Environmental Engineering University of British Columbia

Overview

The Environmental Engineering programme at the University of British Columbia provides students with the technical expertise required to protect and restore the natural environment. This comprehensive degree focuses on solving complex ecological challenges through innovative engineering design and scientific application.

Students learn to address critical issues such as water and air pollution, waste recycling, and the remediation of contaminated sites. The curriculum covers a broad spectrum of scales, from managing site-specific regional regulations to modelling global environmental impacts that influence international government policy development.

The educational experience combines traditional classroom theory with intensive laboratory work and team-based projects.

Why Environmental Engineering at the University of British Columbia?

The programme is delivered by the Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Civil Engineering, both of which are consistently ranked among the top schools globally. This partnership ensures students benefit from world-class facilities and diverse academic expertise across multiple engineering disciplines.

A distinctive feature of the programme is the use of the Vancouver campus as a living laboratory, where students engage with sustainable infrastructure and fieldwork. The university also offers an optional co-op placement, allowing students to gain paid, full-time professional experience and build industry networks before they graduate.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: CAD 63654 per year
• National fee: CAD 8003 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is structured to build foundational knowledge before moving into specialised technical areas. Modules may include:

Year 1

• Engineering I
• Physics for Engineers I
• Computation in Engineering Design
• Integral Calculus with Applications to Physical Sciences and Engineering

Year 2

• Environmental Engineering

Year 3

• Environmental Engineering Laboratory
• Groundwater Hydrology

Year 4

• Geo-Environmental Engineering
• Chemical and Biological Engineering Economics
• Environmental Hydraulics
• Groundwater Contamination
• Mining and The Environment

Careers with Environmental Engineering

Graduates are prepared for diverse roles within government agencies, manufacturing plants, and the resource sector. Common career paths include sustainability planning, environmental policy formulation, and the design of management systems for non-governmental organisations and private consultancies.

The programme also equips students for technical roles in impact assessment, where they evaluate social, environmental, and regulatory risks. With a strong emphasis on professional practice, alumni are well-positioned to lead initiatives in waste treatment, resource recovery, and international environmental consultancy.