Undergraduate · Environmental Science
Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science)
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
About this program
Set against Queensland's own environmental pressure points (the Great Barrier Reef, coastal development, bushfire risk, water catchment management), QUT's environmental science major has a fairly local flavour compared to a generic environmental degree, with field trips and research projects that draw on southeast Queensland ecosystems and QUT researchers' active work in reef and catchment science. The degree sits inside the broader Bachelor of Science framework, so students get a solid grounding in chemistry, biology and earth systems before specialising.
Field work is a real component rather than an occasional add-on: students can expect sampling trips, ecological survey work and lab analysis built into core units, not just theoretical coverage of environmental monitoring techniques. The later years let students lean toward conservation biology, environmental management, or more policy-and-planning-adjacent content depending on career direction.
Career outcomes split fairly evenly between government environmental agencies (state Department of Environment roles, local council sustainability positions) and private environmental consulting firms doing impact assessments for development and infrastructure projects. QUT's Brisbane location puts it close to both sectors.
Cost & duration
English test scores
Course structure
4 terms of coursework
- Year 1: Chemistry I, Biology of Organisms, Earth Systems Science, Introduction to Environmental Science
- Year 2: Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, Geographic Information Systems, field-based sampling and survey units
- Year 3: Conservation Biology, Environmental Management and Policy, Water and Catchment Science, a research project unit
- Throughout: field trips and ecological survey work built into core units
- research projects often connect to QUT's applied reef and catchment research groups
Admissions
Completion of Year 12, ATAR approx. 70-75