Environment, Development and International Studies

With qualifications in these subjects you can tackle some of the world's greatest challenges and developments and have a career that influences sustainability and human welfare.

Skills you can develop

As well as the specific knowledge gained from studying an OU degree, you'll develop many transferable and work-related skills that are highly valued by employers and which will increase your employability.

The OU Careers Advisory Service defines student employability as: ‘A set of capabilities and achievements that support students in developing their careers, raising their aspirations and enhancing their contribution to society’.

Whatever your motivations for study, your goals and career aspirations, you are entitled to supported personal development planning either as an intrinsic part of your programme of study or through signposted optional activities.  You can view our full Student Employability Policy Statement on our website.

For Environment, Development and International Studies students the employability skills you will develop include:

• knowledge of the human and scientific causes and consequences of environmental change
• the ability to collect, record and analyse data
• knowledge of international and development issues relating to global poverty, conflict, health, economic and political transition, cultures, values, and technological change
• ability to work towards sustainable solutions
• the ability to carry out investigations in a responsible and safe manner
• working well within groups, either face to face or online, recognising and respecting the views of others
• analysing and planning tasks by using time effectively.

To see specific learning outcomes related to the OU degrees in this area visit:

• BA/BSc (Honours) Environmental Studies
• BSc (Honours) Environmental Science
• BA/BSc (Honours) International Studies

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Career opportunities

In the UK over 60% of graduates enter employment where a degree in any subject would be acceptable. In this instance what they offer the employer is evidence of the range of competencies which have been developed through their academic study, rather than the specific subject content of their degree. This page will focus on careers directly related to Environment, Development and International Studies, however, if you want to explore all of the choices open to you, also refer to the Further Resources section.

Given the current economic climate and the increased competition for graduate positions, it is important to consider a range of occupational areas. Bear in mind that many careers require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree.

Professionals with a degree in this subject area can find employment across the range of public, private and voluntary sectors.

Graduates are found working in

• environmental management
• environmental policy
• environmental consultancy
• environmental education
• nature conservation
• information systems
• civil or diplomatic service
• governmental and non governmental bodies (national and European)
• overseas development
• journalism
• research

Job roles related to this subject area include nature conservation officer, countryside manager, environmental manager, environmental education officer, waste management officer, Foreign and Commonwealth officer, civil servant, diplomatic service officer, journalist, European Union official, immigration officer, international aid/development worker, volunteer co-ordinator, community development worker.

New career areas such as environmental auditing and assessment; environmental management; and environmental engineering are emerging. It is predicted that environmental management and resource efficiency is to become fully integrated into many jobs, in much the same way as health and safety and equal opportunities have already been.

If you are thinking of a career in international development, a combination of qualifications and practical experience is usually essential. There may be roles in administration, advocacy, fundraising, research or relief work. Experience is most readily obtained through voluntary work. International development is now very high profile, largely due to campaigns such as ‘Make Poverty History’.

We advise you to thoroughly research your career choices as early as possible, particularly in relation to experience required, differences relating to where you live, or where the study choices you make may affect future opportunities.

Use the Prospects website to explore career options related to this subject. Click on your subject to see examples of job roles and get information for further research. You may also find it useful to refer to the Industry Insights for Charity and Development Work and Environment and Agriculture.

There is also some particularly useful information on 'Working in Development' on the University of East Anglia Careers Service website.

One World has an excellent directory of organisations, country profiles and current news items and the Environment Jobs website lists jobs in different sectors, as well as voluntary opportunities, courses and events.

In July 2009 the Welsh Assembly Government developed a Green Jobs Strategy aiming to ‘green’ existing jobs and create new jobs that deliver environmental outcomes.

If you live in Ireland, look at

• The relevant career sectors and jobs with your degree pages on the Gradireland website
• Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for latest government news and publications on the environment
• Irishlinks section of Activelink for further information, resources and opportunities in environment and development
• Irish Aid

The Scottish Government announced in February 2009 its intention to create thousands of new ‘green energy’ jobs by 2020 as part of its economic recovery plan. It is hard to tell how this may be affected by cuts in public sector funding. For more information go to the Scottish Government website.

To find out about ways of gaining experience through volunteering see our voluntary work pages. You can also use the searchable databases on the following web sites:

• Do it!
• Volunteer Scotland
• Volunteer Ireland
• Volunteering Wales

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Your employers

Rigorous academic standards ensure that OU qualifications are recognised and valued by professional organisations and employers.

As an OU student, you can access the Employer Showcase to find out about some of the employers who are keen to recruit OU graduates.

The UK Graduate Recruitment Co-ordinator of Logica said of OU students

If you are a student you might want to see further advice from major employers on applications, the skills they require and the value of OU study. Go to our What employers say pages.

As an OU student you can also register for our online vacancy service and receive email notification about job opportunities.

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Further resources

Use the other sections of this web site to

• plan your career
• job seeking career options
• identify your achievements, skills and strengths
• get advice on job seeking 

Don’t forget to check the careers home page regularly for news of events, forums, careers fairs and short courses. If you are an OU student you can participate in and read entries on our online forums.

If you are a current OU student (or finished your studies within the last three years) you are entitled to a careers consultation with a careers adviser in your region or nation. This is designed to help you through the planning process and identify an action plan for your future. (Non-OU students should go to the Contact page of this website for other sources of careers advice.)

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