Bachelor of Environmental Science

Program code

1547

Available at

Nathan

Gold Coast

Mount Gravatt

Logan

South Bank

Online

Offshore

Other

Duration

3 years full-time
6 years part-time

Credit points

240

Indicative fee

$9,500.00* per year (more)
* 2025 indicative annual CSP fee

Entry requirements

65.00

ATAR/RANK 2024

(more)

Commencing in

Trimester 1, Trimester 2 and Trimester 3

Prerequisites

  • NIL

Assumed knowledge

  • Any General or Applied English subject (Units 3&4, C)
  • General Mathematics or Mathematical Methods (Units 3&4, C)

About this program

Whether you want to better understand the environment or protect it, our Bachelor of Environmental Science will equip you with the practical skills, scientific rigour and environmental management decision-making expertise to make a meaningful impact in the field. You will gain knowledge and skills from across the broad environmental science spectrum, exploring environmental issues from social, physical and biological perspectives to be well-prepared for diverse career opportunities in conservation, sustainability, and environmental policy. Your first year of study will focus on core science courses, followed by studies in environmental data analytics, geographical information systems, environmental management and environmental anthropology in your second year. You'll also choose a major that suits your interests and career plans. The final year includes a capstone experience where you can undertake research, engage in an extended fieldwork program, and/or complete an industry placement, so you'll graduate career-ready.

Majors

Choose to specialise in up to two of:

  • Ecology and Conservation (Gold Coast and Nathan)
  • Environmental Chemistry (Gold Coast and Nathan)
  • Soil and Water Science (Nathan)
  • Urban Environments (Gold Coast and Nathan).

If you study a double major, you can still graduate in three years.

Honours

From the end of your third year, if you're eligible, you'll have the option to transfer to an Honours program and complete an independent research project to further enhance your knowledge and skills.


You will gain knowledge and skills from across the broad environmental science spectrum, exploring environmental issues from social, physical and biological perspectives. On completion of core science courses in your first year of study, you will choose a major that suits your interests and career plans. The final year includes a "capstone" experience where you have the option to undertake a research project or participate in industry internships to gain employment-relevant experience. Combining a discipline specific major with a major in Environmental Management will equip you with the broad set of knowledge and skills needed to be an environmental science professional.

Attendance information

The Bachelor of Environmental Science is offered full-time and part-time on-campus at the Nathan and Gold Coast campuses. As a full-time student you will generally attend 15-25 hours of scheduled classes per week throughout the trimester. Classes may be scheduled during the day and evening throughout the week.

Student Income Support

To be classed as a full-time student, you are required to enrol in a minimum number of credit points each standard study period. The minimum credit points for full-time enrolment in this program is 30 credit points.

Trimester 1 and Trimester 2 are deemed standard study periods. As Trimester 3 is a non-standard study period, continuing students moving from one year to the next will not be required to study during this trimester to be eligible for student income support.

Domestic students who commence in Trimester 3 may be eligible for student income support from the onset of study provided they are enrolled full-time in this study period.

Please refer to the Australian Government website for more details.

My career opportunities

Graduates may find employment in a variety of sectors related to their program, as well as major choices. These include positions such as environmental officer, environmental consultant, wildlife biologist, conservation ecologist, environmental chemist and environmental scientist or consultant with industry, state and local government as well as commercial enterprises in the following areas:

Environmental consulting, Wildlife biology, Conservation science, Environmental science, Environmental management, Environmental chemistry, Soil science, Catchment restoration and management, Urban planning, Landscape ecology, Restoration ecology, Habitat assessment and management, Pest management, Urban ecology, Research science, Bush regeneration and Wildlife management.

Program accreditation

Students and graduates of this accredited program are able to apply for Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) membership.  This degree is the first in Australia and only one in Queensland to be accredited by the EIANZ. There are different categories of membership available and current students can apply for Student membership, while graduates can apply for Full membership. Membership of the EIANZ enables students and graduates to network with industry professionals and attend a range of events.

Professional recognition

Depending on your major, you will be eligible to join the following professional bodies:

  • Australian Society of Plant Scientists
  • Ecological Society of Australia
  • Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand
  • River Basin Management Society
  • Royal Australian Chemical Institute
  • Soil Science Australia
  • Australian Freshwater Sciences Society

Commonwealth supported students

  • The indicative fee represents the expected average fee for an annual full-time study load (80 credit points). This is based on average study patterns across courses and the Australian Government's broad discipline areas (student contribution bands). A student's actual annual fee may vary in accordance with his or her choice of majors and electives. The Australian Government sets student contribution amounts on an annual basis.
  • Find out more...

Fee-paying undergraduate (domestic) students

These fees are only applicable to domestic students who are not Commonwealth supported including:

  • Full-fee paying domestic students who commenced their program prior to 2009.
  • International students who have been approved to pay domestic tuition fees after obtaining Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency or a permanent humanitarian visa and who have not obtained a Commonwealth supported place.
Tuition fees
  • A fee-paying undergraduate student pays tuition fees.
  • Students are liable for tuition fees for the courses they are enrolled in as at the census date.
  • The tuition fee is charged according to the approved program fee for the trimester in which the student is enrolled.
  • Find out more...

Program fees for the Bachelor of Environmental Science (1547)


If the fee rate for your program is not displayed above, please contact Student Connect for assistance.

FEE-HELP

Eligible undergraduate fee-paying students may defer their tuition fees by taking out a FEE-HELP loan which is part of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP). Payment of the loan is via the taxation system when income reaches a specified level.

Further information

Additional fee information

Additional costs

Throughout your program you may be required to pay for the following items:

  • expenses associated with laboratory activities including lab coats, eye protection
  • expenses associated with field trips and placements