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Studies & Degrees in Environmental Biology

Environmental biology studies living organisms in relation to their surroundings: how plants, animals, fungi and bacteria function in their environment and how they react when that environment changes. It sits between classical biology and environmental science. Compared with a general biology degree it gives more weight to ecology, biodiversity, conservation and fieldwork; compared with environmental science it stays closer to the organisms themselves and less to chemistry, geology or policy.

The subject works at several scales. Imperial College London describes its course as understanding the behaviour of living systems from the level of cells up to whole organisms and ecosystems. Universities often combine the name with ecology, as in "ecology and environmental biology" or "environmental biology and ecology".

What students learn

The first year usually gives a broad base in biology. At Imperial, the core modules of year one are biological chemistry and microbiology, evolution and diversity, cell biology and genetics, core skills for life scientists, and ecology and evolution. Later years add statistics, programming and genetics, and options such as biodiversity and conservation biology, disease ecology and epidemiology, global change biology and a field course in Africa.

Fieldwork and data analysis are what set the subject apart. Western Colorado University, for example, lets students conduct original fieldwork at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. Students should expect outdoor work in all weather, laboratory practicals and a good deal of statistics.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. In the United Kingdom the degree is a three-year BSc; the BSc in Ecology and Environmental Biology at Imperial has a minimum entry standard of AAA at A level or 38 points in the International Baccalaureate. In the United States it is a Bachelor of Science: the University of Dayton offers a B.S. in Environmental Biology, and Western Colorado University offers Environmental Biology and Ecology as a major emphasis within a Bachelor of Science.
  • Master's degree. Utrecht University teaches a two-year, 120 ECTS master's programme in Environmental Biology, in English, leading to an MSc in Biosciences. Students choose one of four tracks (Ecology and Conservation, Animal Behaviour, Plant Biology or Fungal Biology), and a nine-month research project accounts for 51 credits. It is a selective research programme. For 2026-27 the statutory fee for Dutch and other EU/EEA students is €2,694 and the institutional fee for non-EU/EEA students is €25,306.
  • Doctorate. Research careers normally require a PhD. Utrecht states that a number of its Environmental Biology master's students go on to PhD studies.
  • Short and field programmes. Some organisations in the list run field stations, summer courses or study abroad programmes in ecology and marine science rather than full degrees. Ask how the credits transfer to your home university.

Where to study environmental biology

SpainExchange lists 17 schools for this subject. Ten are in the United States, and there is one each in Spain, Canada, India, the Netherlands, Bermuda, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. Almost all of them teach in English; the Universidad de Huelva, in Andalusia, teaches in Spanish and offers a bachelor's degree (grado) in Ciencias Ambientales in its Faculty of Experimental Sciences.

Examples in the United States are the University of Dayton in Ohio, Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Ferris State University in Michigan and Tennessee Tech University. In Europe the list includes Imperial College London and Utrecht University; in Canada, McGill University in Montreal. The ASU Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences is a marine research and education centre.

When comparing programmes, look at the ecosystems within reach of the campus (mountains, coast, wetlands, forest), the number of field courses and whether they cost extra, the balance between ecology and molecular biology, and the opportunities to join a research group. Where a university has no degree with this exact title, the closest route is a degree in biology or environmental sciences with ecology options.

Careers

Graduates work in nature conservation organisations, environmental consultancy, government agencies, research institutes, water authorities, zoos and botanical gardens, and in education. Utrecht University lists research institutes, environmental consultancy firms, private or governmental nature conservation organisations and industry among the employers of its graduates.

US figures give an idea of the size of the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), environmental scientists and specialists held about 93,400 jobs in 2025, and employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 7,300 openings a year. Conservation scientists held about 27,700 jobs and zoologists and wildlife biologists about 19,500. A bachelor's degree is the usual entry requirement, but the BLS notes that zoologists and wildlife biologists may need a master's degree for higher level jobs and typically need a PhD to lead research projects.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between environmental biology and environmental science?

Environmental biology concentrates on organisms and ecosystems: ecology, biodiversity, conservation and behaviour. Environmental science is broader and also covers chemistry, earth sciences, pollution and environmental management.

Do I need a master's degree to work in this field?

Not always. In the United States a bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement for environmental scientists and for entry-level wildlife biologists, but higher level and research positions usually ask for a master's degree or a PhD.

Is there a lot of fieldwork?

Yes, more than in most biology degrees. Programmes include field courses and research projects, such as the optional African field course at Imperial College London or fieldwork at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory at Western Colorado University.

Can I study environmental biology in English in continental Europe?

Yes, mainly at master's level. Utrecht University's two-year master's programme in Environmental Biology is taught in English.