Bachelor of Environmental Biology

Climate change is the singular issue of our time – today, the planet is facing its ultimate test. Become part of the solution with a degree that prepares students to protect and manage the critical species and ecosystems that hold the key to the future.

Like most degrees of its kind, the UTS Bachelor of Environmental Biology combines theoretical and lab-based learning, but it’s what happens outside the classroom that really sets it apart. The extensive fieldwork program challenges students to test their skills in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial environments, while professional internship offerings can help kickstart their career with placements in leading university, government, and industry labs.

Why UTS Science?

As one of Australia’s leading university science faculties, UTS Science is committed to scientific advancement that creates a more sustainable world. Our students join a university that delivers global impact in STEM education and research and a faculty that produces scientists with the power to transform the profession.

Course features

  • Complete a series of common core subjects that underpin all undergraduate UTS Science degrees. Data, Design and Decisions and Scientific Perspectives for Global Issues are designed to equip students with a toolkit of technical and workplace skills, preparing them to thrive both at and after uni.
  • Environmental science subjects: Combine the study of general science subjects with specialist environmental subjects spanning aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, plant physiology, biodiversity conservation, wildlife management and environmental protection, among others. Students also build highly practical skills in areas like urban resilience, geographic information systems and remote sensing, preparing them to take hands-on action towards a more sustainable world.
  • Free electives: Students can customise the degree to suit their personal or career aspirations. Enrol in an international exchange, pursue a professional internship, or tailor the degree with a choice of subjects from any UTS faculty.
  • Science communication: The embedded English language program challenges students to build science communication skills over the life of their degree. By the end of their studies, students will have specialist theoretical and practical skills, as well as the capacity to communicate what they know to a diversity of audiences.

Make an enquiry

Course aims

Study where environmental biology happens

With this degree, students don’t just sit in a classroom taking notes. Instead, the course content combines theoretical learning and lab-based pracs with ‘muddy boots’ fieldwork opportunities in locations such as the Blue Mountains, Manly Dam and Royal National Park. Engage with data collection, stream and lake assessments, and environmental survey activities, among others, and study alongside leading academics whose research is shaping the contemporary environmental science field.

Learn from the leaders in environmental science

Connect with hands-on environmental science internships on campus and beyond with a range of professional placement opportunities*. Elsewhere, benefit from extensive research and industry connections through co-designed curriculum, guest lectures and seminar series, and industry-relevant projects that bring students face to face with the critical challenges facing the planet today.

*Please note: internships must be completed as an elective subject. Students need to complete a competitive application process to secure a professional placement.

Innovation and Transdisciplinary program

Transdisciplinary Electives at UTS Employers tell us the skills our graduates acquire from undertaking a Transdisciplinary Elective sets them apart from the crowd. That’s why we have embedded this program into every undergraduate degree. All you need to do is choose the Elective that inspires you the most. Transdisciplinary Electives integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines, allowing you to approach complex problems from a range of perspectives. By combining methods and insights from various disciplines, transdisciplinary learning often leads to breakthrough ideas and creative innovations that may not be possible within the confines of a single discipline. If you find yourself rapt by the world of innovation – you can pair your core degree with a Diploma in Innovation, graduating with two qualifications in the same timeframe. In both instances, you’ll work on a real-world challenge presented by an industry partner organisation – partners who often create career pathways for our graduates. * Excludes students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation.

Megan Phillips - UTS Environmental Biology

[Shot of UTS tour Building, panning to shot of Megan on science building roof]

Hi, you made it- thanks so much for coming! If you’d like to follow me.

Text: The Graduate Tour Botanical Science

[Camera fast-forwarded following Megan walking across roof]

Hey you’ll need one of these

[Megan hands interviewer lab coat]

[Interviewer]: Thank you

You’re welcome and here’s my research greenhouse

[Camera follows Megan into greenhouse which shows various potted plants]

[Interviewer]: Well this is impressive

Thank you

[Interviewer]: So environmental biology- what is that?

So environmental biology is the study of the natural world so it can be anything from ecosystems and global patterns right down to microscopic cellular organisms

[Interviewer]: Right, so why is that important?

Well a lot of people really like “whys” but I’m really interested in the “hows” and how things work, so environmental biology basically explores how things work together in nature and from that you can get things like solar panels and water purification.

[Interviewer]: So what’s one thing I wouldn’t know about botanical science?

Would you like some plant trivia?

[Interviewer]: Absolutely!

Okay so, the fastest growing plant that we know of is a species of bamboo and it can grow up to 90cm in a single day.

[Interviewer]: So what are you working on here?

This is a phytoremediation experiment, so I’m looking at plants that can extract contaminants from surface landscapes.

[Interviewer]: And if you had to simplify that a little bit more?

Okay so basically what I’m interested in is measuring how plants can absorb nasty things like heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons from soils and then you have a look at the effects of the contaminants on the plants. So if you want to have a look at this leaf for example, can you see all those little yellow spots there?

[Interviewer]: Yeah

That’s basically where there’s a lot of contaminant in that leaf and it’s starting to show signs of distress and it might die and drop off in a couple of days.

[Interviewer]: Wow, so what did you study?

I studied environmental biology and followed it up with a PhD in invasive plants

[Interviewer]: I’m guessing you studied all three sciences in high school.

I did, so I studied geography and chemistry and biology.

[Interviewer]: And what’s a misconception about science?

I think a lot of people think that science is laboratories and Bunsen burners and that’s all it is, but there’s actually a lot of travel involved and you can see a lot of the world depending on what you’re doing so a lot of my work as a botanist is in forests, but I’ve also measure coral species and fish on the Great Barrier Reef and a pod of whales swam by while we were doing that- it was magnificent.

[Interviewer]: Well thank you so much for giving us a tour, we’ll show ourselves out!

My pleasure, thanks for coming!

[camera fast-forwards exiting greenhouse]

Study plan

The following example shows a typical full-time program.

First year

Autumn session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Chemistry 1 65111 6
The Biosphere 91107 6
Design, Data, and Decisions 33116 6
Cell Biology and Genetics 91161 6
Spring session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Nature and Evolution 91123 6
Molecular Biology 91132 6
Scientific Perspectives for Global Issues 60006 6
Environmental Chemistry 65621 6

Second year

Autumn session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Urban Sustainability and Resilience 91100 6
Ecology 91154 6
Ecological Genetics 91168 6
Aquatic Ecosystems 91121 6
Spring session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Transdisciplinary Electives cbk92069 6
Plant Physiology and Climate Change 91270 6
Stream and Lake Assessment 91155 6
Environmental Remediation 91159 6

Third year

Autumn session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
GIS and Remote Sensing 91120 6
Australian Wildlife and Management 91116 6
Environmental Protection and Management 91145 6
Biodiversity Conservation 91309 6
Spring session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Electives (Science UG) cbk90232 24

Honours

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) (C09168) is available to eligible students with an additional one year of full-time study.

First year

Spring session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Cell Biology and Genetics 91161 6
Nature and Evolution 91123 6
Chemistry 1 65111 6
Scientific Perspectives for Global Issues 60006 6

Second year

Autumn session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
The Biosphere 91107 6
Ecology 91154 6
Design, Data, and Decisions 33116 6
Ecological Genetics 91168 6
Spring session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Molecular Biology 91132 6
Plant Physiology and Climate Change 91270 6
Transdisciplinary Electives cbk92069 6
Environmental Chemistry 65621 6

Third year

Autumn session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Environmental Protection and Management 91145 6
Biodiversity Conservation 91309 6
Urban Sustainability and Resilience 91100 6
Aquatic Ecosystems 91121 6
Spring session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Stream and Lake Assessment 91155 6
Environmental Remediation 91159 6
Select 12 credit points from the following: 12
Electives (Science UG) cbk90232 24

Fourth year

Autumn session Subject Code Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
GIS and Remote Sensing 91120 6
Australian Wildlife and Management 91116 6
Select 12 credit points from the following: 12
Electives (Science UG) cbk90232 24

Course fees

For relevant fee information, please choose from the following:

Local student

All students at UTS pay tuition fees to contribute towards the cost of their studies.

In 2024 all offers made to domestic undergraduate students will be for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP), which means that the Australian government makes a substantial contribution towards the cost of your education, and you pay the balance through student contributions.

The amount you pay depends on your area of study and the number of credit points (cp) in which you enrol. At UTS 48 credit points is considered to be one Equivalent Full Time Study Load (EFTSL).

The table to the right shows the amount a student can expect to pay for one year of full-time study (1.0 EFTSL).

Students can choose to pay their student contribution upfront, or if eligible, can defer their fees through HECS-HELP.

In addition to tuition fees, students are required to pay a Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). The purchase of textbooks and other course materials may also result in additional cost.

You can calculate your student contribution as a percentage of the amounts shown on the table. Fee rates are divided into four bands covering broad discipline areas.  It is important to note that a particular subject within a course may fall within a different band.

For example, if you are enrolled in a 6-credit point Architecture subject, your contribution would be 6/48 x $9,314 = $1,164.

Student contribution amounts for 2025 commencing students

2025 student contribution - Area of StudyAmount for 48 cp
Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications and Society and Culture$16,992
Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science$13,241
Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual & Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science and Pathology$9,314
Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing or Foreign Languages and Agriculture$4,627

International student

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students can be found using tuition fees search.

Tuition fees must be paid in advance each session and are subject to annual increase. Fees for future year(s) published in fees search, whilst unlikely to change, are estimates only. UTS makes every effort to provide up to date future year(s) fee estimates and to limit any changes, however, UTS reserves the right to vary fees for future year(s) at any time.

For this course, the cost per credit point for 2025 is $1007. The total credit points are 144.


All international students should familiarise themselves with the following documents:

In addition to tuition fees, students may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). Textbooks and other course materials will also result in additional costs.

UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage

For further information on costs related to your study at UTS, visit the international students' fees information page.

Careers

An environmental science degree can lead directly into a scientific career or into a diversity of professional opportunities in the world beyond the lab. From scientific and research roles to policy, education and advocacy positions, students could find themselves working for: environmental protection and/or management organisations, environmental/sustainability consulting firms, government agencies, schools, tourism bodies or universities and research institutes,.

Specific job titles include – but aren’t limited to education officer, environmental consultant, environmental officer, parks manager, policy officer, research scientist, scientific officer, science communicator or science educator.

Course structure

Course structure explained

Students must complete a total of 144 credit points, made up of 120 credit points of core subjects and 24 credit points of elective subjects. The elective subjects enable students to increase their expertise in other areas of science or in other disciplines in the University.

Students must satisfactorily complete all core subjects and the required number of credit points of elective for award of the degree.

Industrial training/professional practice

There are many subjects with a major fieldwork component, and opportunities for practical experience also exist through electives which include a substantial research component or internship.

Students studying this course have an opportunity to undertake an internship subject and receive academic credit for their placement off campus (an external business or research institute) or on campus (UTS research institutes or departments), in a capacity relevant to their academic studies.

Course completion requirements
Requirement Credit Points
STM91002 Scientist's Tool Kit (Environmental Sciences) 48
STM91946 Core disciplinary subjects (Environmental Biology) 66
CBK90232 Electives (Science UG) 24
CBK92069 Transdisciplinary Electives 6
Total 144

Additional information

Course duration

Students can complete the course over three years of full-time or six years of part-time study. Part-time students are required to attend some classes in daytime hours.

Full time, on campus
Part time, on campus

Admission requirements

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

Check to see if there are additional admission requirements for this course.

Additional information relating to this course, including the ATAR profile of domestic students who commenced this course in Autumn 2022, is located under UTS' admissions requirements, alongside information relating to the commencing student cohort who were enrolled in this course past the Autumn 2022 census date.

If you don't meet the admission requirements for this course, there may be alternative pathways to help you gain admission.

ATAR and selection ranks

To find out further information regarding ATAR and selection ranks from previous applicants who received an offer to this course, please visit our Admissions Stats Tool

Assumed knowledge

Mathematics; any two units of English; any two units of science.

Year 12 adjustment factor scheme

To see a list of courses where HSC subjects provide adjustment factors, please refer to the Year 12 adjustment factors page.

Scholarships and prizes

Scholarships

For Science students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Science students

Professional recognition

Australian Institute for Biology, Australian Ecological Society, Australian Society for Plant Physiology, Australasian Society for Ecotoxicology, Australasian Marine Science Association.

UTS: Handbook

See the Bachelor of Environmental Biology in the UTS: Handbook for comprehensive course details.

Information for international students

Find out about support services, the Australian education system, accommodation and more to help you get the most out of your study at UTS.

Part of Faculty of Science

  • forensic scientists investigating site

    Practice oriented

    Practical experience is key to our teaching and learning as it is essential to take you further in your career.

  • UTS superlab interior

    Facilities

    One of the best science facilities in Australia, where student work in advanced labs similar to commercial labs.

  • man and woman interview at a desk by the window

    Careers and employment

    Find out about all the exciting careers and employment opportunities that exist for students studying Science.

  • Female scientist researcher in lab

    Research intensive

    Work with the best, UTS is one of only 3 Australian universities to receive a 'well above world standard' rating from ERA.

  • UTS students looking at an iPad

    News and Events

    Featuring interesting news stories and all upcoming events at UTS Science.
     

Domestic students

Before you apply

Here are a few important things for you to check out before you apply:

How to apply

Domestic applicants can apply via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) (opens an external site)

UAC code(s): 607033 (Autumn session, Spring session)

Make a note of the relevant UAC code before starting the UAC application.

Intake

Autumn Session 2025
Spring Session 2025

Important dates

NOVEMBER 2024
1
Closing date for change of preferences (November Round 1)
8
UAC offers released (November Round 1)
14
Closing date for change of preferences (November Round 2)
21
UAC offers released (November Round 2)
28
Closing date for change of preferences (December Round 1)
DECEMBER 2024
5
UAC offers released (December Round 1)
18
UTS Info Day
18
Closing date for change of preferences (December Round 2)
23
UAC offers released (December Round 2)
JANUARY 2025
2
Closing date for change of preferences (January Round 1)
9
UAC offers released (January Round 1)
16
Closing date for change of preferences (January Round 2)
23
UAC offers released (January Round 2)
30
Closing date for change of preferences (February Round 1)
FEBRUARY 2025
3 - 14
Autumn session orientation
6
UAC offers released (February Round 1)
7
Closing date for change of preferences (February Round 2)
13
UAC offers released (February Round 2)
17
Autumn session commences (main calendar)
27
Closing date for change of preferences (March Round 1)
MARCH 2025
3
Last day to enrol for Autumn session
6
UAC offers released (March Round 1)
20
Autumn census date – last day to withdraw from subjects or apply for leave of absence

Need more information?

Ask UTS

Scholarships, prizes and awards

Scholarships

For Science students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Science students

International students

Before you apply

Here are a few important things for you to check out before you apply:

You can meet an international student advisor at one of our events worldwide to ask questions and submit an application.

Important dates

Visit the UTS Handbook for full academic dates. Visit essential information for international students for the application closing dates.

How to apply

International applicants can apply to study through UTS International.

International applicants who are currently doing:

  • an Australian Year 12 qualification in or outside Australia
  • an International Baccalaureate, or
  • a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3

can apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) (opens external site).

Intake

Autumn Session 2025
Spring Session 2025

Apply online

Download an application form

Need more information?

Ask a question

Scholarships, prizes and awards

Scholarships

For Science students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Science students

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.