MSc Pollution and Environmental Control

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Environment

Applications are welcome from students with an Upper Second (2:1) Class Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a natural science, environmental science, environmental engineering, water science engineering or other related  scientific or technological discipline from a recognised university.

When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved, your academic references and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.  

All applicants will need to demonstrate competency in English language. Applicants who do not already possess an acceptable English Language qualification will need to take a recognised test and attain the required English Language score:

• IELTS: at least6.5 overall with no sub-test below 6.0.
• TOFEL iBT: at least90 overall withno sub-test below 20. We do not accept 'MyBestScore'.
• Pearson PTE: at least 70 overall with no sub-test below 64. We do not accept ‘Home Edition’.

Further information onlanguage requirementscan be found on our website .

Pre-sessional English

We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you may be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.

To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:

• 6 Week Pre-Sessional Course: Minimum 6.0 overall with no sub-test below 5.5.
• 10 Week Pre-sessional Course: Minimum 5.5 overall with no sub-test below 5.5.

If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate.

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Applicants from Majority English-speaking countries

 If you are a national of a  majority English-speaking country  (or have studied for a full bachelor degree or higher from one of these countries) you may be exempt from submitting further evidence of English language proficiency.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:

• MSc (full-time)
  UK students (per annum): £16,300
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £36,800

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and awards to outstanding UK and international students each year.

The University of Manchester is committed to widening participation in master's study, and allocates £300,000 in funding each year. Our Manchester Master's Bursaries are aimed at widening access to master's courses by removing barriers to postgraduate education for students from underrepresented groups.

We also welcome the best and brightest international students each year and reward excellence with a number of merit-based scholarships. See our range of master’s scholarships for international students .

And, if you have completed an undergraduate degree at The University of Manchester, or are currently in your final year of an undergraduate degree with us, you may be eligible for a discount of 10% on tuition fees if you choose to study on a taught postgraduate course here. Find out if you're eligible and how to apply .

For more information on master's tuition fees and studying costs, visit the University of Manchester funding for master's courses website to help you plan your finances.

We consider your full academic history including which course units you have taken and the marks obtained. Even if you have met our minimum entry requirements, we will take into account your marks in relevant course units in our final decision making.

If you graduated more than three years ago, we will also consider the information contained on your CV and any relevant work experience you have to assess if you are still able to fulfil the entry criteria.

No interview is required for this course.

CAS Information

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Please upload a copy of your current valid passport with your application showing the photograph page with your application. For CAS purposes, this must show your full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and the date the passport is valid until, which must be later than the date of your planned arrival in the UK, and the start date of your course.

If you have previously studied in the UK on a Student Route visa as an undergraduate or postgraduate student, please send a copy of your previous CAS statement to us as it will assist with the issue of your new CAS statement. This includes study in the UK on study abroad programmes and any study that you did not complete.

You cannot use your CAS to apply for a student visa more than three months before the start date of your course. The Admissions Team will contact you at the appropriate time.

Your CAS number is only valid for one student visa application .

Applications for deferred entry are not accepted for this course. If you receive an offer for 2025 entry and decide not to accept it, should you subsequently wish to be considered for 2026 entry you would be required to reapply.

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

The course is divided into three parts :

• 60 credits of Core taught course units running from October to May.
• 60 credit taught courses comprised of four 15 credit modules running from January to May.
• 60 credit research project carried out from April to the middle of September.

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Teaching and research in environmental sciences are facilitated by strong collaborative links with the Greater Manchester Geological Unit, an independent body of consultants engaged in practical urban geoscience in the Manchester area.

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

This course is accredited by the Community for Environmental Disciplines in Higher Education (CEDHE), the education committee of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). CEDHE is the collective voice of the environmental sciences academic community and serves to enhance the quality of environmental education worldwide.

A course accredited by CEDHE is assured to meet high standards, contain a strong component of practical, field and theoretical activities, and has excellent opportunities for training, work experience and links to the professional environmental sector. Students enrolled on CEDHE-accredited programmes can apply for free Student Membership of the IES and for a fast-track route to membership once they graduate.

This course is aligned with the academic requirements for Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) and starts graduates on a route towards becoming a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) or Chartered Scientist (CSci).