The growing human population is expected to exceed 9 billion within the next 40 years. The need to provide for increasing human demands, while protecting and sustainably managing the environment, is one of our greatest global challenges. Environmental Science is at the core of this challenge.
A major in Environmental Sciences at Waikato encompasses ecology, earth sciences, and environmental chemistry as well as many other disciplines. It is about understanding and managing human impacts on our land, biodiversity, freshwater, oceans, atmosphere and climate while providing the food, water, energy, and mineral resource needs that are critical to our survival.
At Waikato we take a strong interdisciplinary approach so you will gain skills in applying the biological, chemical and earth sciences to understand and manage the impacts of human activities on the environment.
Waikato is a great region in which to base your Environmental Science studies. We have easy access to a wide range of natural environments as well as some of the most intensive farming and processing industries in New Zealand. Our field trips and study examples include coastal estuarine environments, the Waikato and Waihou Rivers, a wide range of lakes. World heritage listed Whangamarino wetland, leading international examples of predator pest control at Maungatautere, and many native forest ecological restoration sites are all within easy reach of the University of Waikato.
Facilities
As an Environmental Sciences student at the University of Waikato, you will have access to the University's well-equipped laboratories, becoming familiar with complex research equipment and techniques. You'll be working alongside, and learning from, well-respected researchers, industry professionals and academics.
Career opportunities
- Agricultural Adviser
- Biosecurity Officer
- Coastal Resource Manager
- Consent Planner
- Environmental Analyst
- Environmental Scientist
- Hydrologist
- Oceanographer
- Water Resource Manager
Qualifications
Study Environmental Sciences in any of these qualifications
Major subject:
Minor subject:
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science (Technology)
- Or any other Bachelor degree within the University
Postgraduate subject:
Papers
100 level
| Discovering Planet Earth | EARTH102 | 15.0 Points |
| Environmental Science | ENVSC101 | 15.0 Points |
200 level
| Principles of Ecology | BIOEB202 | 15.0 Points |
| Microbiology | BIOMO203 | 15.0 Points |
| Analytical Chemistry | CHEMY204 | 15.0 Points |
| Soil Science | EARTH221 | 15.0 Points |
| Water Resources, Weather and Climate | EARTH231 | 15.0 Points |
| Oceanography | EARTH241 | 15.0 Points |
| Environmental Monitoring | ENVSC201 | 15.0 Points |
| Environmental Chemistry and Geochemistry | ENVSC202 | 15.0 Points |
300 level
| Applied Terrestrial Ecology | BIOL312 | 20.0 Points |
| Applied Freshwater Ecology | BIOL313 | 20.0 Points |
| Marine Biology and Monitoring | BIOL314 | 20.0 Points |
| Microbiomes | BIOMO303 | 15.0 Points |
| Pedology and Land Evaluation | ERTH333 | 10.0 Points |
| Soil and Land Management | ERTH334 | 10.0 Points |
| Coastal Geomorphology and Management | ERTH343 | 20.0 Points |
| Coastal Oceanography and Engineering | ERTH344 | 20.0 Points |
| Catchment Hydrology | ERTH345 | 10.0 Points |
| Freshwater Resources and Hazards | ERTH346 | 10.0 Points |
Level 5
Prescriptions for the PGCert(EnvSci), PGDip(EnvSci), BSc(Hons), MSc, MSc(Tech) and MSc (Research)
Students in masters degrees are normally required to take a thesis and a selection of papers. SCIE501 is compulsory, and it is strongly recommended that students include ENVS524. Normally, no more than 60 points from outside the field of Environmental Sciences may be taken as part of an MSc, MSc(Tech) or MSc(Research) in this subject. Candidates for these graduate qualifications should select their papers in consultation with the Graduate Convenor.
To complete a BSc(Hons) in Environmental Sciences, students must complete 120 points at 500 level, including at least 60 points from the papers listed for Environmental Sciences, of which at least 30 points must be in research (normally ENVS591).
Scholarships and prizes
DairyNZ Masters Scholarship
For students who are enrolled in the final year or have completed a Bachelors degree in Science, agricultural science, agricultural business or economics and are eligible to enrol in a masters degree at a New Zealand University. Up to three scholarships of $30,000 will be available each year + tuition fees.
Closing Date: 2016-08-08 23:59:00Dr Stella Frances Memorial Scholarship
For students who are enrolled or are intending to enrol in the final year of a masters degree at the University of Waikato and are undertaking research that applies to the conservation or environmental issues in the Waikato region. The scholarship will have a value of up to $5,000.
Closing Date: 2017-12-15 23:59:00Golden Plover Wetland Research Award
For students who are enrolled part- or full-time in a Honours or masters degree at any New Zealand University and are conducting research in any aspect of ecology or management of wetlands. The scholarship will have a value of up to $1,000.
Closing Date: 2017-11-01 23:59:00School of Science Postgraduate Study Scholarship
For students who qualify to enrol at the University of Waikato, and are intending to enrol part or full-time in semester B 2016 in the School of Science in either a 180pt masters, the taught components of a masters degree or the research component of a masters degree. The Scholarship will have a value of $5,000 per year for two years.
Closing Date: 2016-07-18 23:59:00Science Admission Fees Scholarship
For school leavers who are intending to enrol full-time (120 pts) in the first year of a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Science(Technology) in the Faculty of Science & Engineering and are performing well academically in their final year of secondary school. The Scholarship has a value of up to $4,000.
Closing Date: 2017-08-31 23:59:00Science and Engineering Masters Fees Awards
For students enrolling full-time in the first year MSc (research), MSc, MSc (Tech) ME or MEnvSci programme in the faculty of Engineering. Part-time applicants may be considered but any scholarship awarded will be on a pro-rata basis. The Scholarship will have a value of up to $2,000.
Closing Date: 2017-03-15 23:59:00Tess Embling Memorial Scholarship
For full and part-time students, who are enrolling or have enrolled in the first year if a masters degree in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. The scholarship will have a value of up to $1,500.
Closing Date: 2018-02-16 23:59:00The Hicks Scholarship
For students who are enrolled or intend to enrol at any New Zealand University to undertake the research portion of their Masters degree in agriculture, horticulture, arborculture, viticulture or animal husbandry. The Scholarship will have a value of up to $15,000.
Closing Date: 2014-08-23 23:59:00Whanganui River Enhancement Trust Scholarship
For students who are enrolled full-time and are undertaking research towards a Masters thesis, Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma. Candidates must be resident in New Zealand for the tenure of the scholarship and their research should relate to the Whanganui River Catchment.
Closing Date: 2017-11-17 23:59:00Beef + Lamb Undergraduate Scholarship
For students who are studying towards a bachelors degree and/or an honours year in agriculture, science (including food technology), business and social science disciplines. These disciplines may lead to careers in the livestock, meat and related agribusiness sectors. The Scholarship is for up to four years and will pay full annual tuition fees, up to $5,000 per year.
Closing Date: 2017-02-07 23:59:00NIWA Freshwater Mussel Scholarship
For students who have completed a BSc in biology/freshwater ecology, ideally with experience in samplying freshwater ecosystems and undertaking quantitative analyses. The project will compliment and build on freshwater mussel research being conducted at NIWA, the University of Waikato and Landcare Research.
Closing Date: 2017-05-26 23:59:00NIWA Juvenile Freshwater Crayfish Scholarship
For students who have completed a BSc in biology/freshwater ecology, ideally with experience in sampling freshwater ecosystems and undertaking quantitative analyses. Open to students of any nationality however they must meet the entry requirements of the University of Waikato Masters Programme. The scholarship will have value of $17,500.
Closing Date: 2017-05-26 17:00:00Sparling Doctoral Completion Scholarship in Environmental Studies
For students enrolled in a PhD in the area of environmental studies, natural sciences, but not marine or volcanic studies, in any faculty of relevance at the University of Waikato. Applicants must have completed at least three years of their thesis and be submitting their soft-bound thesis for examination within four years.
Closing Date: 2018-03-31 23:59:00University of Waikato George Mason Charitable Trust Scholarship
Expressions of Interest are sought from students who are intending to enrol full-time in a 120-point masters thesis or a PhD and have a particular interest in one of the specific research areas outlined in the regulations.
Closing Date: 2017-11-30 23:59:00Documents
Contacts
Faculty of Science & Engineering
Phone: +64 7 838 4625 / 0800 438 254
Email: science@waikato.ac.nz
Website: sci.waikato.ac.nz
Facebook: facebook.com/WaikatoScienceEngineering