Careers
Graduates from Environmental Science at LEC, Lancaster University have a huge range of career options available.
The quality of the degrees are widely recognised by employers both within and outside the environmental sector. Our graduates have been employed by: The Environment Agency, water authorities, county councils (e.g. waste management), environmental consultants, industry, universities, schools, banks and the police force.
First Destinations
The 2008 National Student Survey placed Lancaster top for the percentage of employed graduates using their degree level capabilities in Physical Geography and Environmental Science.
2008 Graduates
Employed 2008 graduates - where are they now?
Destinations of our Graduates
Environmental Consultancy Technical Chemist County Council Waste Recycling Officer Scientific Officer County Council Administrative Support Officer Geotechnical Engineer Technologist Environmental Advisor Environmental Scientist Policy Officer Clean Water Scientist Waste Management Consultant Waste Strategy Consultant Environmental Risk Assessor Environmental Fate Scientist Environmental Geochemist Water Quality Modeller Environmental Scientist Ecologist Environmental Scientist Graduate Trainee Laboratory Technician Environmental Consultant Geotechnical Engineer Environmental Scientist Environmental Consultant Graduate Engineer Geophysicist Laboratory Technician Chemist Trainee Weather Forecaster
Careers Guidance
Students have excellent assistance with finding the right career path and continued professional development.
This help is provided both through Lancaster University's Centre for Employability, Enterprise & Careers (CEEC) and LEC. The careers tutor for environmental science courses is Dr Jennie Gilbert.
Careers information is available in a variety of forms. For example, we have an Environmental Science electronic Careers Board which is part of the Students Home Page Web Site provision for current students. The Careers section of the Careers Board lists MSc studentships, job vacancies, PhD studentships, volunteering opportunities, what's on at the CEEC, workshops and summer schools and industrial placements. On the Students Home Page Careers Resources Web Site we list many web sites with specific types of careers information as well as sites with general careers information, and information for those thinking about further study.
We have three large hard copy careers notice boards which are used to advertise: (1) job vacancies, industrial placements and volunteering opportunities; (2) MSc studentships, and (3) PhD studentships. Students have regular talks by staff from the CEEC and a variety of career providers, and they have access to all facilities provided by the CEEC.
We have recently developed a new module, ENV300 Dissertation, Enterprise & Employability for our third year undergraduates. This module integrates career planning and an awareness of graduate key skills, e.g. intellectual, practical, communication, numeracy, teamwork, self-management and professional development skills, with production of a project based on original work, on a topic of the students' choice. Key parts of the module, such as time management, self-management, intellectual and practical skills are vital for the successful completion of the project. Career preparation makes an individual more likely to secure, and be successful in, their chosen occupation.
A selection of our graduates
Sarah Corbishley, Environment Agency
"I chose to study at Lancaster because the Environmental Science degree was one of the best in the country."
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, Lancaster University (1999)
Landfill Construction Quality Assurance Engineer
MRes Science of the Environment, Lancaster University (2001)
2004 Contaminated Land Technical Officer, Environment Agency, central Lancashire
"The taught courses and research projects were well structured and student support, both academically and socially was very good. The modular nature of the degree schemes meant that I was able to tailor my courses to best suit my aims in an environmental science career."
Janez Susnik, PhD Student, University of East Anglia
"The degree gave me the broad knowledge base, skills and more subject-specific knowledge with which to progress my career in the way I wanted."
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, Lancaster University (2004) with dissertation carried out under the SOCRATES exchange programme at ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Janez began his PhD studying lahars on Montserrat, West Indies in October 2004. His fieldwork has included three visits to Montserrat and he has presented work at conferences in Japan and The Netherlands (putting into practice skills attained at Lancaster).
"The degree gave me the background knowledge and skills required in sedimentology, hydrology and volcanology which I have since developed throughout the course of the PhD."
James Picken, Government Environmental Advisor
"Achieving all of this would not have been possible without the skills and experience I gained at Lancaster."
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, Lancaster University (2004)
MSc in Radiation and Environmental Protection, University of Surrey (2006) funded by The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
One of the main roles of James' current job is implementation of the company's Environmental Management System.
"As part of the graduate scheme I am gaining experience from moving around the company on graduate placements and using my skills to support different departments."
Lee Bryce, Operational Scientist, Wastewater Technical Team, United Utilities
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, Lancaster University (2002)
Lee's job has involved placements in water treatment works, project management, management of contractors and design of treatment works. He has presented at the Institute of Water Officers' National Conference which was a valuable and enjoyable experience made easier by the practice received at Lancaster"
Lee is currently involved with monitoring sites to ensure compliance with Environment Agency regulations.