Skip navigation
Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at Bournemouth University - UCAS

Course options

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

Course summary

There’s a growing demand for professionals with skills in wildlife protection, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. This course will give you a solid scientific grounding in the science of ecology and how it can be used to conserve species. Why study BSc (Hons) Ecology & Wildlife Conservation at BU? Learn from expert academics, professional practitioners and guest speakers who will guide you through the wider social and legal context in which ecological conservation operates.

  • Gain practical experience with opportunities for fieldwork in a fantastic variety of local habitats including forests, meadows, heaths and maritime environments.
  • Undertake a short 2-week placement before you start your second year. Afterwards you can either complete another short 4-week placement or you opt for a placement year and completed a 30-week placement.
  • Select subjects that match your personal passions and ambitions as the course has a wide range of options units.
  • Engage in our many staff research collaborations with conservation organisation and be part of a thriving network of staff, students and professional practitioners working together for wildlife conservation.
  • You'll be career ready, with 90% of graduates in employment or further study within fifteen months of finishing the courses (source DisoverUni 2023).
Our students work in partnership with our staff to co-create featured projects, collaborating with professional practitioners and participating in individual placement opportunities. Take a look at our Co-creating Science webpage to find out about the exciting projects, work placements and final year dissertations our students get involved in, including moose behaviour in Norway, Madagascan rainforests, and chimpanzees in Tanzania to name just a few.

Modules

Year 1 core units: Diversity of Life, Ecology, Scientific Research Skills, Physical Geography, Field Trip and Wildlife Protection, Year 2 core units: Advanced Scientific Research Skills, Ecosystems - Year 2 Option units: Wildlife Survey Skills, International Field Trip, Evolutionary Biology, Animal Biology, Environmental Pollution, Coasts and Coastal Adaptation, Applications of Environmental Sciences, Behavioural Ecology, Environmental & Societal Challenges, Microbiology, Geospatial Science, Quaternary Environments Final Year core units: Independent Research Project - Final Year Option units: Biological Oceanography, Climate & Environmental Change, Emergence & Extinction - Reconstructing Pliocene & Pleistocene Environments, Environmental Remote Sensing, Marine Conservation, Molecular Ecology, Wildlife and Ecotourism, Conservation Biogeography, Environmental Law, Freshwater Resource Management, Sustainable Development & Globalisation, Parasitology & Epidemiology, Primate Behavioural Ecology, Topics in Wildlife Conservation


How to apply

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

Qualification requirements

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff. Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website. Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information. Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component of writing, speaking, listening and reading.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
85%
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

England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
EU £19700 Year 1
International £19700 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

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. Visit Bournemouth University's website for full details.
Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at Bournemouth University - UCAS