Modules

Year 1 In your first year, you’ll build a strong foundation in the core areas of ecology and conservation, exploring topics such as biodiversity, natural history, taxonomy, genetics, evolution, microbiology, both animal and plant physiology and animal behaviour. You’ll gain essential practical experience through local field trips and an early field course that introduces you to key ecological skills and survey techniques. Alongside this, you’ll start developing valuable personal and transferable skills through individual and one‑to‑one meetings with your personal tutor, supporting both your academic progress and your confidence as a developing scientist. Year 2 In your second year, you’ll deepen your understanding of animal behaviour, population and community ecology, population genetics, and ecosystem monitoring, while sharpening your skills in scientific investigation and analysis. You’ll also begin tailoring your studies towards your interests and career goals by choosing optional modules in areas such as aquatic systems or plant-environment interactions. A dedicated field course gives you the chance to apply what you’ve learned in lectures, strengthening your practical expertise and building the transferable skills that conservation biologists rely on in research and industry. Previous overseas field trips have spent 10 days studying the fantastic plant and animal life found in the rainforests of Costa Rica. Optional placement year Many of our students choose to take an optional placement year between their second and final years, gaining invaluable hands‑on experience in real scientific environments. You can complete either two three‑month placements or one six‑month placement though many of our students choose to stay with their placement provider for the full year. Throughout the process, you’ll be supported by a dedicated Placement Adviser, a member of academic staff who will be your main point of contact with the University. Our placement providers are incredibly diverse. Previous students have worked everywhere from Wildlife Trusts and rescue centres across the UK to international organisations such as the Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute and the White Shark Projects in South Africa. Given the wealth of opportunities a placement year provides, and the significant boost it brings to your employability, we strongly encourage all students to seriously consider undertaking one. Final year In your final year, you’ll shape your degree around the areas of ecology and conservation that excite you most. A wide selection of optional modules allows you to specialise in fields such as plant biotechnology, environmental policy, global change biology, behavioural ecology, marine vertebrate ecology and conservation and biodiversity. A major component of your final year is your research project. Working under the supervision of an academic specialist, you’ll apply the knowledge, techniques and scientific understanding you’ve developed throughout your degree to an independent piece of research, giving you the chance to explore a topic you’re passionate about and demonstrate your capabilities as a conservation biologist. For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

Assessment method

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Royal Society of Biology

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS