Bachelor of Environmental Science
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Duration
Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
Next intake
February, July
Entry score
ATAR 70.90
Duration
Full-time 3 years Location
Melbourne city Fees
AU$34,560 (2019 annual)
Next intake
February, July
Overview
Your environmental science career
Environmental scientists find employment in consultancies, government agencies, resource management, research and education, mining, and manufacturing.
What you will study
This degree covers the evaluation and monitoring of all aspects of the environment, including the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the biosphere, and the lithosphere.
Details
You will learn about the biogeochemical processes that occur in both natural and degraded environments and specialise with a minor in either environmental chemistry or environmental biology.
You can also choose to minor in geoscience (environmental engineering) or geospatial science, or gain a breadth of knowledge across all the minors, depending on your preferred career pathway.
Over the course of your studies, you will undertake both practical and industry-relevant activities, gaining:
- considerable hands-on experience with equipment, both in the laboratory and in the field
- frequent field trips during second and third year
- working on collaborative projects with industry.
Many of these activities involve working in small groups to foster teamwork and a collaborative approach to research and projects.
Your environmental science learning experience will be truly multidimensional. You will have the opportunity to engage in:
- Face-to-face lectures: getting to intimately engage with your teaching and research staff at RMIT
- Online lectures: where you will learn through innovative teaching technologies at RMIT
- Group workshops and tutorials: you will develop problem solving and communication skills by working through problems linked to environmental science
- Field activities: you will gain hands-on skills in field sampling, measurement, instrumentation and report writing.
In the final year of your degree, there are three activities focused on preparing you for the environmental industry.
You will work in teams doing riparian, water and benthic sampling, then complete a research project either at RMIT or in conjunction with an external organisation.
In your final year you will participate in teamwork which is a fundamental skill used when working with government and environmental agencies, and consultancies. Some of the participating organisations include:
- Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
- Agriculture Victoria
- CSIRO
- Water utility companies
- Wineries
- Boral
- Parks Victoria
- Municipal councils
- Landcare
- Waterwatch
- West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority
- Sustainable Regions program (DOTARS)
- Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC)
You will also have the opportunity to undertake a team research project. Designed to replicate a professional consultancy practice, this enables you as a final-year student, to apply your learned knowledge to an environmental issue across a range of different problems and perspectives.
Finally, you will hear from and visit a range of environmental industries, before doing a final project in your industry of choice.
Inside the course experience
Practical experience linked to industry and current environmental issues is a major feature of this degree.
You can study for up to one year at any of RMIT’s 120 partner universities through the Education Abroad program. Students have previously studied in:
- Denmark (Technical University of Denmark)
- Canada (Concordia)
- Sweden (Lund University)
- Holland (Delft University of Technology)
- the USA (Buffalo State University)
Year 1
You will study fundamental chemistry, biology, earth sciences and physical energetics related to the environment. Your studies will also include mathematics, scientific communication and an introduction to geospatial science.
Year 2
In the second year, you will study the processes that occur in the hydrosphere, the biosphere, and the lithosphere, underpinned with frequent field work. You will also start to study courses from your chosen minor. There’s also the opportunity to study a second minor or choose a breadth of courses across our minors.
Year 3
In Year 3, you will continue with your chosen minor area of study and further explore processes occurring in the atmosphere. You will be able to engage in the following three unique environmental activities, including:
- a week-long field trip that will teach you how to work effectively in teams on a set project, investigating the health of a local river and lake
- the Science Project unit, giving you the opportunity to work in a team on a project of your choice, generally with an industry partner
- the Professional Environmental Scientist unit, which will prepare you to work in the environment industry.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Environmental Science | City Campus |
3 years full time/ 6 years part time
|
3 years full time
|
BP192P6 | 047880G |
Choose a program structure
Program code: BP192
Career
Your work as an environmental scientist may involve laboratory work, field work, report writing, and research.
Typical tasks graduates perform include:
- sample collection and analysis
- waste management
- ongoing monitoring and assessment
- environmental impact assessment
- site remediation
- policy development
- cleaner production
- environmental education and training
- environmental auditing.
A number of graduates are now in senior positions in several industry areas, including:
- The Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
- The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
- catchment management authorities
- agricultural and research agencies
- environmental consultancies
- higher education.
Admissions
*ATAR refers to the lowest selection rank to which an offer was made (including consideration of any adjustments) for current and recent year 12 applicants.
RMIT is committed to providing transparency to the admissions process. In line with this commitment, we provide you with information that will help in making informed choices about your undergraduate study options.
RMIT admits students from a range of educational pathways, including Year 12 results, previous higher education or vocational education study, work experience, and for some programs - interviews, auditions or portfolios.
Gain a better understanding of the Admission criteria for this program by viewing RMIT’s Admission information.
The highest level of education you have previously completed will determine which category applies to you.
Entry to this program is competitive. Applicants are ranked and selected in order of merit based on their academic achievement, e.g., ATAR or GPA (including any adjustments).
Applicants with recent secondary education (current or within the past two years)
Successful completion of an Australian Year 12 senior secondary certificate of education or equivalent in 2016, 2017 or 2018. If applicable, this includes equity access schemes and any other adjustment factors.
School Network Access Program (SNAP)
The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary access and participation of eligible students from SNAP partner schools.
Applicants with Vocational Education and Training study
Satisfactory completion of an Australian Certificate IV or above or equivalent.
Applicants with Higher Education study
Satisfactory completion of at least four courses (subjects) at an Australian undergraduate level or overseas equivalent.
Applicants with Work and Life Experience
Satisfactory completion of an Australian Year 12 senior secondary certificate of education or equivalent more then two years ago.
You must sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) Multiple Choice if:
- You have no prior Year 12, VET qualifications, HE results or relevant work experience that meet the minimum entry requirements for the program; and
- You are 19 years of age or over (as of 1 Jan 2019) and have not enrolled in secondary studies for at least two years.
The STAT Multiple Choice will satisfy Year 12 English and Year 11 Mathematics prerequisites. Applicants must meet all other prerequisites or equivalents. Learn more about RMIT STAT results.
Form: Non-Year 12 applicants may submit additional information if they would like it to be considered.
- For semester 1 intake, this can be completed through the VTAC Personal Statement online.
- For semester 2 intake, this can be completed through the personal statement in the Apply Direct application.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The Indigenous Access Program will support your application into RMIT programs through an informal interview process with support from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Your relevant life, work, educational and training experience as preparation for study, in addition to any formal qualifications, are all considered.
Elite Athlete Program
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program (REAP) supports elite athlete and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 or an equivalent senior secondary school qualification with a minimum average of 65% (see calculator below).
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognised post secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
Higher Mathematics; or
VCE Units 3 and 4 in Mathematics (any), with a study score of at least 20.
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 580 (TWE 4.5)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
When you successfully complete this program you may be eligible for entry to the Bachelor of Science (Applied Sciences) (Honours).
Alternatively, you may be eligible for entry to other RMIT honours or postgraduate programs.
Fees
In 2019, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958*.
* Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Additional expenses
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$303 maximum fee for 2019.
Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Learn more about fees for undergraduate study.
Defer your payment
You may be eligible to apply for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
All undergraduate and honours degrees have Commonwealth supported places (CSP) available. In 2019, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958.
In a CSP, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set each year by the Australian Government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of the courses in which you enrol, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
Courses (subjects) fall into one of three bands. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Maximum student contribution amount for Commonwealth supported places in 2019
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2019 |
Band 1: humanities, behavioural science, social studies, clinical psychology, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, education, nursing |
$6,566 per standard year |
Band 2: mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, other health, allied health, science, engineering, surveying, agriculture |
$9,359 per standard year |
|
$10,958 per standard year |
HECS-HELP Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
SA-HELP Loans
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to the full amount of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You will only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying).
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2019 is $303.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2019 is AU$34,560.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$106,560.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.