Build your knowledge around the key concepts of hydrology, hydrometrics and basic hydrological processes operating at a catchment scale. You will focus on the practical application of skills and industry standard techniques in the context of the latest legislation, guidance and policy.

An introduction to estimation and the computational techniques used to calculate extreme sea level and wave heights, and to produce tidal graphs for flood inundation modelling. During this module, you will cover coastal asset management, design and planning considerations in the context of applying these technical approaches and concepts to decision-making faced by coastal asset owners, planners, and developers. You will explore the concept of predicting climate change impacts and uncertainty, and how to incorporate these into flood risk management.

By reviewing case studies and examples of river restoration projects, you will explore the contexts for developing legislative and policy drivers, for example, the Water Framework Directive (WFD). You will explore the impact of land use and land management practices on rivers and how to incorporate flood risk management considerations into successful catchment and river restoration.

As part of this, you will take a field trip to visit a restored river system, demonstrating assessment techniques and providing case study material to support the design of a river restoration scheme as part of the assessment.

An introduction to commercially available models for real-time flood forecasting and warning systems and the concepts of variability, uncertainty and accuracy in short-term forecasting. You will explore longer-term climate prediction and the concepts and principles of uncertainty.

As part of this, you will investigate a simulated flood response exercise to understand how forecasting is applied and how uncertainty and variability in forecasting is dealt with in a real-world context and influence the decision-making process.

Develop the knowledge needed to select the most appropriate model for particular applications in flood risk management, from flood warning and flood risk mapping for spatial and emergency planning, to broad-scale screening studies, detailed feasibility and design of flood mitigation measures. You will be introduced to commercially available 1D, 2D and integrated models, along with their data requirements, capabilities and applications, including flood studies, sediment transport and tidal/coastal modelling.

Throughout, you will utilise case studies and undertake hands-on modelling. No previous experience is required. You will also touch on hydraulic principles relating to good river weir and culvert design, which will be demonstrated using a hydraulic flume. You will focus on the practical application of skills and industry standard techniques in the context of the latest legislation, guidance and policy.

Gain a foundational knowledge of flood risk-related responsibilities and assessment methods, with an introduction to the key concepts in urban hydrology and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). You will cover the practical application of SuDS in the context of the emerging guidance and legislation using case studies of SuDS implementation in a variety of situations. You will learn about the design of SuDS systems, from outlining design concepts to assessing the performance, estimation of flow and water quality loading.

Catchments are increasingly understood as complex and highly interconnected systems. This presents significant challenges for those who manage land and water resources within catchments, but also a range of novel and timely research opportunities. In this context, you will gain an understanding, through practical experience, of key research and management challenges that may face catchments in the future. You will draw on the latest land and water management frameworks used in catchments across the UK and Europe as a basis.

After analysing these frameworks and identifying significant challenges, you will use a combination of field, laboratory and data analysis techniques to investigate research questions focused on the condition of land and water resources within catchments. Case studies will be drawn from the English Lake District, including work within Windermere’s catchment at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

By reviewing case studies and examples of river restoration projects, you will explore the contexts for developing legislative and policy drivers, for example, the Water Framework Directive (WFD). You will explore the impact of land use and land management practices on rivers and how to incorporate flood risk management considerations into successful catchment and river restoration.

As part of this, you will take a field trip to visit a restored river system, demonstrating assessment techniques and providing case study material to support the design of a river restoration scheme as part of the assessment.

Groundwater is the largest freshwater reservoir on the planet; in many parts of the world it is the main (or only) source of freshwater. Groundwater is not only a major source of drinking water, it sustains river flow, plays a critical role in food security and can also influence the structural properties of the ground. In this module you will learn how we can access this water reservoir and how natural and human-influenced disturbances can impact on the availability of groundwater and its quality. You will also be given in-field training on groundwater investigation techniques and gain hands-on experience of using groundwater models to tackle practical problems. You will also learn about some topical issues related to groundwater resources, globally.

Explore in-depth aquatic ecology, focusing on both freshwater and marine ecosystems. You will examine key ecological concepts such as species interactions, energy flow, nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning across different aquatic environments. The module will explore how physical, chemical and biological factors shape the structure and dynamics of both marine and freshwater habitats. Through case studies, fieldwork and practical applications, you will investigate the ecological processes in lakes, rivers, coastal zones and oceans and develop skills in data analysis, biological monitoring and conservation strategies. Special attention will be given to the conservation and management of aquatic habitats, with a focus on sustainable practices. You will develop a broad understanding of aquatic ecology and the skills required to address contemporary challenges in both freshwater and marine environments.

Delve into the fate and behaviour of chemical contaminants in different environmental systems, while considering relevant fundamental principles and processes.

You will support theory through case studies taken from recent peer-reviewed sources. You will gain an understanding of the fundamental principles relating to the fate and behaviour of contaminants in the environment. This will be specifically relating to the movement of chemicals between and within environmental media, specific biological, chemical and physical processes controlling the fate of contaminants in soil, water and air, and the prediction of the spatial and temporal behaviour and impact of contaminants using well-established models.

At a generic level, you will gain skills for reviewing scientific literature, formulating robust scientific arguments and using a range of information resources for research projects.

An introduction to estimation and the computational techniques used to calculate extreme sea level and wave heights, and to produce tidal graphs for flood inundation modelling. During this module, you will cover coastal asset management, design and planning considerations in the context of applying these technical approaches and concepts to decision-making faced by coastal asset owners, planners, and developers. You will explore the concept of predicting climate change impacts and uncertainty and how to incorporate these into flood risk management.

Chemical contamination is one of the ten ‘planetary boundaries’, which, according to some of the world’s most eminent scientists, should not be crossed. The reasons are self-evident; a contaminated world is an unsafe world – for society and the environment. Even the most advanced nations suffer, directly or indirectly, from pollution, whether the source is thousands of kilometres away or just down the street.

Through a combination of lectures and workshop-based activities, you will gain an understanding of the scale of the pollution problem, the fate, behaviour and impact of pollutants in the environment, especially in terrestrial systems, the processes developed to assess the risk and potential impact of pollution, and how we use scientific understanding to reduce the impact of pollution on the environment and society.

The knowledge and skills that you will gain from this module will support your ambitions for further research or employment in the regulatory and private sectors.

Build a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the data analysis and programming techniques that increasingly underpin environmental and Earth sciences and are equally relevant to research and employment. To begin, you will be introduced to methods for using computer programming for analysis and visualisation of environmental science data. Using a modern programming language (e.g. Python) and interactive development environments (e.g. Jupyter Notebook), you will then develop the skills necessary to use programming in conjunction with large datasets and modelling systems that feature throughout environmental science.

You will explore the fundamental tools of programming, running code in interactive development environments, editing, commenting, debugging, and using variables, loops, conditional statements and functions. Once you have mastered these tools, you will develop proficiency in programming for statistical analysis, hypothesis testing and data visualisation, and gain experience in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level.

Develop a critical understanding of the core concepts, tools and strategies used in managing natural resources and the environment. This module places strong emphasis on tackling the complexity, uncertainty and conflict that often characterise real-world environmental challenges. You’ll explore a range of management approaches suited to rapidly changing or ‘turbulent’ conditions and examine contemporary environmental issues through both academic and policy lenses. By engaging in constructive debate, you’ll refine your ability to evaluate competing arguments and evidence and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of alternative management frameworks.

We introduce you to the fundamental principles of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing and demonstrate how these complementary technologies may be used to capture/derive, manipulate, integrate, analyse and display different forms of spatially-referenced environmental data. We blend theory-led lectures with hands-on practical sessions using state-of-the-art software. Alongside core subject knowledge, you'll build transferable skills in synthesising geographical data, developing problem-solving strategies, managing your time effectively and presenting analysis through innovative graphical formats.

Develop the knowledge needed to select the most appropriate model for particular applications in flood risk management, from flood warning and flood risk mapping for spatial and emergency planning, to broad-scale screening studies, detailed feasibility and design of flood mitigation measures. You will be introduced to commercially available 1D, 2D and integrated models, along with their data requirements, capabilities and applications, including flood studies, sediment transport and tidal/coastal modelling.

Throughout, you will utilise case studies and undertake hands-on modelling. No previous experience is required. You will also touch on hydraulic principles relating to good river weir and culvert design, which will be demonstrated using a hydraulic flume. You will focus on the practical application of skills and industry standard techniques in the context of the latest legislation, guidance and policy.