Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability

Australian National University

About

Maintaining the balance between our environment and human development is challenging.

The future needs you to work on sustainable solutions to issues including increasing biodiversity loss, urbanisation and climate change.The ANU Bachelor of Environment &

Sustainability is a contemporary degree, covering environmental science, policy and social sciences, allowing you to address the complex challenges of sustainability by giving you a broad environmental education.You’ll learn to link perspectives from the natural and social sciences with their applications in your chosen major and minor.Find out more about the Bachelor of Environment &

Sustainability, the degree structure, the university experience, career opportunities and student stories on our website.Get the inside story on what it’s like to be an ANU student by visiting our student blog.

Structure

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability requires the completion of 144 units, of which:

A maximum of 60 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

A minimum of 30 units must come from completion of 3000-level courses from the Science course list

A minimum of 96 units must come from completion of courses from the Science course list

The 144 units must consist of:

48 units from completion of one of the following majors:

Environmental Science

Quantitative Environmental Modelling

Resource and Environmental Management

Sustainability Studies

Either:

24 units from completion of one of the following minors:

Australian Indigenous Studies

Biodiversity Conservation and Management

Climate Science and Policy

Environmental Policy

Forest Science and Policy

Geography

Human Ecology

Soil and Land Management

Sustainable Development

Water Science and Policy

24 units from completion of courses from the Science course list

Or:

48 units from completion of a second major from the following list:

Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology

Earth Science

Environmental Science

Quantitative Environmental Modelling

Resource and Environmental Management

Geography

Marine Science

Sustainability Studies

48 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

A maximum of 12 units from completion of 1000-level courses may contribute towards meeting the requirements of two Science majors with common 1000-level course requirements.

In such cases, an equal number of units must come from the completion of additional courses from the Science course list.

Majors

  • Earth Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology
  • Geography
  • Marine Science
  • Quantitative Environmental Modelling
  • Resource and Environmental Management
  • Sustainability Studies

Minors

  • Australian Indigenous Studies
  • Biodiversity Conservation and Management
  • Climate Science and Policy
  • Environmental Policy
  • Forest Science and Policy
  • Geography
  • Human Ecology
  • Soil and Land Management
  • Sustainable Development
  • Water Science and Policy

Elective Study

Once you have met the program requirements of your degree, you may have enough electives to complete an additional elective major, minor or specialisation.

Study Options

Year 1 - 48 units

Code Name Units
1000 level course Science Major from list 6 units
1000 level course Science elective 6 units
Science or non-Science elective 6 units
Science or non-Science elective 6 units
1000 level course Science Major from list 6 units
Science elective 6 units
Science or non-Science elective 6 units
Science or non-Science elective 6 units

Year 2 - 48 units

Code Name Units
2000 level course Science Major from list 6 units
Science elective 6 units
Minor from list 6 units
Science or non-Science elective 6 units
2000 level course Science Major from list 6 units
2000 level course Science Major from list 6 units
Minor from list 6 units
Science or non-Science elective 6 units

Year 3 - 48 units

Code Name Units
3000 level course Science Major from list 6 units
3000 level course Science elective 6 units
3000 level course Minor from list 6 units
Science or non-Science elective 6 units
3000 level course Science Major from list 6 units
3000 level course Science Major from list 6 units
3000 level course Minor from list 6 units
Science or non-Science elective 6 units

Entry requirements

Admission Requirements

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry.

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

Domestic applicants

→ School leavers will be assessed on: • the minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) requirement or equivalent for this program, • the co-curricular or service requirement, and • any program specific requirements that are listed below.

→ Non school leavers: a) will be assessed on: • the minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) requirement or equivalent for this program, b) Non school leavers who: • complete a recognised Australian (or equivalent) post-secondary qualification, or • complete one standard full-time year (1.0 FTE) of an Australian (or equivalent) degree qualification, or • complete an approved tertiary preparation course/program without undertaking any further study, will be assessed on the basis of an equivalent selection rank that is calculated upon application. Non school leavers must also meet any program specific requirements that are listed below.

International applicants

Applicants who complete a recognised secondary/senior secondary/post-secondary/tertiary sequence of study will be assessed on the basis of an equivalent selection rank that is calculated upon application. A list of commonly observed international qualifications and corresponding admission requirements can be found here. Applicants must also meet any program specific requirements that are listed below.

Diversity factors & English language proficiency As Australia's national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe. If required, competitive ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency.

Adjustment Factors

ANU offers rank adjustments for a number of adjustment factors, including for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. Rank adjustments are applied to Bachelor degree applicants with an ATAR at or above 70. Points are awarded in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 points (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustments, maximum 10 equity-based adjustments and maximum 5 Elite Athlete adjustments) will be awarded. Please note that Adjustment Factors vary and do not apply to a select few programs, please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Learning outcomes

  1. Evaluate current understandings of environmental science, natural resource management and sustainability, and of a range of response strategies for sustainable resource management and development.
  2. Integrate knowledge from relevant scientific areas and from policy approaches across disciplines into approaches designed to address complex contemporary environment and sustainability issues, in global, national and local contexts.
  3. Apply a range of written, oral and visual communication skills to effectively convey and discuss information about environmental science, sustainable development and resource management decisions and relevant policies across discipline
  4. Engage with ongoing debates on environmental science, resource management and sustainability issues, recognising the importance of biophysical and socio-political and cultural contexts.

Institution