Course summary

Ecology and Conservation with a Year in Professional Practice Join the longest running undergraduate conservation programme in the UK. Our degree equips future ecology and conservation professionals. Natural science areas of focus include ecology, wildlife survey methods, rewilding, wildlife management, conservation biology, biogeography, and conservation genetics, and include an emphasis on field-trips with some lab-based training too. Explore the human dimensions of conservation including climate change, environmental sustainability, species reintroduction, working with rural communities, human-wildlife conflict and conservation policy, so upon graduation, you can make a real difference in tomorrow's world. Graduate with skills in wildlife and habitat surveying, data analysis, survey design, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and ecological project management - having planned your own dissertation research project in the final year. Become part of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), an award-winning research centre. You'll be taught by award-winning DICE staff, giving you the knowledge, skills and global networks to address modern environmental challenges. Our extensive range of UK and overseas field trips take advantage of the UK's rich landscapes, our beautiful green campus, and you could even venture to the forests and beaches of Costa Rica on our tropical field course. Kent is now an epicentre of rewilding efforts in the UK, and we take advantage of our proximity to reintroduction projects including the Bison in Blean woods, just a stones throw from the University of Kent. The year in professional practice gives you the opportunity to spend up to a year undertaking work placements with organisations relevant to your degree programme. Placements can be at home or abroad and give you the opportunity to apply your academic skills in a practical context, offering you rare and unique experiences which will set you apart. Your future The conservation and environmental sector is an expanding area for employment opportunities. Employers include ecological surveying, local, regional and national government departments, conservation organisations and the private sector, as well as international conservation and environmental organisations. Our recent graduates have found work as:

• Ecological officer for various ecological consultancies including Thomson Environmental Consultants

• Bison Ranger for Kent Wildlife Trusts

• Conservation Advisor for Natural England

• Senior Officer, WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)

• Senior Advocate at RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)

• Seabird Ecologist for JNCC (the UK government's conservation advisory body)

• CITES licensing officer for JNCC

• Curatorial assistant at Chester Zoo

• A level Biology teacher

• Data & GIS Officer at Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

• Keeper at WildWood Trust

• Data & GIS Officer at Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

• Academic Editor for CACTUS Scientific Publishers

• Climate Adaptation Officer at Somerset Wildlife Trust

• Programme Officer at UNEP-WCMC

• Country Manager at Operation Wallacea

• Programmes Officer at Save the Rhino International

• Outreach and Volunteering Officer, Bumblebee Conservation Trust

• Project Manager, UK Environment Agency.