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Aquaculture and Fishery Management at University Centre Sparsholt - UCAS

Course options

2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Open days

9Nov
University Centre Sparsholt - Open Event
Undergraduate
1Mar
University Centre Sparsholt - Open Event
Undergraduate
30Apr
University Centre Sparsholt - Open Event
Undergraduate

Course summary

Why choose this degree?

  • One course that will develop you from introductory level in year 1 through to independent research and application in year 3
  • Gain a wide range of practical experience and knowledge in subjects such as fish anatomy and physiology, business and environmental management and aquaculture
  • Take part in work placements in places such as Fiji, South Africa or closer to home in Scotland
  • Be taught by leading industry experts in unrivalled on-site facilities, including the 650m² purpose-built Aquatic Research and Conservation Centre (ARCC), the Salmonid Rearing and Trials Centre and our own mixed coarse fishery lake.
What makes UCS special? University Centre Sparsholt is recognised worldwide for its expertise in providing education in fishery, aquaculture and marine studies. Our lecturing staff are known to be the experts in the industry and can often be found at conferences and industry forums discussing the latest techniques and their supporting research. Students gain real industry experience on and off-site that is underpinned by the high level of technical lecture content to prepare them for a range of careers or progression to courses at Master’s level. Our industry contacts enable great employment prospects. Typically over 50% of our 3rd year students return from work placements to sit their final exams with jobs already secured for graduation. What will I learn? The programme combines scientific, managerial and practical skills that are developed in a range of subjects such as water quality, fish anatomy and physiology, fishery management and ecology, aquaculture, fish health and nutrition, business and environmental management. During the course there are also extensive periods of work experience. Recent placements have included carp fisheries in Spain and France, salmon farms in Tasmania and New Zealand, goldfish farms in the United States, Royal aquariums in the Middle East, research into ornamental fish welfare in the Philippines, Coral Cay Conservation in Fiji and research for the Natal Shark Board in South Africa. Closer to home, University Centre Sparsholt has excellent links with potential placement destinations including public aquariums, coarse and game fisheries, government fishery laboratories and numerous fish farms. As part of the course UCS students undertake innovative and exciting research. Recent examples include:
  • Testing different feed rates for maximum growth in carp
  • Trialling a novel method of controlling the fish louse (Argulus) in a fishery
  • Testing the effect of magnetic water on fish growth and pigmentation
  • Assessing shell production in marine prawns
  • Testing novel feed ingredients (fly larvae in carp diets)
  • Assessing levels of plastic pollution in the sediments of the river Kennet
  • Use of novel sustainable replacements for fish meal in fish diets
  • Testing novel water treatment methods in aquaria
  • Assessing the relative pollution effect of different baits in a fishery
How will I be assessed? Assessment at level four and five is primarily by exams and coursework which includes practical portfolios, laboratory reports, case studies and essay style assignments. At level six there is a greater emphasis on group projects and independent research. Where can I go from here? You can move onto a MSc or PhD programme. Sparsholt graduates now work as aquatic and fishery management consultants, in specialist angling publications, tackle and bait manufacturers, public aquaria, fisheries enforcement and product development, as lab and research technicians, in education and teaching and as fish farmers and fishery managers.

Modules

LEVEL FOUR Principles in Aquatic Science, Fishery Science, Industrial Experience, Introductory Fishery Management , Salmonid Aquaculture, Academic Skills. LEVEL FIVE Tropical Aquaculture , Fish Health and Nutrition, Marine Fish Farming (optional), Aquarium Design and Husbandry (optional) , Fishery Appraisal, Financial Studies, Statistics and Research Methods , Industrial Development. LEVEL SIX Applied Fishery Science, Developments in Fish Production ,and Processing, Enterprise and Management, Environmental Management, Dissertation, Further Statistics , Professional Industrial Development ,

Assessment method

Assessment at level four and five is primarily by exams and coursework which includes practical portfolios, laboratory reports, case studies and essay style assignments. At level six there is a greater emphasis on group projects and independent research.

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

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

Successful completion of a NQF level 4 (Cert HE or HNC) or NQF level 5 (Dip HE, HND or FdSc) in a relevant subject. Please email [email protected].

International applicants

We welcome applications from international students. For further details on the English language requirements, visa requirements and student life, please see our website https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/international/.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Minimum requirement is 80 UCAS tariff points (dependant on qualifications). Students who successfully complete the FdSc may apply to 'top-up' to the BSc. We welcome applications from people with non-standard or international qualifications.

Additional entry requirements

Other

GCSE Maths and English @ Grade C/4 or above (or level 2 equivalents)

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6Overall score of 6.0 with minimum scores of 5.5 in any of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.ielts.org/about-ielts/ielts-for-migration/united-kingdom
Trinity ISEPassPass in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/SELT/UKVI
PTE Academic60Minimum score of 60 or higher in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.pearsonpte.com/selt-tests/pte-academic-ukvi

We will also accept the following qualification: LanguageCert International ESOL SELT - minimum score of 33/50 in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) https://www.languagecert.org/en/uk-visa-exams/study-in-the-uk

Please email [email protected] for details

https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements/

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
75%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Channel Islands £9000 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9000 Year 1
EU £13000 Year 1
England £9000 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9000 Year 1
Scotland £9000 Year 1
Wales £9000 Year 1
International £13000 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

www.sparsholt.ac.uk/university-centre/additional-costs/ Students from EU member states will be eligible for an EU scholarship. Please contact [email protected]

Sponsorship information

If your household income is under £32,960 you could receive a bursary of up to £750 per annum. This can be used to help towards travel costs, books and equipment or anything else that will help you during your course. Depending on the financial information disclosed in your Student Loan application, UCS may make an automatic bursary award based on specific criteria as set out in our Access and Participation Plan. If this is not the case you may still be able to apply for financial support to the UCS HE Hardship fund by completing a Bursary Application Form (available from end of |Term 1). For more information please [email protected].

Aquaculture and Fishery Management at University Centre Sparsholt - UCAS