Program Overview
This ecology and wildlife conservation program combines classroom instruction with hands-on field experiences to prepare students for careers in environmental science. Students develop a deep understanding of ecosystems and learn practical conservation strategies, focusing on research and field skills. The program culminates in an independent research project and offers opportunities for field trips and industry placements.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This course equips students with the skills necessary for a career in ecology or wildlife conservation through a combination of classroom learning and hands-on field experience. Students will learn to apply knowledge of ecosystems to environmental issues such as habitat conservation, the biological control of diseases, and the protection of the world's rarest plants and creatures. The program emphasizes research and provides opportunities for students to participate in original research with potentially global impact. Graduates are eligible for membership in The Royal Society of Biology and can apply for Chartered Biologist status.
Outline:
Year 1
- Field Ecology: Hands-on understanding of interactions between organisms, their environment, and human activity.
- Fundamentals of Ecology: Ecological concepts and their application in the field and laboratory.
- History of Life on Earth: Development of our planet from the early appearance of bacteria to the explosion of marine life and the emergence of land.
Year 2
- Advanced Ecology: Evolution of ecology in the age of big data, molecular biology, and citizen science.
- Conservation Biology in Practice: Conservation science, conflicts, challenges, and effective tools and methods.
- Quantitative/Professional Skills: Handling, analysis, visualization, and interpretation of diverse data types.
Year 3
- Research Project: Independent research, applying and expanding knowledge, working with an academic supervisor on experiments, data analysis, and science communication.
Careers:
Graduates can pursue careers as trainees in non-governmental conservation organizations or ecological consultancies, within government or government-funded agencies in areas such as pollution mitigation, as conservation biologists carrying out practical conservation, management, or fundraising for local wildlife trusts, in the media, or in research or academia.
Other:
- The University of Reading's award-winning campus is home to over a thousand different animal species and offers multiple habitats for study, including lakes, hay meadows, and woodlands.
- Field trips to Spain and the tropics allow students to practice species identification and ecology skills and study biodiversity in other habitats.
- Students can carry out a year-long industrial placement between the second and final years to gain valuable industrial experience or choose to do a short placement module.
- The department has strong links with ecological organizations including the RSPB, Environment Agency, and a range of wildlife trusts.
- New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250
- New international students: £27,650
