Program Overview

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Wildlife Conservation (Extended Major)

Focusing on unique Australian fauna, you’ll learn about the processes leading to the exceptional biodiversity that exists today, the threats facing this biodiversity and the management strategies and policies that can be used to limit, and in some cases reverse, the impact of these threats. You’ll be immersed in nature both in the classroom and out in the field.

About the course

The Wildlife Conservation extended major allows you to study animals with a special emphasis on understanding their relative conservation status and options for recovering viable populations of threatened species.

Quick details

• Status: Available
• Locations: Perth (Crawley campus), Albany (Regional campus)
• Attendance: Full-time, Part-time
• Delivery: On-campus
• Starting dates: Semester 1, Semester 2
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Course Code: MJD-WLCDM
• Full time/part time duration: 3 years (BBioSc), 4 years (BSc[Hons])
• Honours Available: Yes
• Degrees course is available in: Bachelor of Biological Science, Bachelor of Philosophy

Why study this course

• Australia faces serious challenges to conserve its threatened fauna and needs skilled graduates to fill positions in state management agencies and an expanding number of conservation NGOs
• Australia's fauna is megadiverse, and Western Australia is home to almost half our animal species
• UWA is ranked 1st in Australia and 24th in the world for Biological Sciences (GRAS 2024)

You'll learn to

• recognise threatened animal species and the functioning ecosystems that they require for survival
• understand patterns of global biodiversity and the evolutionary history of biodiversity in Australia
• appreciate the relationships between an animal's biology, ecology and physiology and its vulnerability to environmental change
• discuss major threats to biodiversity, their causes, and the management and research to mitigate them

Course Structure

Our undergraduate degrees offer you a broad range of options allowing you to combine subjects in a way that matches your career goals and personal interests.

Level 1

• Core:
  • BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (6)
  • BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (6)
  • INDG1160 Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge (6)
  • SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis (6)
• Bridging:
  • MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (6)
  • MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods (6)
  • SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists (6)

Level 2

• Core:
  • ANIM2207 Animal Form and Function (6)
  • ANIM2209 Field Studies in Zoology (6)
  • ANIM2220 Animal Diversity (6)
  • BIOL2261 Conservation Biology (6)
  • ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity (6)
  • ENVT2250 Ecology (6)
  • GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems (6)

Level 3

• Core:
  • ANIM3353 Wildlife Conservation and Management (6)
  • ANIM3361 Animal Ecology (6)
  • ANIM3363 Environmental Physiology (6)
  • ANIM3365 Behavioural Ecology (6)
  • BIOL3360 Saving Endangered Species (6)
  • BIOL3364 Evolutionary Processes (6)
  • GEOG3303 Environmental Policy and Planning (6)

Admission requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you’re interested in studying one of these majors, find out the admission details below.

Minimum entry requirements

• All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE): 11.5
• Canadian High School (except Quebec): 70
• French Baccalaureate: 12
• Gao Kao (PR China NCEE)/750: 525
• GCE A-Levels: 9
• German Abitur: 3.3
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 15
• Indian Senior School Certificate (CISCE): 60
• Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65: 79
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB): 26
• Malaysian STPM: 11
• Monash University Foundation Year: 270
• NCUK Foundation Program: 9
• Norwegian Vitnemål: 3.8
• Singapore - Cambridge A Levels: 8
• South African National Senior Certificate: 4.6
• South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT): 330
• Sweden Slutbetyg: 15
• Trinity College Foundation: 300
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC): 12
• University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program: 66
• US College Board Advanced Placements: 8
• US College Board SAT: 1170
• Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP): 60
• Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards: 80

Mathematics requirement

This major requires a certain level of Mathematics. If you do not meet this level, you can take additional Mathematics units in your first year to satisfy this requirement.

• WACE prerequisite: Mathematics Methods ATAR

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

• Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

Fees and scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course. For fee type definitions and further assistance, see the Fee Calculator Help page. You can also search our database for scholarships that are relevant to you or this course.

Domestic Student Fees

For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required. More information on how fees are calculated.

International Student Fees

Annual course fee: $49,200.00 (2025)

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

How to apply

The application process to this course is different for the assured and graduate entry pathways, and for international and domestic applicants.

Domestic Pathways

• Domestic Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via TISC. Refer to TISC Online for current course codes and application deadlines.
• Domestic Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via GEMSAS, which open and close in accordance with the GEMSAS timeline. All domestic applicants must submit a valid GAMSAT score by the application closing date.

International Pathways

• International Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.
• International Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.

Careers and further study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.

Career Pathways

You might pursue a career as a:

• Wildlife officer
• Fauna consultant
• Graduate research officer
• Conservation biologist
• Zookeeper
• Zoologist

Further Study

You might consider further studies:

• Master of Biological Science
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Zoology
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Conservation Biology

Work Integrated Learning

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) helps bridge the gap between theory and practice by providing opportunities for students to gain hands-on, practical industry relevant experience and for employers to help shape the graduates of tomorrow.

• SCIE2205 Science Work Placement Unit
• SCIE2206 Science Consultancy Project

Your degree options

Bachelor of Biological Science, Bachelor of Philosophy

Facility

Shenton Park Field Station

Dedicated facility supporting plant and animal research

Research

Testing a new place for Western Swamp Tortoises in a changing climate

Perth’s western swamp tortoises was probably always a rare species, but habitat loss and climate change are presenting new challenges.