Ecology and Wildlife Conservation with Sandwich Placement Year
University of Cumbria
UCAS Code: D511 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
University of Cumbria
UCAS Code: D511 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
To include 32 points in Biology, Conservation, Environmental Science or Geography.
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits, 45 graded at level 3 - Science based
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Science based
Scottish Higher
To include B in Biology, Conservation, Environmental Science or Geography.
UCAS Tariff
About this course
Do you have a passion for wildlife and the natural environment? Do you want to be part of the solution to global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss? Then the BSc (Hons) Ecology and Wildlife Conservation programme at the University of Cumbria is the perfect degree programme for you! Delivered from the heart of the English Lake District, we are the only UK University campus in a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Park. The programme meets rigorous professional and educational standards to provide you with a unique and exciting university experience, supported by research active lecturers working in the UK and internationally. We have great facilities to support your hands-on learning, such as dedicated laboratory space, a university-owned woodland, powerboats to explore lake environments and established connections with local partners. Not only do we have these resources to support your time in class, students in Ambleside can also access a range of outdoor, adventure equipment to make the most of the wonderful location in your own time, once you have the appropriate training of course!
**Course Overview**
Climate change and biodiversity loss are increasingly affecting life on Earth and the health and wellbeing of ecosystems and people. The University of Cumbria’s BSc (Hons) in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation equips you, the workforce of the future, with the knowledge and skills needed to address the pressing environmental challenges facing society and global ecosystems.
The programme will support you to develop the knowledge, understanding, practical experience, digital and transferable skills needed for a successful career in the rapidly growing environmental industry and other areas of graduate employment. You will learn about fundamental ecology and the processes that drive global systems which affect all forms of life on Earth and the science that underpins wildlife conservation efforts worldwide.
**On this course you will...**
- Develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of ecology and wildlife conservation to prepare you for a rewarding career in the environmental sector.
- Enjoy living and studying in our friendly and welcoming community amid one of the most beautiful and inspiring parts of the UK.
- Our internationally recognised research active staff bring cutting edge knowledge and partner perspectives to provide an exceptional, personalised university experience; informed by professional ecological standards and practices.
- The programme is designed to meet environmental professional standards (set out by CIEEM), and includes over 180 hours of high-quality practical activity in the field and laboratory.
- Opportunities to engage in professional development activity through volunteering, internships and sandwich placements with our extensive network of partnership organisations nationally and internationally.
- Great employment prospects – overall, 97.3% of UoC graduates are in employment or further study 15 months after graduation, ranking us 12th nationally (HESA, 2023).
Modules
Year One:
- The Tree of Life
- Skills for Ecology and Wildlife Conservation
- Key Concepts in Conservation Science
- Essentials in Ecology
- Form and Function
- Earth Systems
Year Two:
- Research Design and Data Analysis
- Ecological Census Techniques
- Genetics and Evolution
- Geographical Information Systems
- Field Ecology and Wildlife Conservation
- Animal Behaviour and Ecology (optional - pick one option from two)
- Marine and Freshwater Ecology (optional - pick one option from two)
Year 3 (Placement Year):
- Ecology and Wildlife Conservation Placement
Year 4:
- Dissertation
- Ecosystem Management
- Environmental Philosophy, Policy and Practice
- Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
- Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation
- Behavioural Research in Conservation
- Marine and Freshwater Conservation
Assessment methods
Our assessment strategy has been developed to be in line with the University’s Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy and the Curriculum Design Framework. The overarching consideration is to provide authentic and inclusive assessments, which develop your skills and knowledge while equipping you for graduate employment, regardless of your background or learning style.
Assessments will therefore often mirror the type of work you will encounter in your future career and may include:
- Laboratory reports
- Field projects
- Computer-based assessments
- Problem solving activities
- Critical analysis of case studies
- Creative oral, audio-visual and poster presentations
- Dissertation research
- Peer and self-assessment
- Group work
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Ecology and environmental biology
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Ecology and environmental biology
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Ecology and environmental biology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£18k
£24k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Explore these similar courses...
Higher entry requirements
Nearby UniversityLower entry requirementsSame UniversityThis is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Course location and department:
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
