Ecology and Conservation

People and nature are inseparable. By studying ecology and conservation, you’ll be equipped to help tackle global challenges such as climate change, habitat loss and species decline.

Now is the ideal time to study an ecology and conservation degree. The global market for environmental, conservation and wildlife organisations is forecast to reach £31.61 billion ($41.45 billion) by 2029 (The Business Research Company April 2025). Government and parts of the private sector are both committed to solving environmental issues. This leads to a growing demand for ecology and conservation graduates.

Gain the tools to make a difference in ecology and conservation

The BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation course teaches you core science skills. It provides practical training in field, laboratory and analytical techniques.

On the course, you’ll:

• Explore how animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms interact with their environment.

• Study how people influence the biosphere.

• Learn how to protect natural systems.

• Understand the policies and management strategies that are designed to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Develop in-demand computational and analytical skills, including:

  • Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for creating, managing and visualising spatial data.

  • Remote sensing techniques for monitoring environmental change.

  • Advanced statistical analysis using R.

You’ll carry out an independent research project on an ecological or environmental question. Past projects have included:

• Assessing the implications of rewilding for freshwater biodiversity.

• Examining the impacts of oil-palm dominated landscapes on plant communities.

• Quantifying the response of biological communities to woodland restoration.

Learn through exciting fieldwork opportunities

Our ecology and conservation course gives you practical fieldwork experience in different settings.

You’ll develop practical skills in a variety of environments, starting with our biodiverse campus. Short trips to nearby sites introduce you to environmental monitoring, flora and fauna identification, plant ecology, and landscape history and management.

You’ll also have the option to take part in one of our immersive residential field courses:

• A 7-day field ecology and animal biology course at the Merops Field Station in southern France. It introduces you to the process of designing, conducting and analysing your own scientific project.

• A 10-day field course to South Africa to develop your field research skills. It develops your understanding of different physical and environmental processes and ecosystem functioning. Learn about the conservation and management challenges of international landscapes.

These are the current locations for field trips, but they are subject to change.

On either trip you’ll gain knowledge on:

• Regional biogeography

• Ecosystem processes

• Anthropogenic impacts

• Conservation practices

• Anthropogenic impacts

The course fees do not include travel, accommodation, and subsistence on residential field courses.

Get industry experience on a placement

You can take an optional placement with an organisation working in conservation or environmental management. These include environmental charities, government agencies and industry partners.

Previous students have completed placements with:

• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

• Highland Wildlife Park

• Butterfly Conservation

• Bumblebee Conservation Trust

• Scottish Water

• Bat Conservation Trust

• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

• Water of Leith Conservation Trust

• The Conservation Volunteers

• Forest Research