconcepts: Apply interdisciplinary frameworks like entropy and sustainability to complex environmental challenges.
• Capstone Project: Focus on an environmental project you’re passionate about, and gain practical consulting experience.

Fees:

• £9,000 / a year for home students
• £15,000 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Income from internships: To receive this financial assistance, eligible students must have joined an internship that pays at least the London Living Wage. 
• Financial support bursary: LIS awards bursaries between £1,000 and £7,000 annually to qualifying students based on severe financial need. 
• Hardship grants: LIS provides these grants to qualifying students who experience sudden financial difficulties. 

Key Takeaways:

• LIS provides summer internships for eligible students, allowing them to establish industry networks while gaining practical skills.
• The tuition costs for students are affordable, and there are various financial aid solutions.
• Unlike most degree programs, this pathway covers core interdisciplinary skills, allowing students to make effortless career changes in the future. 

BSc (Hons) Environmental Science – University of York

The BSc Environmental Science degree at the University of York covers all the core concepts students need for a green career. You can complete three years of part-time study, opt for four years, and complete a work placement year. This degree breaks down environmental management's broader economic, political and social aspects.

Equipping students with practical skills, this degree also covers hands-on projects. The classes are led by traditional lectures, seminars, tutorials, and field-based and research-based learning. 

Curriculum:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Environment, Development and Society
• Applied Environmental Science
• Engendering Change

Fees:

• £9,250 / a year for home students
• £31,100 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• York Bursary: This bursary is awarded to eligible students based on their residual household incomes. 
• Cowrie Foundation Scholarship: Qualifying Black British students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds can apply for this scholarship to cover their tuition fees and receive a stipend of up to £8,000 per annum. 
• United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education Scholarships: Students from the United Arab Emirates can apply for financial aid for their program. 
• International Regional Scholarship: Eligible undergraduate students can apply for funding between ​​£2,500 and £9,000 for their first year. 

Key Takeaways:

• The tuition costs for international students are far more expensive than similar green programs.
• Students can complete a work placement year and gain practical experience working with real-world companies.
• A combination of traditional research and field-based learning is needed to understand this field clearly. 

Environmental Management BSc(Hons) – University of Brighton

The University of Brighton's geography department offers the Environmental Management degree program. Students who want to become green specialists can study for three years full-time, four years with a work placement year or four to six years part-time. This flexibility makes becoming an environmental manager accessible to many students who may have to work alongside their studies.

This degree aims to equip students with scientific and practical knowledge on understanding the environment and managing the sustainability of its resources. Students will complete classroom, laboratory, and fieldwork and work with industry experts.

Curriculum:

• Statistical and Spatial Data Analysis
• Fundamentals of Physical Geography
• Environmental Pollution
• Environmental Economics

Fees:

• £9,250 / a year for home students
• £15,900 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• The Brighton Boost 2024: Qualifying students can apply for this scholarship and receive support worth £1,250 toward their tuition fees and between £200 and £500 for transportation costs. 
• Progression scholarships: Home-fee-paying students can apply for £2,000 a year for every year of their program. 
• Vice-Chancellor international undergraduate scholarships: This university offers four scholarships for international students from various regions to receive a £2,500 reduction in tuition fees. 

Key Takeaways:

• This university offers a generous selection of scholarships for international and national students.
• International students' tuition costs are more cost-effective than similar degree programs.
• There are part-time, full-time, and placement study options, ideal for students who have other commitments or want to complete a work placement. 

BSc Environment and Sustainable Development – London School of Economics and Political Science

The Environment and Sustainable Development bachelor's degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science is ideal for aspiring green professionals. You can study full-time at home or overseas for three years and participate in fieldwork, workshops, and group study.

Like some of the most excellent green degrees, this program focuses on sustainable agriculture, the drivers behind unsustainable development and the challenges associated with natural resources. What's unique about this program is that students will learn these topics from social sciences and natural sciences perspectives. 

Curriculum:

• Environmental Change
• Sustainable Development
• Field Methods in Geography and Environment
• Global Development 

Fees:

• £9,250 / a year for home students
• £29,200 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• The LSE Bursary: Qualifying students in severe financial circumstances can apply for a bursary. The value of the bursary they receive depends on their household income. 
• UK Undergraduate Scholarship: Eligible home-fee-paying students can apply for a three-year scholarship of £5,000 per year. 
• The Beacon Scholarship at LSE: This scholarship is awarded to eligible students who have a proven record of academic excellence. They can receive one scholarship with an annual value of £24,000 for three years. 

Key Takeaways:

• This green degree helps students learn practical skills through workshops, projects and fieldwork.
• Students can study in the UK or overseas.
• Extensive career support and mentorship are available to help students gain expertise and launch their green jobs.  

BSc (Hons) Environmental Management and Sustainability – The University of Plymouth

To launch your green career, study the Environmental Management and Sustainability bachelor's degree program at the University of Plymouth. This program requires three years of full-time study, and students can opt to complete a work placement year to gain a first-hand understanding of green jobs.

Students can expect to learn practical skills and a range of core disciplines, including environmental law, marine, environmental science and geography. Students will also participate in fieldwork in various locations or opt to study abroad in their second year. In addition, this degree program exposes students to working with engineers, businesses, scientists, and leading industry experts. 

Curriculum:

• Environment and Society 
• The Physical Environment
• Environmental Data Management 
• Managing Human Impacts in the Marine Environment

Fees:

• £9,250 / a year for home students
• 18,650 / a year for international students

Financial Aid:

• Undergraduate International Student Scholarship: Eligible international students can apply for £2000 off their first-year tuition. This scholarship is based on academic achievement, and students may qualify for more financial support if they maintain specific grades. 
• International Academic Excellence Scholarship: This scholarship awards qualifying international students a 50% reduction in their first-year tuition fees. Eligible students can apply for this scholarship based on academic excellence and receive further funding based on their academic performance. 
• Sanctuary Scholarships: Home-fee-paying students can apply for this financial support if they have difficulty funding their degree program because of their immigration status. 
• Santander Scholarships: Local students can apply for a grant of £1,000 toward tuition costs, living expenses, accommodation, etc. However, this grant is only awarded to eligible students who prove they can't afford to fund their degree otherwise. 

Key Takeaways:

• An extensive range of scholarships and financial aid solutions are available.
• Students can study abroad or complete fieldwork to develop hands-on training.
• There are ample networking opportunities, making it easier to land a job after graduation. 

No, you don't need a certification for environmental consulting. However, furthering your education with a certification can make it easier to secure jobs. Aspiring professionals can opt for industry certification or interdisciplinary certification courses like ours at LIS. 

We offer the following certificate courses to help professionals stay competitive in the job market:

• Risk and Reputation: Learners can access knowledge to become leaders with the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills necessary to understand and leverage the power of online communities in today's media-driven world. 
• Systems Thinking for Sustainability: Students will explore systems thinking and how it addresses interconnected environmental and social challenges.
• Cross-Functional Leadership:  This course equips students with interdisciplinary skills to lead teams across diverse departments. 

At LIS, we provide our students with all the resources they need for successful careers. From career support and wellbeing programs to short courses and bachelor's and master's degree programs, we will guide you through your career.

To become an environmental consultant, students must map out their career pathways and ensure they have all the skills needed for this field. 

Here are the top environmental consulting skills employers look for in graduates, along with the average annual salary and job outlook. 

What Skills Do Employers Look for?

To become an environmental consultant, you must have the skills employers seek. This approach increases your chances of finding a high-quality job and helps you stay competitive in the job market. 

Here are the top skills employers look for in environmental consultants:

• Environmental Law: Professionals must know laws protecting the environment to advise organisations and stakeholders on strategies and methods. 
• Geographic Information Systems: These systems integrate computer hardware and software to store, manage, analyse and visualise geographic information. Professionals should know how to navigate these systems. 
• Negotiation: Environmental consultants must know how to negotiate to advocate for their clients' needs. 
• Communication: Professionals must have interpersonal skills and know how to communicate information, strategies and methods to clients. 
• Data Analysis: This skill is imperative for environmental consultants as they must know how to collect, analyse, and visualise insights from various sources, including field surveys, remote sensing and laboratory tests.  
• Environmental Engineering: Environmental engineering professionals use their expertise to guide their clients in making positive decisions about the environment and its adverse effects on human health. 

How Much Do Environmental Consultants Earn?

The UK's average salary for environmental consultants is £36,691 per annum. Professionals in cities like London, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Nottingham will likely find higher-paying positions. It's also ideal to further your qualifications. Consider earning a master's degree to ensure you get top-paying jobs in environment consulting. 

Will the Environmental Consultant Job Market Grow? 

In the UK, the average job growth rate for environmental consultants is 3.4%. 

While this growth rate is slow compared to some industries, it highlights how imperative it is for professionals to gain a degree and stand out from the competition. 

With so many excellent options, picking the right green degree for your environmental consulting career can be challenging. Consider these factors to choose the best degree program for your job:

• Career Goals: To select the best degree, assess your career goals and what you hope to achieve. The program you choose offers the training and resources to help you achieve these goals.
• Flexibility: The flexibility you need in a degree program depends on your schedule and availability. If you have other commitments alongside your degree, opting for one that offers part-time study may be best. 
• Tuition Costs: The cost of tuition is an imperative factor to consider because students must be able to afford their program. Whether you are an international or local student, select a degree that works for your budget. 
• Financial Aid: Whether you can self-fund your program or not, the school you choose must offer financial support. Your financial circumstances could change, and before considering student loans, it's ideal to have access to scholarships and bursaries. 
• Practical Skills: Learning environmental consulting requires practical training. Your program must expose you to technical skills in different settings, such as fieldwork and laboratory training. 

Study With LIS and Become an Environmental Consultant Today

To become an environmental consultant – or to branch into one of the many green jobs out there – aspiring professionals should strive for a quality education and a bachelor's degree. 

Many degree programs are available, and it's imperative to select the right one for you. Aspiring environmental consultants must have the skills employers look for, and they should consider completing certificate courses to stand out in this job market.

At LIS, we have all the resources students need to launch successful careers. Our interdisciplinary bachelor's degree program covers critical skills allowing students to transfer across various fields. We focus on practical training and deliver career and wellbeing programs to make landing a job much easier.

Ready to become an environmental consultant? Contact us today. 

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