MSc Environmental Science Course Details, Eligibility, Career Prospects & Salary

Updated December 28, 2022

An MSc in Environmental Science is all about studying the environment and the measures to conserve it in the best interest. But why should you bother about it in first place? The answer to it lies in the very basic “Are you concerned about the changes happening around the environment and wish to contribute your part?”

If your answer to the concerns raised is yes, discipline like environmental science can help you accomplish that. More so, a Masters degree in Environmental science could be a powerful tool to equip you with the essential skills and expertise to tackle environment-related problems.

This MSc Environmental curriculum spans over 2-year covering all the crucial theoretical and hands-on experience curriculum to understand the environment with an integrated perspective. Although the environment is a common discipline, but it has the most significant role in managing and improving the wellness bridge between human beings and the environment.

What is EVS Full Form?

It is one of the most common abbreviations you have heard in primary schooling. The EVS full form or extended as the Environmental Studies, is an interdisciplinary study area, providing knowledge to the peers about all living and non-living organisms around us. Being an interdisciplinary and scientific area of study, it concerns the biological, physical, cultural, social and other aspects of the environment. This discipline makes us understand the changing environment to what extent and influence on the living beings.

The study of this discipline starts with primary school, wherein you encounter the fundamentals of Environmental Studies. Studying advanced areas of the specialization begins with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Moreover, this field offers an array of career opportunities for students to pursue.   

Key Highlights of MSc in Environmental Science

Tabulated below show the key aspects of Master of Science in Environmental Science program:

MSc Environmental Science- An Overview

Studying MSc in Environmental Science has gained significant momentum these days because of urbanization, industrialization, and global warming. The course is extended over 2-year covering the crucial concepts of physical, chemical, biological, and geographical to understand the core issues of the environment. Apart from providing the fundamental aspects of the environment, the course ensures the participants engage in laboratory work and test the samples of various environment-related problems.  

This interdisciplinary field has taken a particular position among the prominent courses, which promises rewarding career opportunities to the graduates. But to pursue such a post-graduate specialized course, you must graduate with a bachelor’s degree and have at least 50-60% of aggregate marks.

What are the Eligibility Criteria for M.Sc. Environmental Science?

The MSc Environmental Science, being a diverse area of study, is a post-graduate program that offers admission to undergraduate students. Talking about the undergraduate qualifications, the aspirants must have obtained the minimum prevailing score from a recognized university. Apart from this, the course also demands several other standard qualifications from aspiring candidates. The below-elucidated points clarify the demands required to study the Master of Science in Environmental Science:

 (a) You, as an aspirant, must have completed your bachelor’s degree in environmental science (like BSc Environmental Science) or any other relevant discipline. The undergraduate degree should be in zoology, physics, biology, microbiology, etc.
(b) The students aspiring to pursue this specialized course, whether from India or Abroad, must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
(c) The students must have scored at least 50% marks, though 5% relaxation is given to the reserved (SC/ST) category.

(d) Students in the final year of graduation can also apply for this course.
(e) You might also be required to clear the entrance exams to enter some reputed institutions.

Top Entrance Exams for MSC Environmental Science

The area of study is vital to understand and manage the pollution, waste and other things happening around the environment. Based on scientific research and methodological skills, the course equips the participants with the requisite knowledge and expertise as the industry demands. But to pursue the program, the aspiring candidates will have to complete the standards prescribed by the famous institutes. One of them is cracking the qualifying entrance tests, which the university specifies. Here is the list of some qualifying entrance examinations for the Master of Science in Environmental science.

(a) BHU PET (Banaras Hindu University Post-Graduate Entrance Test)
(b) UPSEE (Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Examination)
(c) TS EAMCET (Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture & Medical Entrance Test)
(d) ANUPGCET (Acharya Nagarjuna University Post Graduate Common Entrance Test)

How to Get Admission to the M Sc Environmental Science Course?

Getting a reputed institute for MSc environmental science is not a cake-walk task. In order to study the course and pursue a career in the domain, you have to be sharp and competent enough. You are well aware of the current cut-throat competition which applies to obtaining a seat in the renowned institute for the MSc Environmental Science course.

You can take up this specialized program in two ways; one is by cracking the qualifying entrance tests and the other through a bachelor’s degree scorecard. Both techniques require a good intent approach from the candidates to pursue this interdisciplinary course. The steps mentioned below have been explained in detail to reduce your mental block.

Entrance-Based Entry to Study Environmental Science Discipline

Entering the university through an entrance test is one of the prominent and most-opted ways among the students. To get a seat in the reputed institute, the aspiring candidates will have to crack the entrance test as per the institute’s specifies. Here are the general approaches to enter into the institute.

(a) Narrow down the college in which you are interested. Then, fill out the application form for the entrance test, which the institute specifies you.
(b) After that, crack the entrance exam with excellent marks. It is so because the admission will be based on your scores.
(c) You make sure to get above the cut-off prescribed by the institute. And if your name is called on the list, you will get a chance for GD/PI round.

(d) You also be confident to perform well in GD/PI round because this test will be considered for the final admission process.
(e) Your last step will be left to submit the hardcopy of the requisite documents demanded by the university. 

Direct-Based entry to Study Environmental Science Discipline

Not all students choose the entrance-based technique to study; many also select the direct-based mode of admission to pursue this Master of Science in an environmental course. For this, you should have obtained excellent marks in your bachelor’s degree. Here are the general approaches to joining the post-graduate environmental science course:

(a) Find a suitable university and register yourselves for the Master of Science in Environmental science.
(b) You must keep your essential documents in appropriate formats and sizes while applying M.Sc in Environmental Science program.
(c) After a few days of filling out the application form, the university authority will publish the name of the shortlisted candidates.

(d) If you are able to get your name on the merit list, you may be called for the counselling round. After that, you will be finally eligible for MSc in Environmental science course.
(e) Your last step is submitting the requisite documents the universities/colleges demand.

What are the subjects & Syllabus of M.SC Environmental Science?

Apart from being specialized and interdisciplinary, it is a crucial area of study that bridges the wellness of human beings and the environment. The course touches on the several essential aspects of environmental science like biological, physical, cultural and chemical components, which have significant roles in managing, analyzing and providing probable solutions to environment-related problems. By getting a better understanding and proper interaction with the subjects of the course, the graduates play a critical role in this drastically changing environment. 

The Master of Science in Environmental Science program is extended over 2-year that builds a strong foundation with equipping requisite skills to be able to tackle the current and coming environment-related problem. These days you can easily encounter the news related to water pollution, air pollution, soil erosion, waste mismanagement, etc., which require an expert individual to actually deal with. And, having an excellent knowledge of the subjects & syllabus is quite essential. To help you get an overview, I have elucidated the topics semester-wise:

Particulars of Specialized Environmental Science Curriculum

Courses Similar to the M Sc Environmental Science

Here is the list of some courses through which you can make a promising and rewarding career in the field of environment:

(a) MSc Life Science
(b) MSc Earth Sciences
(c) MSc Green Technology
(d) MSc Disaster Mitigation
(e) MSc Environmental Science

(f) MSc Ecology and Environmental Sciences
(g) MSc Sustainable Development
(h) MSc Global Warming Reduction
(i) MBA Forestry and Environment Management
(j) MTech in Environmental Science   

How much Would Cost to Pursue M Sc Environmental Science?

There are numerous universities that offer an MSc in Environmental science, but after meeting the university’s standards. Even different institutes ask for different tuition fees from the students. Actually, it’s contingent on many factors such as controlling authorities, geographic areas, facilities, and the list. Students’ pay for this course can be anywhere between 5 and 5 lacs, but it’s an estimated amount that could go upwards or downwards.

What are the Jobs Profiles for MSc Environmental Science Graduates?

There is no dearth of job roles to be pursued after obtaining a Master of Science in Environmental Science degree. And it is a curriculum that imparts scientific theoretical knowledge along with equipping the necessary skills to be developed as the experts in the very industry. Below are the popular job profiles for the MSc Environmental Science graduates:

(a) Activist – You can make aware of importance of environment to the people by participating in different programs & of course Nature conservation Day.
(b) Research Fellow
(c) Environmental Scientist
(d) Urban Planner
(e) Scientific Assistant
(f) Lecturer or Professor

(g) Air Quality Inspector
(h) Wildlife Film-Maker
(i) Wildlife Photographer
(j) Forest Carbon Specialist
(k) Environment Photographer
(l) Manager-Waste Management

(m) Environmental Consultant
(n) Environmental Journalist
(o) Conservation Hydrologist
(p) Environment Technician
(q) Product Manager- Environmental Health and Safety

Scopes After Pursuing M Sc Environmental Science Program

From the beginning to the end of the course, the curriculum focuses on imparting the knowledge that could actually help the students in hunting the prominent roles along with making a career in advanced research and development. During the course, the participants travel to different climatic areas and habitats to investigate and find valuable results. They even engage in several laboratory works to test the samples and contribute to the environmental changes. Studying the environmental course is not limited to getting a job in the core domain but also offers the opportunities to pursue a career in the relevant sections related to the Environmental field. The graduates can make their stride in several main workspaces, which include the following:

(a) You can pursue a career in Journalism Field
(b) Have the option to lead your career in Photography World
(c) Having empathy and love for the animal can lead to Animal Research Centers
(d) Go into the National Zoological Parks
(e) Get a job in the Forest Department
(f) If you are getting a call from inside to teach the students, you can pursue a career in Colleges and Universities
(g) Pollution Control Boards– A Core Area of Environmental Field
(h) Hold a Job role in Food Processing Industries
(i) Water Conservation Department

Higher Studies after Pursuing M Sc in Environmental Science

Career scopes are not limited to only getting a job after MSc Environmental science degree. There are a lot of higher studies courses for which students can go and pursue a most desirable and rewarding career. The following are the popular courses for the graduates:

(a) PhD in Environmental Science
(b) MPhil in Environmental Science

Average Salary of the M. Sc. Environmental Science Graduates

It is one of the most obvious questions that come into the mind of the aspirants before leaping their career into such a field. If you are also wondering to know the answer to the average salary of the MSc Environmental graduates, here I will tell satiate your curiosity. The salary of the graduates, though, varies on the basis of the job profiles and working space; however, the average could be around 2lacs to 20lacs.   

Where to Pursue M.Sc. Environmental Science Program

A lot of universities are available in India and Abroad, but getting a master’s degree in Environmental science from a well-reputed institute has its more significant advantage in pursuing a career. Here, I am providing the list of some famous institutes for the M.Sc. Environmental Science course.

Colleges in US, UK and Other Foreign Countries

(a) University of Sheffield, UK
(b) Thompson Rivers University, Canada
(c) The University of Sydney, Australia
(d) Curtin University, Australia
(e) University of Glasgow, UK
(f) Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
(g) University of Wollongong, Australia

Colleges in India

(a) University of Hyderabad- UoH
(b) University of Lucknow
(c) Sacred Heart College
(d) Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU)
(e) Savitribai Phule Pune University
(f) Banaras Hindu University

Questions Mostly Asked About M Sc Environmental Science

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