Wildlife Conservation and Ecology (including a Foundation Year)
Entry requirements
A minimum of 72 tariff points from A & AS levels (a Science subject is preferred)
A minimum of 72 tariff points
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Applied Science or Animal Care/Management
A minimum of 72 tariff points
T Level
About this course
Is your ambition to undertake meaningful conservation work to protect our wildlife and our environment for years to come?
This course includes a broad range of specialist modules and practical opportunities to gain the essential industry skills and knowledge, with which to effectively conserve species, habitats and biodiversity both in the UK and overseas.
Through your studies, you will address a range of topics such as wildlife ecology, conservation biology, evolution and adaptation, ecological survey skills and species identification and principles of ecological restoration.
Combined with dedicated practical work, using our campus laboratories, the wider Reaseheath estate and servicing our community conservation work, you will develop a broad range of transferable knowledge, skills and competencies for future application in the conservation science and ecology sectors.
The foundation year allows you to build your confidence and the skills and knowledge required to progress on to study the BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation and Ecology. This first year focuses on developing a broad underpinning knowledge in themes such as environmental science, animal husbandry and management, and animal biology. Once you have progressed onto your second year, you will develop essential knowledge and skills in wildlife conservation, ecology, evolution and biodiversity, with an emphasis on practical experience whilst in your third year, you will shift in emphasis to more academic and research-informed study, including themes in population management, ecological restoration, wildlife rehabilitation, and environmental impact and mitigation. A work placement within a relevant field of industry or an international field course is also available to study for academic credit at this level. Your final year will further develop your critical thinking skills and deepen your knowledge in areas of conservation and ecology, and will include a research dissertation on a topic of your interest.
**Course Features:**
* Surveying techniques
* Species identification
* Evolutionary biology
* Conservation biology and biodiversity
* Restoration ecology
* Environmental assessment and impact mitigation
* Access to a diverse rural green space across the campus
* Field course opportunities to South Africa, Costa Rica and South West UK
**Careers**
* Conservation science research
* Ecological/environmental consultancy
* Wildlife/conservation management
* Conservation charities
* Conservation ecotourism
* Conservation education
* Progress to MSc or PhD study
Modules
Foundation Year
• Academic Skills for the Animal Sciences
• Introduction to Environmental Science
• Introduction to Data Handling & Analysis
• Practical Skills in Animal Husbandry
• Scientific Principles in the Animal Sciences
• Animal Form and Function
Level 4
• Conservation Biology and Biodiversity
• Ecological Survey and Census Skills
• Conservation of British Habitats
• Introduction to Scientific Communication
• Evolution & Adaptation
• Wildlife Ecology
Level 5
• Research Methods
• Principles of Ecological Restoration
• Animal Ecophysiology
• Behavioural Ecology*1
• Technological Advancements in Conservation*1
• Ecological Assessment, Impact Mitigation & Enhancement*2
• Wildlife Health and Rehabilitation*2
• Experiential Learning*3
• Work Based Learning for the Land Based Industries*3
*Denotes optional modules. The number corresponds to the combination for selection.
Level 6
• Applied Issues in Wildlife Conservation
• Environmental Sustainability & Natural Resource Management
• Dissertation†
• Biology & Conservation of Mammals*1
• Biology & Conservation of Birds*1
• Biology & Conservation of Herpetofauna*1
• Conservation Education*2
• Applications of Animal Behaviour for Conservation*2
• Anthrozoology*2
*Denotes optional modules. The number corresponds to the combination for selection.
† Dissertation is a double-weighted module, worth 40 credits. Therefore, only five modules are selected for study at Level 6 (Year 3).
Assessment methods
Assessments are designed to encourage both academic skills and professional skills highly sought after in industry. Assessments include a combination of coursework and timed online assessments. Coursework may take many forms including: essays, reports, data processing, presentations, academic posters, seminar discussions, interviews, critical reviews, portfolios of evidence and practical competency assessments. The timed online assessments vary, depending on the nature of the module, but may take the form of multiple-choice papers, essays, practical assessments, data handling questions and short answer quizzes.
The balance of assessment by examination and assessment by coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by coursework is as follows:
Foundation Year
85% coursework
15% timed online assessments
Level 4
54.5% coursework
45.5% timed online assessments
Level 5
85% coursework
15% timed online assessments
Level 6
75% coursework
25% written/practical exams
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University Centre Reaseheath
Animal Science
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Agriculture
Teaching and learning
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Student voice
Ecology and environmental biology
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
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Student voice
Animal behaviour
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Animal science
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Agriculture
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£17k
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Animal science
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£17k
£16k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
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