Global Challenges (Planetary Health) BASc

1st place in the 2022 National Student Survey for Combined Studies.

Are you curious about how to deal with ecological and environmental challenges that affect nations across the world? Our new Global Challenges undergraduate degrees have been designed with disrupters in mind – people who aren’t afraid to ask questions and to pull in knowledge from across disciplines to get to the root of the planetary problems we face.

Within the core spine of your Global Challenges degree, you will take an in-depth look at issues such as climate change, sustainable development, migration, terrorism, inequality and poverty and how they affect the world we live in, the Planetary Health pathway will also introduce you to the impact human activity has on the earth systems and in turn affects our health.

You will explore questions about the environmental challenges current and future populations face as you learn to analyse and manage issues alongside the Brunel experts teaching this course.

Planetary health is a global concern. The impact of human activity must be addressed and managed so that we do not continue to damage our ecology and ultimately ourselves. As part of the Planetary Health Alliance, Brunel University London works alongside 70 dedicated universities, NGOs, government entities and research institutes who are committed to making advances in this area. This means that the knowledge you gain during your studies will come directly from the most up-to-date sources.

As part of your course you will look at the connections between changes in the environment and health outcomes. For example, how the environment has caused certain wildlife species to become extinct, or how the use of pesticides in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables may have physical or mental health risks.

You will also explore some of the technologies and political and economic strategies employed in healing the planet, such as the reduction of greenhouse gasses by avoiding the use of damaging household products, to saving energy around the home.

Throughout your course you will build your ability to work in teams as you pick up skills in project management, presenting and team pitches. A third year Enterprise Project will help to bring all these skills together as you work on a group project with a real organisation.

You have the option to apply for an internship at the end of your first year and can take a one-year placement between years two and three, giving you valuable work experience and a step ahead for your career when you graduate.

As a graduate of the new Global Challenges course you will be inquisitive and analytical with a large amount of knowledge that could change the world, as you’ll have learnt how to assess contrasting sets of data and different arguments to form your own ideas and opinions.

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

Your Global Challenges course is structured around a core spine of compulsory modules where you will tap into the expertise of several departments from across the university.

In addition, you will study a set of modules which are focused on your Planetary Health pathway to build your specialist knowledge.

Core elements of your degree have been developed to work in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). As the lead United Nations agency in tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing our world, this partnership ensures that what you’ll learn is timely, relevant and responsive.

In practice this includes working on real life case studies that bring the skills and experience of industry experts and academics to the student learning experience, to respond to live briefs aimed at supporting the UNDP’s international development priorities.

This connection not only ensures your project work will be specific and focused, but also develop your problem solving and project delivery skills in ways that, beyond supporting your future career, have the potential to bring real world impact through our partners.

This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Read more about the structure of undergraduate degrees at Brunel.

Today’s workforce seeks graduates who are not only flexible and determined, but also have the awareness and ability to respond to the challenges faced by different industries across a rapidly-changing world.

Global Challenges is both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science. Having developed skills in scientific, social scientific and humanities fields, our graduates will be able to confidently engage with a range of perspectives, evidence bases and stakeholders.

Ultimately, graduates will be able to actively contribute and lead the necessary change needed to respond to emerging issues. You’ll be able to innovate and improve processes in a dynamic manner, and to actively contribute to improving outcomes for employers, or as an employer yourself.

Graduates from this programme will be equipped for roles in a number of industries including, but certainly not limited to, business, media and communications, systems design and consulting, international development, healthcare, government and diplomatic services.

Course assessments are synoptic in nature as they will draw on the knowledge you acquire across the various disciplines covered. Assessment methods may include presentations, written and audio-visual reports in the form of vlogs and blogs, essays, examinations, coursework, and peer assessment.

Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.