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 3000-level courses listed in the study requirements or specialisations

A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving

The 144 units must consist of:

48 units from completion of Environment and Sustainability courses from the following lists which must include:

36 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

ENVS1003 Introduction to Environmental and Social Research (6 units)

ENVS1008 Fundamentals of Environment and Sustainability (6 units)

ENVS2011 Human Ecology (6 units)

ENVS2025 Indigenous Cultural and Natural Resource Management (6 units)

ENVS3028 Environmental Policy (6 units)

ENVS3040 Complex Environmental Problems in Action (6 units)

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ENVS2015 GIS and Spatial Analysis (6 units)

ENVS2018 Environmental Science Field School (6 units)

ENVS3007 Participatory Resource Management: Working with Communities and Stakeholders (6 units)

ENVS3902 Environmental Chemistry and Systems (6 units)

12 units from completion of foundational courses from the following list:

BIOL1003 Biology 1: Evolution, Ecology and Genetics (6 units)

CHEM1101 Chemistry 1 (6 units)

ENVS1001 Environment and Society: Geography of Sustainability (6 units)

ENVS1004 Australia's Environment (6 units)

EMSC1006 The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science (6 units)

SCOM1001 Science Communication 1: Science and Public Awareness (6 units)

24 units from completion of one of the specialisations listed below:

Biodiversity and Forest: Science, Management and Policy

Sustainability and Future Climate: Science, Management and Policy

Land and Water: Science, Management and Policy

Agricultural Innovation

A maximum of 12 units from completion of 2000- or 3000- level courses from the subject area ENVS- Environmental Science not previously taken

A minimum of 48 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

Capstone Courses

Specialisations

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

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 guarantee entry into the program.

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.

The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs and change admission requirements as needed.

Domestic applicants

Before applying for a program, you should review the general information about domestic undergraduate admission to ANU programs and how to apply, and the program-specific information below.

• Applicants with recent secondary education are assessed on:
• completion of Australian Year 12 or equivalent, and the minimum Selection Rank (from their academic qualifications, plus any adjustment factors) requirement for this program; and
• co-curricular or service requirement (applies to applicants who complete secondary education in the year prior to commencing at ANU); and
• English language proficiency; and
• any program-specific requirements listed below.
• Applicants with higher education study are assessed on:
• previous higher education studies; or secondary education results if completed less than one full-time equivalent year (1.0 FTE) of a degree; or the result from a bridging or preparatory course; and
• English language proficiency; and
• any program-specific requirements listed below.
• Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are assessed on:
• previously completed VET qualifications at AQF level 5 or higher (i.e. a Diploma or above); or secondary education results if the VET qualification is not completed; and
• English language proficiency; and
• any program-specific requirements listed below.
• Applicants with work and life experience are assessed on:
• ATAR or equivalent if secondary education was completed; or the Special Adult Entry Scheme (SAES); or work experience; and
• English language proficiency; and
• any program-specific requirements 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.

Further information is available for English Language Requirements for Admission 

Adjustment Factors

Adjustment factors are additional points added to an applicant’s Selection Rank (for example an applicant’s ATAR). ANU offers adjustment factors based on performance and equity principles, such as for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Selection Rank adjustments are granted in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustment factors and maximum 10 equity-based adjustment factors) can be awarded. 

You may be considered for adjustment factors if you have:

• applied for an eligible ANU Bachelor degree program
• undertaken Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate
• achieved an ATAR or equivalent at or above 70
• not previously attempted tertiary study.

Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.

Fee Information

All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments

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.

Employment Opportunities

You can choose from a range of careers as diverse as the environment itself.

Many of our graduates are employed in policy making within government, water resources management, environmental management, urban planning and sustainability, international development and climate change adaption consulting.

See where a Bachelor of Environment & Sustainability could take you: our career wheel will help you turn your interests into a career in science.

Learning Outcomes

1. Evaluate current understandings of environmental and sustainability sciences, and critically analyse a range of response strategies for sustainable resource management and development.
2. Integrate and participate in transdisciplinary knowledge from relevant scientific areas and from policy into approaches designed to address complex contemporary environmental 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 and sustainability issues, demonstrating an understanding of biophysical and socio-political and Indigenous knowledge.

Inherent Requirements

Information on inherent requirement is currently not available for this program.

Further Information

What 1st year courses should you enroll in?

• ENVS1003 and ENVS1008 and 2 x courses selected from the foundational course list in the first year of study
• Students should note that CHEM1101 requires an ACT major in Chemistry or NSW HSC Chemistry, or equivalent, or successful completion of a bridging course in Chemistry.

Courses in this program that will contribute towards satisfying the transdisciplinary course requirements:

• ENVS1008 Fundamentals of Environment and Sustainability (6 units)
• ENVS3040 Complex Environmental Problems (6 units)

Vertical Double Degree pathway UGRD-PGRD (not available in FDD)

• This program is part of the Vertical Double Degree pathway structure offered by the College of Science and the College of Health and Medicine. The Vertical Double Degree pathway presents students with the opportunity to complete a 3-year undergraduate single degree offered by the ANU College of Science or the College of Health and Medicine with a cognate 2-year Masters degree in 4 years (full-time) instead of 5 years (full-time). For more information on applicable combinations, benefits and how to apply, eligibility and conditions, please visit https://science.anu.edu.au/vertical-double-degrees
• Students who are interested in pursuing a Vertical Double Degree pathway with this program, are advised to contact the College of Science Student Services Office at students.cos@anu.edu.au and seek academic advice. Students who are already in an undergraduate degree offered by the College of Science should seek academic advice before completing the first 72 units of their undergraduate studies.
• This pathway is not available to students in an undergraduate Flexible Double Degree.

Progression hurdle:

• Students in the Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability who have opted for the Vertical Double Degree pathway must achieve a minimum GPA of 5.0 in the first 96 units attempted to commence the 24 units of Masters courses in their Bachelor degree. Students who do not achieve this GPA will be able to complete and graduate from their Bachelor degree but will not be able to undertake Masters courses.
• If the total number of units attempted exceeds 96 in the same teaching period in which the 96th unit is attempted, all courses attempted will be used in the calculation of the GPA.