Ecology and Conservation
Entry requirements
A level
A-levels must include Biology. Where you are taking a science subject that has the separate science practical assessment, the University would normally expect a pass. If students are not able to take the science practical assessment, applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You will normally need GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics and two Science subjects with grade 5 in each (or grade B).
Pass Diploma with at least 39 level 3 credits at Merit or above including 24-27 credits at Distinction. The Access to HE Diploma will need to contain substantial amounts of Level 3 credits in biology related science subjects. You will normally need GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics and two Science subjects with grade 5 in each (or grade B).
We take the EPQ into account when considering your application and it can be useful in the summer when your results are released if you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer. We do not routinely include the EPQ in the conditions of your offer but we sometimes offer alternative conditions that include the EPQ. If you wish to discuss this further please contact Admissions at [email protected]
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
This score should be from the full IB Diploma. Higher Levels must include Biology with a grade of 5.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma would normally need to be in Applied Science and you will need to have opted for substantial numbers of modules please see the University website for more information. You will normally need GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics and two Science subjects with grade 5 in each (or grade B).
Scottish Higher
A,A,A,B,B-A,A,B,B,B
Highers must include Biology. Ideally, you will have Biology at Advanced Higher. You will also need Scottish National 5 in Mathematics and two sciences at grade B.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
**94% of our research overall in Biological Sciences was assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)**
**Top 20 in the UK for Environmental Sciences (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023)**
**About the course**
Managing environmental change, and conserving rare animals and plants are among today’s key ecological challenges. There’s never been a greater need for trained ecologists and conservation biologists to find solutions.
On your course, you’ll be taught by ecologists who are active in conservation projects at local, national and international levels. Our experts influence global debates on topics including:
- evolutionary biology
- species conservation
- environmental sustainability.
You’ll join a friendly and supportive community of students and scientists in the School of Life Sciences.
At Sussex, you’re in the ideal place for studying Ecology and Conservation. You’ll have the UNESCO-recognised South Downs National Park on one side, and the coast on the other. If you’d like to go further afield for inspiration, we offer field trip opportunities across the UK, Portugal, Southern Africa, the Red Sea and Ecuador.
Your specialist knowledge and rich skillset prepare you for a career in a wide range of related sectors. Recent graduates are now making a positive difference to our world working for:
- Natural England
- the Environment Agency
- the RSPB
- World Wildlife Fund
- Greenpeace.
And in addition, in your integrated Masters year, you gain a strong theoretical and practical foundation for a career in – or related to – research. You’ll spend a semester working on an individual research project in one of our Ecology and Conservation research teams. In this year, you’ll develop advanced skills in technical, analytical and scientific communication skills.
**MSci or BSc?**
We also offer this course as a three-year BSc.
**About Sussex**
Sussex graduates change the world. Our students become the leaders of the future, making discoveries, improving lives and changing things for the better.
Study with us to join a welcoming and inspiring community of staff and students from more than 140 countries.
**Location**
We shape the world from a fantastic campus on the UK’s beautiful south coast.
We are the only UK university surrounded by a national park, so you can step off campus to explore the hills and woodlands of the South Downs. The vibrant, colourful and creative seaside city of Brighton & Hove is just nine minutes away.
With Brighton voted the happiest city in England for students, (Student Living Survey, Sodexo, 2018) there can be few better places to study.
Modules
See the modules you will study by year by going to the 'view course details' link.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
University of Sussex
Evolution, behaviour and environment
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)
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.
Ecology and environmental biology
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
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Ecology and environmental biology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£18k
£26k
£28k
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.
Explore these similar courses...
This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
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Course location and department:
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
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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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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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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