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Faculty of Science and Engineering

MSc in Environmental Change, Management and Monitoring

Postgraduate - Taught MSc

Open for admission in 2024/25

Start in September

Qualification Full time
MSc 1 year

About the course

Climate change, pollution and invasions by non-native species are pressing issues globally, within Europe and in the Humber region.

This MSc provides an in-depth understanding of the causes and impacts of environmental change, and equips you with the necessary skills and analytical tools to monitor and manage such changes.

You consider the scientific, political and legal consequences of environmental change and management and develop your understanding of the processes involved, integrating information at molecular, cellular, organismal and ecosystem levels.

Here at Hull, we have an active team of environmental research focused staff, both biologists and geographers, and an established track record in environmental services. We are a member of the GU8 consortium, a group of port city universities from across the world, providing us with international collaborative links that are unrivalled in the UK. We also enjoy strong, well-established industry links.

Fieldwork is incorporated throughout the programme. The city of Hull’s location on the Humber Estuary, with a large ports complex and growing renewables energy industry, within a thriving agricultural setting, provides students with an abundance of opportunities to move from bench to environment. Aquaria provision is considerable, with an established partnership with The Deep, Hull's internationally famous public aquarium.

What you'll study

The programme is taught by a team of environmental research focused staff with a range of expertise unique to the University.

A critical overview of environmental change and related management policies and scientific challenges will be provided. You gain an understanding of the main aspects of monitoring environmental change, from practical, laboratory-based techniques to those used in the field by industry and regulatory authorities.

You will solve complex, real-world problems and construct and test hypotheses related to environmental issues, applying advanced theories, concepts and principles, and learning how to apply them to manage the environment.

Your skills in teamwork, communication and time management will be honed as you make use of the principles of scientific inquiry in the context of evidence-based practice and effectively communicate complex and conceptually challenging information.

A range of industry-standard instrumentation will be used and you will critically evaluate research on current and new diagnostic methodologies. Practical modules cover the wide range of current techniques used in environmental monitoring.

Core module

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.


  • Dissertation

    What fascinates you? You will make an original contribution to research by designing, carrying out and writing up a project on a topic of your choice, supported by your dissertation supervisor.

Compulsory modules

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.


  • Environmental Law and Policy

    The world is facing connected risks that threaten a ‘polycrisis’, with environmental challenges and social justice issues at the core of this. These risks are occurring simultaneously at multiple scales and often highly inter-connected. This module will provide you with an understanding of the development of environmental policy and law from international to local levels in different country and sector contexts. The idea of ‘systems thinking’, that environmental problems and solutions shouldn’t be considered in isolation from other policy areas such as food security and social justice will also be introduced.

  • Research Skills in Environmental Sciences

    It is more important than ever that future environmental scientists are well-equipped with the skills needed to critically assess environmental research. This module will provide you with the key skills required to assess and integrate contemporary literature and to analyse and interpret complex data to become an independent researcher.

  • Environmental Change in the Anthropocene

    You will be introduced to a breadth of topics linked to environmental change, management and monitoring such as terrestrial and aquatic ecology, waste and pollution management, an overview of the Anthropocene, health and climate change and global geopolitical issues.

  • Applied Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing

    In a world where environmental changes are driven faster than ever, evidence-based research is crucial while working as an environmental/ecology professional. GIS and RS are everyday tools used to produce guidelines and influence significate decision-making. This module will take you through every phase of a GIS project and introduce you to a range of applied environmental issues where only GIS and RS analysis can provide solutions.

  • Environmental Impact Assessment

    ​Environmental Impact Assessments are the industry standard for assessing the impact of developments on the environment. In this module, you’ll learn about the socio-economic, ecological, environmental, aesthetic and legislative aspects of EIAs, and critically evaluate existing EIAs. You’ll also learn GIS mapping skills, which are essential in many areas of industry.

  • Ecosystem Assessment

    The ecological assessment of terrestrial and freshwater habitats is a key component of environmental management. This module aims to provide the theoretical background and professional skills needed in the industry by focussing on key environmental issues, the management of water quality, and habitat degradation of inland waters, and management of terrestrial habitats.

Where you'll study

The location below may not be the exact location of all modules on your timetable. The buildings you'll be taught in can vary each year and depend on the modules you study.

Click to view on Google Maps
Hull Campus

Click to view directions on Google Maps

Fees and funding

  • Home £13,000

UK students can take out a Masters Loan to help with tuition fees and living costs. For 2023 entry, they provide up to £12,167 for full-time and part-time taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas. Find out more about Postgraduate Loans.

  • International£18,000/year

International applicants may need to pay a tuition fee deposit before the start of the course. Visit our tuition fee deposit page for more information.

On courses where a part-time study option is available, fees are charged pro-rata to the full-time fee, according to the number of credits being studied.

International applicants may need to pay a tuition fee deposit before the start of the course. Visit our tuition fee deposit page for more information.

Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship

Are you an undergraduate at Hull? You could claim a 25% discount on the cost of your postgraduate tuition fees.

Am I eligible?

International Scholarships and Bursaries

For a list of all scholarships and bursaries for international students, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The University offers a range of scholarships to help you with your studies.

For more information, please visit the Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Study under experts. We specialise in research into Dynamic Earth and Changing Environments, Sustainable Futures and Social Worlds, and Resilient Bodies, Populations and Places.

The Humber – Britain’s ‘Energy Estuary’ – is rapidly becoming the focus of the renewables industry.

Fieldwork is incorporated throughout the programme. 

We are a member of the GU8 consortium, a group of port city universities from across the world, providing us with international collaborative links that are unrivalled in the UK.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a Bachelors Honours degree (typically 2.2 or above, or international equivalent) in an environmental or science subject.

If you hold a degree in another subject area plus professional experience, we would still encourage you to apply as we are looking for a real interest and passion for ecology and the environment and would be happy to consider your application.


In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group, if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved. In addition, existing undergraduate students at the University of Hull have a guaranteed ‘Fast Track’ route to any postgraduate programme, subject to meeting the entry criteria (excluding Social Work).

International students

Language requirements

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you must provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other accepted English language proficiency qualifications.

If your English currently does not reach the required standard, you may be interested in our pre-sessional English Language programmes.

Visit your country page to find out more about entry requirements.

Future prospects

This MSc leads to a host of employment opportunities right across the environmental arena, and graduates will be highly sought by employers. The programme is also an ideal pathway for those intending to progress to PhD programmes within Environmental and Biological Sciences.

Your employability on graduation is very important to us and we place a strong emphasis on providing you with the skills and attributes required by the environmental sector.

We provide specialist progression routes that target the increasing number of employment opportunities within the industry, so you will be ideally placed to secure employment with national or international consultancies and NGOs; private and public service research and management; or conduct further higher-level research across the UK and overseas universities and research centres.

A significant number of employment opportunities exist right here in the Humber region.

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