THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2026/2027

Draft Edition - Due to be published Thursday 9th April 2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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Degree Programme Table: Ecological and Environmental Sciences (BSc Hons) (UTBSCECOLE1F)

Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Year 1 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: September

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Introduction to Ecological and Environmental Sciences
ECSC08011 20 credits
Biology 1A: Variation
BILG08020 20 credits
Biology 1D: Environment
BILG08023 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 60 credits in this group.

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y

Select between 40 and 60 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y
Notes:
Students can take a maximum of 40 credits Level 7 language courses.

Please note that if choosing courses from within Schedule S, only Level 8 courses from the following subset should be chosen - http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/23-24/dpt/cx_sb_vets.htm
OR

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)
EDUA08116 20 credits
Wicked problems: Reason and Rhetoric
EDUA08126 20 credits
Understanding decolonisation in a globalised world
EDUA08127 20 credits
Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030
EFIE08008 20 credits
Living in the Anthropocene
GESC08004 20 credits
Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World
SSPS08012 20 credits
Healthy Eating for People and Planet
VETS08016 20 credits

Year 2 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students are required to enrol in 120 credits each year.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Soil, Water and Atmospheric Processes
ECSC08003 20 credits
Field Ecology
ECSC08007 20 credits
Ecological and Environmental Analysis
ECSC08008 20 credits
Principles of Ecology
ECSC08012 20 credits

Course options

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y

Select between 20 and 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y
Notes:
Please note that if choosing courses from within Schedule S, only Level 8 courses from the following subset should be chosen - http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/24-25/dpt/cx_sb_vets.htm
AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)
EDUA08116 20 credits
Wicked problems: Reason and Rhetoric
EDUA08126 20 credits
Understanding decolonisation in a globalised world
EDUA08127 20 credits
Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030
EFIE08008 20 credits
Living in the Anthropocene
GESC08004 20 credits
Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World
SSPS08012 20 credits
Healthy Eating for People and Planet
VETS08016 20 credits

Year 3 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Ecological Measurement
ECSC09004 20 credits
Critical Thinking in Ecological and Environmental Sciences
ECSC09007 20 credits

Course options

Level 9 and 10 courses in Schedules A to S and W

Select exactly 40 credits from Level 9 and 10 courses in Schedules A to S and W
AND

Courses from School(s) N-N - Ecological and Environmental Sciences (BSc Hons) - Level(s) 9

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Selected courses must be passed
Population and Community Ecology 3
BILG09009 20 credits
Natural Resource Management
ECSC09002 20 credits
Environmental Pollution
ECSC09005 20 credits
Data Science in Ecology and Environmental Science
ECSC10038 20 credits
Introduction to Social Sciences for Natural Scientists
ECSC10041 20 credits
Global Hydrology
GEGR10146 20 credits

Year 4 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Dissertation in Ecological and Environmental Sciences
ECSC10030 40 credits
Ecological and Environmental Science field course (including management)
ECSC10033 20 credits
Professional Skills in Ecological and Environmental Science
ECSC10044 20 credits

Course options

Level 9 and 10 courses in Schedules A to S and W

Select exactly 20 credits from Level 9 and 10 courses in Schedules A to S and W
Notes:
Please note that if choosing courses from within Schedule S, only Level 10 courses from the following subset should be chosen - http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/24-25/dpt/cx_sb_vets.htm
AND

Courses from School(s) N-N - Ecological and Environmental Sciences (BSc Hons) - Level(s) 10

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Conservation Science
ECSC10036 20 credits
Data Science in Ecology and Environmental Science
ECSC10038 20 credits
Ecological Impacts of Climate Change
ECSC10042 20 credits
Catchment Water Resources
GEGR10023 20 credits
Global Hydrology
GEGR10146 20 credits
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