Ecology and Conservation Biology

Ecology and Conservation Biology is vital for mitigating and solving some of the most challenging problems facing our planet, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainable food production and the ecological and environmental impact of human activities.

At York, you will learn how living creatures interact with one another and their environment, from the fundamentals of evolution to the structure of populations and communities at scales ranging from intracellular symbiosis to global ecosystems, with applications in conservation and environmental biology. Through the interdisciplinary teaching across the Departments of Biology and Environment and Geography you will learn how the earth’s biological systems respond to environmental change. Teaching on specialised modules, field courses and the final year capstone research project aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to generate creative solutions for the challenges facing our planet. Our innovative, evidenced-based teaching is strongly research-led and aligned to the global research challenges. A focus on creative problem solving and skills development will ensure you are well prepared and competitive for postgraduate study, science careers in ecological consultancy and conservation practice and for a wide range of other occupations and professions from management and finance, to journalism and teaching.

We offer both BSc and MSci degrees in Ecology and Conservation Biology. Both degrees include field courses, residential and day trips. The BSc and MSci degrees can both be taken with either an additional year in industry, year abroad, or a placement year in an alternative work setting, and are accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. The MSci adds an extra year to the BSc programmes and specifically focuses on the skills needed for a career as a research scientist, ecological consultant or conservation practitioner. During this time you will carry out further work with research scientists to learn about specialised techniques and approaches in ecological and conservation research as relates to the environment and ecosystems.