Program Overview

BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation Biology

The BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation Biology program at the University of York is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the complex ecological and environmental challenges facing our planet. This three-year full-time program is offered by the Department of Biology and Department of Environment and Geography.

Overview

• The program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of ecological principles, conservation biology, and environmental management.
• Students will explore topics such as climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainable food production, and the ecological and environmental impact of human activities.
• The program is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology and has received an interim accreditation for the Ecology and Conservation Biology programs.

Course Content

• Year 1: Six core modules, including Becoming a Bioscientist: Core Skills, Ecological Principles, Genetics, Becoming a Bioscientist: Grand Challenges, Earth: Past, Present and Future, and Life on Earth.
• Year 2: Two core modules and four option modules, including Becoming a Bioscientist: Experimental Design and Communication, Becoming a Bioscientist: Research in Action, and option modules such as Ecological Solutions for Global Challenges, Enhancing Biodiversity, and Population Genetics and Evolution.
• Year 3: One core module and four option modules, including Bioscience Capstone Project, Conserving Biodiversity in the Anthropocene, Evolution, and Ecology (field course - Biology).

Fees and Funding

• Annual tuition fees: £9,535 (UK home) and £32,350 (International and EU).
• Fees for subsequent years: UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap, while international fees are subject to increase in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate.
• Additional costs: Textbooks and course books are available in the library or online, and students may incur costs for optional residential field trips.

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching format: Lectures, small-group teaching, practicals, workshops, and field courses.
• Assessment: Closed exams, online open exams, and continuous assessment, with a mixture of coursework and exams.
• Facilities: The program is based in a £23m facility with state-of-the-art laboratories, a flexible workshop, and a creative learning lounge.

Careers and Skills

• Career opportunities: Experimental officer, research analyst, graduate purchaser, business development executive, ecological consultant, and more.
• Transferable skills: Problem-solving, communication skills, teamworking skills, critical and analytical thinking, data interpretation and presentation, and independent study skills.

Entry Requirements

• Qualification: AAB including Biology and a second science, with specific requirements for Access to Higher Education Diploma, BTEC National Extended Diploma, European Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, and other qualifications.
• English language: IELTS (Academic) 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent qualifications.
• Alternative offers: Meeting specific criteria may qualify students for an alternative offer, such as widening participation or contextual offer.

Related Courses

• Ecology and Conservation Biology (MSci): A four-year program that provides students with advanced research skills and knowledge in ecology and conservation biology.
• Biology (BSc): A three-year program that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of biological sciences.
• Environment, Economics and Ecology (BSc): A three-year program that explores the relationships between environment, economics, and ecology.