Environmental Biology

Environmental Biology focuses on the biological aspects of environmental science. It equips students with a strong background in ecology and its application to environmental assessment and management. Marine, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems are studied through the disciplines of plant, animal and microbial ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, global change biology, pollution biology, soil science and wildlife ecology. There’s a strong emphasis on vocational skills and links with industry. Core modules include mock environmental impact assessment, field-based sampling in Ireland and Spain, and guest lectures from environmental managers and consultants.

Information on pathways, internships and careers is available in the Undergraduate Courses Brochure (PDF).

Environmental Biology is one of the degree subjects in the Biological, Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences stream and the Earth & Environmental Sciences stream of the common entry Science course. After meeting the requirements for their preferred stream(s) in first year and studying at least two subjects in second year, students submit their degree subject preferences. While we aim to accommodate student preferences, places can be competitive.

For more information on choosing a degree subject at the end of Second Year, visit the Biological, Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences stream page.

This is a sample set of modules that an Environmental Biology student could study each year in UCD.

First Year

Biology in Action • Life on Earth • Cell Biology and Genetics • Biomedical Sciences • The Basis of Organic and Biological Chemistry • Mathematics for the Biological and Chemical Sciences

Second Year

Principles of Environmental Biology and Ecology • Scientific Communication • Evolutionary Biology • Climate Change and Agriculture • Forests, Climate and Carbon

Third Year

Systems Ecology • Biogeography and Field Biology • Diversity of Vertebrates • Diversity of Plant Form and Function • Ecological and Environmental Microbiology • Wildlife and Fisheries Management

Fourth Year 

Environmental Biology Research Project • Marine Community Ecology • Biological Invasions • Ecological Modelling and QGIS • Foodborne Pathogens

Students in Third Year have spent time studying in New Zealand, USA and Australia at the University of Auckland, University of California, Santa Barbara, and University of Melbourne.

Environmental Biology graduates can pursue a wide range of careers such as fisheries managers, environmental consultants, habitat ecologists, pollution biologists, wildlife and conservation officers, national park supervisors, technical and scientific officers, and university researchers and professors. MSc programmes that can be pursued by graduates include Applied Environmental Science, World Heritage Management, Environmental Sustainability and Global Change: Ecosystem Science and Policy. Graduates can pursue a PhD in universities in Ireland or abroad in areas such as ecology, microbiology, fisheries, conservation biology, environmental management and global change.

Students have the opportunity to complete a Professional Placement module worth 5 credits. This module provides students with an opportunity to undertake a placement in industry (6-10 weeks) in the summer following Third Year. Students in recent years have completed internships in Teagasc, local county councils or in research labs in UCD. Placements are secured on a competitive basis and are subject to change each year.

More information about the internship module and application process.

• Level 5/6 QQI-FET


• Open Learning Entry Route


• Mature Entry Route


• DARE Entry Route


• HEAR Entry Route


• University Access

UCD Science Office

You can contact the UCD Science Office in the following ways:

• Submit your query using our dedicated Contact Form.


• Drop into the office in the UCD O'Brien Centre for Science, Science East, Room E1.09. Our office opening hours are 10am to 4pm (during term time).

"Environmental Biology was an exciting undergraduate course to choose as it promised to blend my passion for biology, plants, animals and the environment with the opportunity to work inside and outside of the laboratory. I particularly enjoyed the various field courses provided by this degree. These excursions gave me the chance to implement the knowledge I had accumulated from lectures, getting hands-on experience in field sampling design, data collection and data analysis. These exceptional trips occurred across a wide variety of freshwater, terrestrial and marine habitats, examining a broad range of species, from plant mosses to mammals! This degree has inspired and empowered me to pursue a career in ecology, and I am currently looking forward to beginning a wildlife ecology research master’s programme in UCD. "

Aaron