We are on a journey to embed climate change across our education framework, with the aim of equipping our graduates with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to conserve and protect our planet, through learning, research and action projects.

Our approach to embedding has three distinct elements:

• supporting students in understanding the basics of the climate emergency, mitigation and adaptation approaches, and through this considering the impact of their personal choices and behaviours through our Climate Literacy programme.
• embedding relevant climate content in our courses through our Citizenship and Sustainability principle. We are currently exploring how we can best support staff with embedding, options include design review, staff training, sharing of best practice and the development of a resource hub.
• Developing new programmes specifically focused on sustainability and climate change. In particular, a new MSc Decarbonisation will welcome its first cohort of students in 2024. Other programmes in this space are anticipated.

View resources and guidance on the Learning and Teaching Hub to support you in embedding sustainability in the curriculum.

Examples of innovative course development

• A course-wide approach to embedding climate and sustainability skills in Electronic and Electrical Engineering degrees
• Student focus groups in Chemical Engineering map path to enhanced climate and sustainability teaching in undergraduate curriculum

Climate Literacy for Students

In September 2021, Bath became the first University to include Carbon Literacy in induction for all new students.

Each year, incoming students are given the opportunity to engage in carbon literacy as part of induction and to complete training with the Carbon Literacy Project.

The idea came from the belief that every student coming to Bath should have a level of Carbon Literacy and that we wanted to weave that into the student experience and give everyone the chance to get involved. We know that this is an issue that students care about passionately and is something that will have a bearing on the rest of their lives. - Professor Steve Cayzer

Student Change Projects

Supported by the University and the Students’ Union, this scheme provides students with the opportunity to lead a change project related to one or more of the strategic priorities for the institution. One of the focus areas includes sustainability.

Discover more about what's involved and how you can effect meaningful change.

Generally Available Units

Across the University, there is a wealth of expertise about sustainability, the science behind climate change and its impacts.

Some departments make their units available to all students, known as Generally Available Units. For example, Natural Sciences GAUs include:

• Introduction to environmental sciences and sustainability
• State of the planet

Students can take GAUs either as a Director of Studies approved option within their programme of study or as an 'extra' unit which does not count towards a final award.

Explore the full list of GAUs

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP)

VIPs are innovative research and applied learning projects that enable inter-disciplinary, multi-level teams of students to work with a member of academic staff on long-term real-world projects which address global challenges often with a local focus.

In academic year 2023/24 a number of these VIPS are climate focused, including:

• Students for Sustainable Food
• Carers Centre carbon reduction journey

We are currently undertaking a project, funded by the University’s Teaching Development Fund, to map VIPS to the UN SDGs and student skills to more deeply understand their breadth and impact.

Find out more about our VIPs