This four-year degree course includes an industry placement or a year's study at a university abroad.Apply your knowledge of maths and physics to the natural world to examine the inner workings of today's environmental issues, and kick-start your career with a professional placement year.Explore the physics behind the atmosphere, oceans, ice sheets and the Earth's crust, as well as space weather and the Sun. You will also develop an understanding of key environmental issues, including atmospheric pollution and climate change, from a physics perspective. This knowledge is essential for tackling many of the problems facing the planet today.Across the three years, you will gain a thorough grounding in key mathematical and scientific principles, such as nuclear physics and environmental chemistry, and be able to select optional modules according to your interests. These will enable you to specialise in areas such as earth sciences, oceanography, hydrology, space weather or atmospheric science.Our small, specialist department offers an enviable 1:2 staff to student ratio. You will be taught by world leaders in their fields, some of whom are Nobel Prize winners, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) leaders and Fellows of the Royal Society. Take advantage of the Department's close links to industry and a range of other opportunities to enhance your employability.Teaching is divided between lectures and practical work - with the ratio depending on options selected. You will have the opportunity to carry out a range of experiments using our extensive fluid dynamics and instrument labs, and atmospheric observatory. You will also carry out an independent research project, working closely with a member of staff on a topic of your choice.In your final year, you will have the option of attending a summer field study trip to the Isle of Arran.The Department benefits from a specialist placement officer and strong links with industry. Many students carry out work experience during the summer vacation with popular destinations including the Met Office and EDF Trading.**Careers**In our greener economy, graduates who can understand, model and predict environmental changes are increasingly in demand. Move into areas such as water resource management, environmental consultancy, energy supply, flood modelling, pollution predication or terrestrial and space weather forecasting.Major employers of environmental physics graduates include government agencies (e.g. UK Met Office and Environment Agency), and the power, utilities, transport, agriculture and health sectors.The finance, management consultancy and insurance sectors will be another option, given your problem-solving and numeracy skills. Or, you could choose to enter teacher training.The degree is also a stepping stone to PhD study, and your solid grounding in fundamental physics will enable you to research topics beyond those linked to the environment and climate.