MSc in Umweltgesundheit

This MSc programme provides an accredited pathway for science-based graduates to become environmental health practitioners. The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) as meeting its core curriculum requirements.

The course is taught using formal lectures; workshops; group work; case studies and student-centred learning, recognising the importance of technical and practical skills as well as academic excellence. Site visits are arranged in order for students to put into practice their newly acquired skills. Students benefit from being taught in a research-intense environment and are encouraged to develop their critical thinking and research skills. The course supports building the foundation of competence through the knowledge and skills required by the CIEH curriculum. We welcome international students to our courses.

This programme is open to international students and is the route that must be taken by people who intend to work in the UK as an Environmental Health Practioner. If you are an international student and do not intend to work in the UK, the Public and Environmental Health MSc programme is more tailored for international students. This Public and Environmental Health MSc is also accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

This course fulfils the academic requirements to become a graduate Environmental Health Officer. Having gained the MSc in Environmental Health, graduates will begin practising. Alongside this, graduates can sign up to either the new Environmental Health registration scheme or the Chartered Environmental Practitioner Programme (CPP), both of which are run by the CIEH. Both of these routes lead to registration and are designed to develop highly competent and professional practitioners in the field.

Students benefit from being taught in a research intense environment and are encouraged to develop their critical thinking and research skills. The course supports building the foundation of competence through the knowledge and skills required by the CIEH curriculum.

Bringing out the best in our students

Our students regularly win awards and recognition for their work from Environmental Health organisations, often allowing them to influence real-world issues and policies.

Former MSc Environmental Health student Gam Bahadur Gurung was recently awarded the Environmental Protection UK ‘best research project for indoor air quality’ prize for his dissertation entitled ‘To investigate the exposure to Carbon Monoxide (CO) and PM2.5 levels inside the shisha premises of Birmingham in collaboration with Birmingham City Council (BCC)’. This is the second award that Gam has received for his dissertation, having previously been awarded the Sir Oliver Lodge Prize.

Top marks in CIEH Annual Graduate Award

Former Student Rebecca Espley won the West Midlands CIEH award 2017 for the best dissertation from the West Midlands, investigating Awareness of Allergens and Consumer Protection. The award was presented at the WMCIEH annual conference held at the University of Birmingham.

The CIEH has historically held an annual competitive award to students, selected from the 13 accredited UK universities, who have the best academic records, achieve the highest results in the CIEH examinations and successfully present at a formal CIEH panel on a selected topic. Our students have won a number of gold, silver and bronze medals.

The College of Life and Environmental Sciences is dedicated to exploring the diversity and evolutionary challenges of life in all its forms.

Across the breadth of life and environmental sciences, we discover, apply and translate science, forging major advances in human and environmental health. From exercise, biomedicine and mental health to climate change, food security and resilience we combine original thinking and real-world experience with clear focus and rigour. This is underpinned by our enabling technologies, which combine state-of-the-art equipment with expert staff.

We are home to one of the best stand-alone Schools of Psychology in the UK, as well as being ranked consistently in the top five in the world QS league table for Sport and Exercise Sciences. Supported by a major gift from a philanthropist, we have developed the unique Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BiFoR), which is investigating the effect of rapid climate change on tree canopy development and pathogens.

The College is comprised of four Schools: Biosciences; Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences; Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences; and Psychology. We combine our discipline expertise with those across the wider University to address the most significant human and environmental questions of the present, past and future.

Our extensive engagement with partners across academia, industry and communities deliver a growing impact on the local, national and global stage.

Talented staff

With a faculty of more than 700 academic and professional services staff working in partnership, we are actively engaging with University initiatives to make high-quality appointments in the College’s established and emerging centres of research excellence. Among our academic staff are a number of outstanding, high potential, early career researchers, appointed as part of the University’s sector-leading Birmingham Fellowship programme. Our professional services staff provide valuable support to academic colleagues, enabling an exceptional educational experience for our students, and helping us to grow our influence regionally, nationally, and globally.

One of our core aims in the College is to help our staff to look after themselves. We have a range of apps, programmes and information available to our staff to improve and support both their physical, and mental health.

World-leading research

In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) the majority of our research was rated as world-leading (4) or internationally excellent (3). Our world-leading multidisciplinary research areas include:

• Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR)
• Environmental Sciences
• Microbiology and Infection
• Water Sciences
• Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain
• Centre for Human Brain Health
• Institute for Mental Health

In recent years, the College has placed significant investment into key interdisciplinary initiatives including the Centre for Computational Biology and, recently, the Centre for Human Brain Health. Established in 2017, the Institute for Mental Health will largely focus on transforming NHS services from an evidence base of the highest quality research. These investments build on the College’s outstanding infrastructure and reputation for enabling technologies.

Teaching excellence

The College is home to around 5,000 students studying a diverse range of more than 100 undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research programmes.

The combination of outstanding research, training, fieldwork and facilities enables our students to engage with the most exciting and pioneering research through its impact and application to real-world challenges. As a result, they learn both transferable and discipline-specific skills giving them the confidence and experience to succeed in a wide range of careers across the globe.

International students in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences

We are home to a diverse and vibrant community of international students who have chosen the University of Birmingham to further their studies in biosciences, geography, earth sciences, environmental sciences, planning, psychology, sport and exercise sciences and physiotherapy.

Muhammad Nadzmie Bin Zulkifli - Malaysia (MSc Air Pollution Control and Management)

“My favourite thing of being a student in the University of Birmingham probably would be the community, the diverse international community here. It makes me feel at home.”

Christy Wong Hei Yan - Hong Kong (BSc Psychology)

“Studying abroad can broaden my horizons”

Our schools

• Biosciences
• Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Psychology
• Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences

Fellowships

Pursue an independent fellowship in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham, and gain the opportunity to further your own research within a globally respected multi-disciplinary environment.

Postdoctoral and Early Researcher Career Development and Training - PERCAT

The PERCAT programme within the Colleges of Engineering and Physical Sciences and Life and Environmental Sciences aims to provide a gateway to resources and support available at the University of Birmingham for career development and training for postdoctoral and early career researchers, including events, seminars, career development opportunities, research council funding, fellowships and other support services.