Animal Conservation Science (with Sandwich Year)
UCAS Code: D390
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma
Must be Science based, need to pass all 60 credits, 45 at level 3
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Higher
UCAS Tariff
including Biology at Level 3
About this course
Learn to protect the future of animals and their habitats on our BSc Animal Conservation Science, where the Lake District - one of the UK's oldest national parks - is your outdoor classroom.
Our course has been designed by experts, renowned for their research in animal conservation science and we are based in Ambleside so that you fully benefit from learning and living in this inspiring environment. You will discover many of the UK's most iconic and endangered wildlife species, diverse habitats, ecosystems and important conservation sites with hands-on research opportunities throughout your studies here.
**Why Choose University of Cumbria**
Live, study and research surrounded by rare and endangered species and a diverse range of ecosystems and habitats, including Atlantic oak forests.
The "with Sandwich Placement" version gives you opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in the conservation sector as part of your degree. Our strong links with wildlife conservation organisations in the UK and abroad provide you with excellent placement opportunities.
Your campus is based close to the shores of Windermere, in the Lake District - now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will have access to iconic landscapes and excellent facilities, including modern student spaces, state-of-the-art laboratories, a gym and a climbing wall.
- 100% overall student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2019)
- We are the only UK university with a campus within a national park
- The Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas is based on our Ambleside campus and the research it produces will enhance your learning
- You will be trained in cutting-edge technology, including species monitoring using environmental DNA and digital mapping technologies
- Access to new laboratories and excellent up-to-date equipment including 60 camera traps and a research boat
- Opportunities to work alongside organisations, such as Cumbria Wildlife Trust
- You will be taught by a team involved in international research, which will inform your learning and provide opportunities to get involved
- The teachers have years of practical experience working in the field and they will bring their invaluable first-hand experience to their teaching
- Flexible modules enable you to shape our course towards your intended career path
- Conduct your own research and get involved in scientific studies
- Opportunity to go on an international field trip
If you want a start a successful career in wildlife conservation, our course will teach you everything you need to earn a great degree and become a professional in the field.
We examine the theory and practice of animal conservation science by studying ecology, threats to biodiversity, animal behaviour, conservation genetics, wildlife management and behavioural ecology.
Year 1 (Ambleside) - You will build knowledge of the world's biodiversity (including animal and plant identification skills), ecology and the principles and practice of conservation through lectures and field sessions.
Year 2 (Ambleside) - You will learn professional-standard survey and research techniques and put these into practice during a fieldwork module, which you can take in the UK or abroad. You are also introduced to studies of behaviour and genetics in a conservation context and to a range of optional modules, including GIS, and freshwater or marine ecology.
Year 3 (on placement) - You complete 7 months of practical conservation work or conservation research working with a conservation organisation or research group in the UK or abroad.
Year 4 (Ambleside) - You undertake a year-long research project and receive training in the behavioural ecology of animals and wildlife management. Additionally, you choose from a range of specialist modules linking the theory and practice of animal conservation science. These include conservation strategies, contemporary issues in conservation, and advanced GIS and remote sensing.
Modules
The first year builds knowledge of the world’s biodiversity (including animal and plant identification skills), ecology and the principles and practice of conservation through lectures and field sessions. In the second year, you learn professional-standard survey and research techniques which you put into practice during a fieldwork module, currently delivered in either West Africa or India. You are also introduced to studies of behaviour and genetics in a conservation context and to a range of optional modules, including GIS, and freshwater or marine ecology. Between the second and third taught years there is the option of a year-long academic/vocational placement (you must maintain an Upper Second Class Honours profile to take an academic placement). If you do the three year degree, you may opt for a shorter placement in second year. In the third taught year you undertake a year- long research project; in addition, you choose from a range of specialist modules linking the theor
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Ambleside
Science, Natural Resources and Outdoor Studies
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction 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)
Agriculture, food and related studies
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
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.
Biological and sport sciences
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
Agriculture, food and related studies
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
These stats refer to the prospects for graduates from both general animal studies courses and those for particular animals (such as equine science). Graduates don't generally get jobs as vets when they graduate; much the most common jobs tend to be roles caring for animals, such as veterinary nurses. Some of these jobs are not currently classified as professional level occupations, but in reality, you need a degree to get these jobs (and probably always have done), and graduates in them report that they got the jobs that they wanted. So the stats you see might not completely represent just how useful these degrees are for getting into animal care careers.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
Agriculture, food and related studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£16k
£18k
£18k
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.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
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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.
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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?
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