Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology | AVANS UNIVERSITY

The first year focuses on basic skills. Like mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology. As well as on language and (intercultural) communication skills. We also introduce the main environmental issues.

1^st Year Subjects:

Study supervision & self-development, Project: Carbon management, Applied mathematics, Introduction to environmental sciences, Intercultural communication, Project: Water quality, Cell Biology, Writing skills, Water treatment, Calculus, Project: Residues2Resources, Microbiology, Environmental Chemistry II, Sustainable Energy, Presentation skills, Ecology, Project: Air quality. Introduction to policy analysis/law, Air pollution, Bio-Organic chemistry.

In the second year, you do advanced coursework and work on complex projects. New environmental areas of interest are introduced. Like biodiversity, bio-based economy, climate change, environmental simulation and geographical information systems. You also prepare for your work placement.

2^nd Year Subjects:

Study supervision & self-development, Project: Soil quality, Spatial planning, Physical transport phenomena, Geographical information systems (GIS), Soil science Project: LCA in circular economy, Environmental communication, Sustainable development, Water management, Statistics, Project: Energy feasibility analysis, Investment decisions, Climate change, Ethics, Applied thermodynamics, Project: Risk and safety, EU and environmental law, Ecotoxicology, Environmental dynamic modeling.

In the third year, you do a work placement and take the Environmental Consultancy Specialization. The work placement can vary, from working for an environmental consultancy to doing research at an institute.

In your fourth year, you can take the minor “Biobased Energy, Environmental Geography”, or a minor in another program within Avans or our partner universities. During the final half of the year, you complete your graduation assignment within a company, government agency or our Research Group.

A global outlook is really at the heart of this course. That’s why you are required to complete your year 3 work placement assignment, your year 4 exchange minor, or your year 4 graduation project abroad. We have a network of more than 70 contacts and contracts with educational facilities, scientific centers, companies, organizations and institutions worldwide that you can use.

Our students have taken on assignments or participated in exchange minors in countries such as Japan, Brazil, India, South Africa, the Seychelles, Ecuador, Canada, Germany, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Aruba, Costa Rica, Hungary, New Zealand, France and Australia. The list of locations and opportunities is constantly growing.

If you have completed at least 2 years of university education in a subject related to the environmental sciences, you may be eligible to enroll on the two-year program. This means you will join the program in the third year and obtain your bachelor's degree in 2 years.

All courses and examinations will be in English, so you need a good command of spoken and written English.

The level required for admission should be an equivalent of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.0 or higher, or TOEFL iBT score of 80 or higher, or diploma’s such as:

Cambridge Lower (FCE) Grade B (180-184)

Cambridge Advanced (CAE) Grade C (180 - 184)

Cambridge Proficiency (CPE)

Greek high school diploma (Apolytirio Genikou Lykeio), with a general grade of at least 16 and a grade of at least 17 for the subjects Mathematics & Chemistry. Additional knowledge of science subjects like Biology and Physics is also preferred,  but not obligatory. 

The application procedure also includes an assessment interview. The interview can be done by telephone, Skype call, or in person at Avans University in Holland.

August 31, 2019

Avans does not offer student accommodation. Instead, we have partnered with the 2 major housing associations in Breda to launch an accommodation reservation system.

All rooms are fully furnished. In all cases you will share a flat with other students, usually international students. Rental prices range from €370 to €475 per month. This includes water, electricity, gas and internet access. You will need to pay the rent for the full semester in 1 payment when you sign the rental agreement.

Please be aware that a limited number of accommodations are offered on this website, so not all students can be accommodated directly via the 2 housing associations.

If there are any rooms available, you can reserve one on the condition that you have been selected by the coordinator of your program and that you will be studying one of the following program Bachelor’s degree program:

- Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology

- International Business

- Finance & Control (international)

There are several other agencies, organizations or websites that can help you find accommodation in Bread. Early registration for accommodation prior to the start of the study program is a must.

Avans is a partner of international student-to-student housing platform HousingAnywhere.com. If you are coming from abroad, you can use this website to book a student room. The rooms on this platform are offered by Avans students who are going abroad to study, graduate or complete a work placement. Using the platform is free for you as a student.

If you are going to be studying in Breda, the website 'Klik voor kamers' ('click for rooms') also is a good place to look for accommodation. Klik voor kamers offers a first-year guarantee arrangement for students who are starting a bachelor's degree program for the first time, giving them priority when assigning an unfurnished room based on traveling time. This also applies to foreign students.

For more information and assistance in finding your right housing, please contact us on info@studyinholland.gr

The job opportunities after you graduate are excellent. You could, for instance, join a government agency where you would develop and implement environmental policies, or an international organization. You might also prefer an Environment, Health and Safety job in industry. Or maybe you would prefer to work in an environmental consultancy, where assignments range from technical solutions, to environmental licensing or policy-making.

Potential Careers

- Consultant

Clients ranging from municipalities to industries and companies want to have a problem solved. Possible issues include soil investigation, energy reduction and air quality management.

- Policy development officer in a government or international agency

You work for a government agency where you have to determine how the government can achieve certain environmental goals. You also have to monitor implementation of the policy proposed and check whether you achieve the goals.

- Environmental licensing officer in a government agency

Many industrial activities require an environmental license. You work for the government to produce the environmental license for a specific company. Or you check the company to see whether it meets the licensing requirements.

- Environment-Health-Safety Officer

You work in the private sector and are responsible for a safe working environment for the employees of the company. You also have to make sure the company works within the boundaries of its environmental license. You keep pushing the company to develop more sustainable production techniques.

- Water Board enforcement officer

You work for a government agency, international organization, or a water board. You may be involved in water treatment techniques, or in managing water quality and quantity.

After this course, you can apply for a post-graduate program leading to a Master of Science degree (MSc). At universities in Wageningen, Utrecht or Rotterdam, for example. Possible subjects are “Sustainable development”, “Industrial Ecology” and “Soil Science”. Depending on the master's degree program you might need to take a preparatory semester, or year before you can be admitted. We are currently investigating the possibilities for developing a short master's degree program for our graduates.