Program Overview

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Wildlife Conservation with Foundation Year

Overview

The Wildlife Conservation with Foundation Year program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in biology and environmental issues, enabling them to progress to study the BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation degree. This foundation year pathway is ideal for students with a non-scientific background or those who do not meet the entry requirements for direct entry to the honors degree.

Course Details

Foundation Year

The introductory foundation year is designed to increase students' knowledge and understanding of core biological processes and other aspects of environmental studies. Students will develop communication and study skills, experience field and laboratory work, and learn to manage field data.

BSc (Hons) Degree

The BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation course brings together conservation issues, the physical environment and landscape, as well as the study of the ecology and behavior of animals in the wild. Students will gain a broad understanding of wildlife, wildlife ecology, and environmental problems threatening species, from both theoretical and practical points of view.

Modules

Foundation Year

• Biological Principles
• Environmental Conservation
• Data Handling
• Professional Communications
• Science for Health
• Earth Processes

Year One

• Introduction to Zoo Biology
• Biodiversity
• Global Distribution of Wildlife
• Field Biology
• Genes to Ecosystems
• Study Skills

Year Two

• Conservation Biology
• Wildlife Behavioural Ecology
• Monitoring Environmental Change
• Ecology in Action
• Research Skills
• Choose one option from:
  • Ocean Challenges
  • Primate Behaviour and Conservation
  • University Wide Language Programme

Year Three

• Environmental Geographical Information Systems
• Practical Ecology and Conservation
• Choose one option from:
  • Final Year Project and Professional Skills
  • Final Year Project with Science Communication and Professional Skills (HANS)
• Plus one option from:
  • Mitigating Climate Change
  • Modelling Environmental Systems
  • University Wide Language Programme
• And one module from:
  • Tropical Ecology and Conservation
  • Applied Freshwater Biology
  • University Wide Language Programme

Assessment

Assessment strategies are designed to develop students' skills for future employability and assessment success. Typical assessment combines coursework and examination, and may include:

• Research projects
• Laboratory reports
• Essays
• Literature reviews
• Field notebooks
• Data analysis
• Presentations

Employment and Stats

The course is designed to help students develop a range of personal and professional skills, making them highly employable. Opportunities exist to work as ecologists and environmental consultants, and in environmental education and captive animal environments.

Requirements

International Students

This course is not suitable for international students. International students may consider the International Foundation Year course.

Applicant Profile

Students should have a genuine broad interest in wildlife and conservation, enjoy working outdoors in all weathers, and be interested in biology, geography, and the environment.

English Language Requirements

If English is not the first language, students will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5.

Standard Entry Requirements

• UCAS tariff points: 64
• A Level: 64 UCAS points
• BTEC National Diploma: MPP
• T Level: Pass grade in T Level Science
• Access to HE: 64 UCAS points from QAA approved access course
• GCSE: English language and mathematics at grade C or 4 or above

Tuition Fees

• Full-time home: £8,505 for Foundation Year and £9,535 for subsequent years
• Part-time: Part-time fees will be calculated on a pro rata basis

Additional Costs

• Field trips: All national field trips are funded by the university, but students may need to consider additional costs such as food during day trips and spending money.
• International field trip: Students will be subsidised by the university, but a major contribution to flights and in-country costs will apply.

Research Areas

The university has a strong research focus in biosciences, with many academics and technicians supporting the course also delivering collaborative, interdisciplinary, high-impact work in a range of bioscience issues and challenges.