Environmental Science
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Environmental Science Summer Courses
Explore the science behind our environment and some of the challenges facing the natural world with Atlas Summer Courses. Our two-week Environmental Science summer courses, available for students aged 13–15, 16–17 and 18–24, give you the opportunity to investigate environmental systems, human impacts and approaches to a more sustainable future.
Through academic teaching and independent study, you'll examine environmental questions from different scientific perspectives while developing your ability to analyse evidence, evaluate potential solutions and think critically about complex environmental challenges.
What's Included?
Your residential Environmental Science summer course includes academic teaching, accommodation, meals, a certificate on completion, airport transfer from Heathrow and insurance.
Choose from Plus, Superior and Premier packages, with accommodation and additional benefits varying by package.
What Is Environmental Science?
Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary subject that explores the natural environment and the ways human activity interacts with it.
It draws on areas including biology, chemistry, earth science and ecology to investigate how environmental systems function and how they respond to change. This can involve studying ecosystems and biodiversity alongside questions surrounding climate, pollution, resources and sustainability.
Studying Environmental Science also means examining the evidence behind environmental challenges and considering possible responses. Scientific understanding can help us identify problems, evaluate their causes and assess the potential consequences of different solutions.
An Environmental Science summer course gives you the opportunity to explore these connections and develop a deeper understanding of the science behind environmental change.
What Will You Study on an Environmental Science Summer Course?
There is no prescribed syllabus that every student follows. Atlas Summer Courses tutors create their own syllabi, drawing on their expertise while taking the interests, abilities and learning needs of their students into account.
Depending on your course and age group, you could explore areas such as ecosystems, biodiversity, climate change, conservation, pollution, natural resources or sustainability.
You might consider questions such as:
- How do ecosystems respond to environmental change?
- What factors influence biodiversity?
- How do scientists study changes in the Earth's climate?
- How does human activity affect natural systems?
- How can scientific evidence inform approaches to conservation?
- How can societies balance human needs with environmental sustainability?
The depth and approach will reflect the age group you're studying with. Tutors can also develop the course around their own areas of expertise and the interests of their students.
Any syllabus shown on our website is an example from a previous course rather than a guarantee of the exact topics you'll study.
How You'll Learn on an Environmental Science Summer Course
How you'll study Environmental Science depends on your age group, with each programme designed to provide an appropriate level of academic challenge and independence.
Ages 13–15
24 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in eight seminars where you'll explore environmental ideas through interactive discussion, case studies and activities. You'll be encouraged to ask questions, examine evidence, consider different explanations and develop your own responses to environmental problems.
12 hours of private study
Between seminars, you'll complete independent work that could involve reading, researching an environmental question, analysing information or preparing a presentation.
Ages 16–17 and 18–24
18 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in six three-hour seminars, exploring environmental science through discussion, case studies and activities.
2 hours of tutorials
You'll have one tutorial each week, providing a focused environment in which to discuss the essay or problem sheet you've been working on and receive detailed feedback.
Around 20 hours of private study
You'll complete reading in preparation for seminars and work independently on an essay or problem sheet for each tutorial.
Across all age groups, you'll be encouraged to participate actively, engage critically with scientific evidence and develop the confidence to evaluate complex environmental questions independently.
Who Are Our Environmental Science Summer Courses For?
Our Environmental Science summer courses are designed for students who are curious about the natural world and want to understand the science behind environmental challenges.
You don't need to have studied Environmental Science as a standalone subject before. The courses may particularly appeal to you if you enjoy biology, chemistry, geography or other sciences and are interested in topics such as climate change, ecosystems, conservation or sustainability.
You'll develop transferable skills including scientific reasoning, analysing evidence, critical thinking, problem-solving, independent study and communicating complex ideas clearly.
You can also explore related subjects through our Natural Sciences summer courses and Sustainable Engineering summer courses.
Learn from Expert Tutors
Atlas Summer Courses tutors are experienced educators and subject specialists active across academia, industry and education.
They bring their own academic expertise and interests into their teaching and have the freedom to shape their syllabus around both their specialism and the students in their group. This allows each Environmental Science summer course to explore different environmental questions while responding to developments within the field.
Tutors are confirmed closer to the summer, so profiles on our website are examples of tutors who have previously taught with us rather than confirmation of who will teach your course.
Where Can Environmental Science Take You?
Environmental Science connects with a wide range of scientific and interdisciplinary subjects.
Students interested in the field may go on to study Environmental Science itself or related subjects such as ecology, conservation, earth sciences, geography, biology, climate science or sustainability.
The scientific, analytical and problem-solving skills associated with Environmental Science can also support future paths across environmental research, conservation, sustainability, environmental consultancy, government, policy and other science-based fields.
An Environmental Science summer course gives you the opportunity to explore the subject before making longer-term academic decisions and discover which environmental questions interest you most.
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FAQs about Our Summer Courses
No. You don't usually need to have studied your chosen subject before joining an Atlas Summer Courses summer course. Courses are designed for the relevant age group, and tutors can adapt their approach to the abilities, interests and experience of the students in their group.
There is no fixed curriculum that every student follows. Our tutors create their own syllabi based on their academic expertise and the interests and learning needs of their students.
This means the exact topics can vary between courses and years. Any syllabus or topics shown on our website are examples from previous courses and shouldn't be taken as a guarantee of exactly what you'll study.
Teaching depends on your age group. Students aged 9–12 and Scholars aged 12–14 learn through structured, interactive small-group classes. Students aged 13–15 combine small-group seminars with private study, while students aged 16–17 and 18–24 experience seminars, tutorials and independent study.
Across our programmes, teaching is designed to encourage active participation, questioning and independent thinking rather than simply listening to lectures.
Your course includes your academic programme, accommodation, meals and a certificate on completion, alongside the activities and experiences included within your programme.
What's included can vary depending on the programme, age group and package you choose, so we recommend checking the individual course details for the full inclusions before applying.
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Choose from over 40 subjects taught through flexible, age-appropriate programmes. Our tutors adapt their teaching methodologies to different age groups and shape course content around students’ interests, rather than following a fixed curriculum.
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