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Environmental Monitoring and Modelling MSc

2024-25 (also available for 2025-26)

This course is eligible for Master's loan funding. Find out more.

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

1 year full-time

Places available (subject to change)

25.

About the course

Understanding and being able to predict how our changing environment is essential to the prosperity and wellbeing of current and future generations across the globe. The Environmental Monitoring and Modelling MSc at the University of Huddersfield gives you the tools, techniques and understanding to inform decision making in a range of critical natural environments.

Course detail

Remote Sensing

This module provides the knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of remote sensing and practical remote sensing application skills in environmental science. You will learn a range of remote sensing platforms and sensors and the observation principles, as well as practical analysis skills through dedicated case studies in environments such as polar regions, mountains, coastal regions and farmland.

Environmental Modelling

This module provides the fundamental knowledge, understanding and practical skills needed for environmental modelling. You will learn theory, background and types of models used in environmental science, as well as essential programming/software skills and application/validation practices for the modelling of environmental variables such as hydrology, climate, and environmental fluid flows.

Applied Monitoring Project

This module provides an opportunity for you to develop practical monitoring and project management skills. During the module you will gain an understanding of several environmental monitoring techniques, such as biomonitoring, uncrewed aerial vehicles, topographic surveys, remote sensing, paleoenvironmental and soil monitoring. With staff support, you will design, and conduct a pilot study of a monitoring project and critically evaluate its success

Environmental Monitoring

This module examines a range of monitoring techniques used to assess the status of the natural environment. You will be introduced to a range of methods and techniques used in terrestrial and aquatic systems to gain a thorough understanding of specific environment. Key topics will include a range of hydrology, geomorphology, ecology and geology. Teaching will be delivered by seminars involving tutor and student-led discussion of primary literature, and hands-on practical data collection and analysis. You will produce a data report on either your own field data or use secondary data to give a presentation on the monitoring techniques of a geographical phenomenon of your choice. You will develop a wide range of highly employable skills in collection and analysis of environmental data.

Research Project

The overall aim of the Project is for you to design and conduct a piece of independent, hypothesis-driven, environmental research. Under the supervision of a member of academic staff, you will undertake practical experimentation/data collection in the laboratory/field. Prior to experimentation, you will be expected to undertake a comprehensive review of the literature related to their project and will be given guidance on appropriate experimental methods. The Project is generally fluid in nature, with the direction of the investigation being dictated by results obtained, or problems encountered.

Research Skills

An introduction to key concepts of scientific research, including project planning, using scientific literature, the application of statistical methods, data processing and the process of creating a journal article from writing to submission. Part of the module will contain subject specific material appropriate to the student’s discipline.

Advanced Separation Techniques

This module introduces the theoretical basis and current and future developments in analytical separation techniques. Areas covered range from solid phase extraction; theory of chromatography; gas chromatography (GC); high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); capillary electrophoresis (CE), asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4) and sedimentation velocity in the analytical ultracentrifuge (SV-AUC). Tutorials are provided to support the lectures.

Independent application of the taught material will also take place through an applied monitoring module and a research project module.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

  • An Honours degree (2:2 or above) in a relevant discipline such as Environmental Science, Geography, Biological Science or Earth Science, or a similar qualification.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 in any single component. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.