Wildlife Conservation BSc (Hons)

Explore conservation biology, ecology and human-wildlife interaction with a creative interdisciplinary approach, and help develop ways to protect the natural world.

• Explore the biology of animals, plants and ecosystems in the UK and around the world.
• Learn in the field, laboratory, classroom and using new technology.
• Engage in creative interdisciplinary approaches to help tackle one of the world’s greatest challenges.

This new wildlife conservation degree will give you the opportunity to learn about the lives of wild animals and plants and explore how you can help to overcome the challenges that they face.

You'll look at the rapidly developing field of conservation biology, including threats to biodiversity and opportunities for habitat management and creation. You'll learn about the biology and behaviour of animals, the importance of a variety of biomes, and the different flora and fauna that they support. You'll consider how we can use this understanding to aid their protection using interdisciplinary approaches.

The course is rooted in biology and will also cover the social and economic issues related to wildlife conservation and the place of wildlife in our lives. You'll be encouraged to explore and develop brave and creative approaches to protecting the natural world, including elements from the arts. Fieldwork will form an important part of your study, and you'll build experience and develop practical skills by interacting directly with nature.

We are looking for potential students with:

• a love of nature
• a desire to develop a scientific understanding of wildlife
• a creative approach to conservation, and
• a willingness to take on the interdisciplinary challenges of conservation in the modern world.

Applicants should be driven to put theory into practice in the field and be willing to pursue their own research and creative outputs on topics of interest.

You'll learn about the lives of animals and plants, how they function together in ecosystems across the planet, and the threats they face in the modern world.

You'll learn about British wildlife in detail using the beautiful Newton Park campus as a natural laboratory, along with UK field trips. You'll also have the opportunity to contrast this with a different ecosystem on an international field trip.

You'll learn practical skills in identification and surveying, using both established techniques and new approaches, and explore how we can use an understanding of human society to create positive change for wildlife. There will also be opportunities to develop your creative side, including activities such as art workshops and an optional module in wildlife photography and filmmaking.

Course structure

Year one

You'll study the fundamental concepts of biology, ecology, conservation and natural history. You'll learn key scientific, analytic, practical fieldwork and communication skills that you'll use throughout your degree and beyond.

Year two

Your second year introduces more applied content and includes key research skills, a work placement opportunity, animal behaviour, ecology, environmental management, and an independent project. You'll learn practical techniques, such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), both on campus and on a residential field course, and you will carry out small group projects. There will also be opportunities for multidisciplinary study, including fields such as environmental philosophy, creative arts, geotechnologies and education.

Year three

In your third year, you'll learn how to put what you have learned into practice, with a focus on more specific skills needed for the workplace. The year will start with a choice between an international and UK field course which will bring together many of the things you have learned in the first two years. You'll conduct your own dissertation research project and explore how you can work with society to create change through a choice of optional modules. Opportunities for the multidisciplinary study will continue, allowing you to take novel approaches to conservation tailored to your interests, for example, environmental politics, marine biology, behavioural psychology and wildlife filmmaking.

How will I be assessed?

The assessments will include written coursework, practical and fieldwork, production of digital materials, creation of artistic work, presentations and some traditional exams. Coursework will typically include practical files, laboratory/field reports, essays and technical reports, as well as reflective blogs, filmed pieces, and resource creation.

Many assessments will allow you to choose the precise focus and tailor your studies around your own particular interests.

How will I be taught?

Most modules, with the exception of some final year independent study units such as the dissertation, will have lead lectures which will introduce the key topics. These lectures will be supported by fieldwork, workshops, laboratory practical classes, seminars, and tutorials, both individual and group. You will also carry out group and individual supervised project work.

Work placements, industry links and internships

There is an optional work placement module in year two. An optional sandwich (Professional Placement) year runs between the second and third year, allowing you to gain a year’s professional experience during your degree. Previously, our biology students have worked with organisations such as Bristol Zoo, Operation Wallacea, Natural England, Snowdonia National Park and local authorities.

Study abroad

You’ll have the opportunity to study in a wide range of locations around the world. Our students have completed exchange programmes in a variety of countries, including Spain, Sweden and the USA.

Work placements can also be undertaken abroad. You can also choose to take a course in Global Citizenship alongside your degree.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork will form a vital and integral part of your degree. You’ll have opportunities to participate in fieldwork across the three years of study. This will range from the use of the natural environment on the campus to residential field trips in the UK and abroad. Field courses, day trips and optional field trips associated with particular modules may require a student's financial contribution.

Work placements, industry links and internships

There is an optional work placement module in year two. An optional sandwich (Professional Placement) year runs between the second and third year, allowing you to gain a year’s professional experience during your degree. Previously, our biology students have worked with organisations such as Bristol Zoo, Operation Wallacea, Natural England, Snowdonia National Park and local authorities.

Careers

A degree in wildlife conservation could lead to a range of professions, including conservation advocacy, reserve management, wildlife education and environmental consultancy.