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Aquaculture and Fishery Management at University Centre Sparsholt - UCAS

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

Course summary

What Makes This Course Unique? Exceptional facilities, industry connections and immersive learning environment:

  • Salmonid Rearing and Trials Centre – our 76‑tank trials centre allows students to get hands‑on with fish research, gaining first‑hand knowledge of running successful research and an insight into nutrition and the future of fish production
  • Aquatic Research and Conservation Centre – purpose‑built facility housing a variety of ornamental and tropical species gives students vital exposure to practical fishkeeping.
  • Industry related placements – excellent links with potential placement destinations including public aquariums, coarse and game fisheries, government fishery laboratories and numerous fish farms.
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 under‑pinned by the high level of technical lecture content to prepare them for a range of careers or progression to courses at Master’s and PhD level. Our industry contacts enable great employment prospects. Owing to the success of the work experience, the majority of our students have secured industry relevant employment before they graduate. Previous placements range from Scottish salmon farms, specimen carp fisheries in England, France and Spain and a tilapia farm in Jamaica to river keeping on local chalk streams, bait manufacturers, the London Aquarium and the Fish Disease Laboratory at Weymouth. What will I learn? Gain a wide range of knowledge in subjects such as fish anatomy and physiology, business and environmental management and aquaculture through a combination of practical and theoretical sessions. Practical learning to ensure you graduate job‑ready:
  • Contribute to industry research furthering our understanding of fish nutrition.
  • Participate in fieldwork comparing and contrasting industry site visits.
  • Grading and spawning of fish in both our aquatic centres to further the genetics of our broodstock.
How will I be assessed? Our assessments mirror the challenges you will face in your career, combining academic depth with practical application:
  • Research dissertations that address real‑world problems.
  • Field‑based assignments that allow you to showcase your skills to employers
  • A range of presentation types and written assignments that develop key graduate skills such as communication expertise.
Focused on Your Future: This course opens doors to diverse career paths in a rapidly growing sector, such as Fishery Officer or River keeper; Ecological Consultant for planning and development; Research Scientist tackling global environmental challenges; Technician in a fish production facility. This degree will also upskill you in a range of transferable graduate skills such as higher‑level communication, data literacy and project management. How our graduates are shaping the future:
  • Working with big Scottish Salmon farms developing better rearing and management techniques.
  • Employed in governmental bodies like CEFAS, Environment Agency and IFCA shaping legislation and enforcement.
  • Self‑employed or employed with own fisheries.
  • Pushing the frontiers of ecological research by working in postgraduate education such as Master’s and Doctoral level degrees.

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

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

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

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 see our website - https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/university-centre/fees-and-funding-2/ or email [email protected]

Aquaculture and Fishery Management at University Centre Sparsholt - UCAS