Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

What Makes This Course Unique?
Exceptional facilities, industry connections and immersive learning environment:

• Our living laboratory – 183‑hectare estate with diverse habitats including semi‑natural ancient woodland, ponds and reedbeds, and a nationally important butterfly transect survey, providing opportunities for hands‑on learning and research

• Proven legacy – with almost 50 years of expertise, we are well‑established in wildlife conservation, supported by partnerships with top local employers

• Extensive access to fieldwork

• In a world shaped by environmental challenges, this course offers the skills, insights and networks to lead the way in your future career.

What makes UCS special?
Ecology graduates are at the forefront of solving global challenges within land use, conservation and sustainable development. With an increasing demand for ecological knowledge in wider industries like renewable energy, agriculture and policy‑making, a degree in ecology is more than a path to a rewarding career – it’s a chance to shape a more liveable future.
The department has close working links with many of the major wildlife and conservation organisations and is recognised as a leading land‑based institution in this field.
Students learn on our 183‑hectare estate that provides a managed rural environment, which includes semi‑natural woodland designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, a lake with reed‑bed, a woodland shelterbelt with newly established woodland, and a Game and Wildlife Centre that gives students practical industry skills alongside academic knowledge.

What will I learn?
You will gain a deep understanding of ecological systems, conservation science and sustainability. Topics such as ecosystem services, species monitoring and biodiversity management are paired with practical skills like species and habitat identification, mapping, and project management planning.
Practical learning to ensure you graduate job‑ready:

• Conduct wildlife surveys and habitat assessments, develop habitat management plans

• Participate in fieldwork on campus or at externally managed conservation sites

• Contribute to live research projects, such as monitoring butterfly populations, avian species richness and diversity monitoring, dormouse and other small mammal monitoring, habitat surveying and assessing and aspects of pollution monitoring and impacts.

How will I be assessed?
Our assessments mirror the challenges you will face in your career, combining academic depth with practical application:

• Field‑based assignments allow you to showcase your skills to employers

• A range of presentation types and written assignments that develop key graduate skills such as communication expertise.

Focused on Your Future:
This course will enable you to open doors to career paths in this rapidly growing sector such as Conservation Officer or Ranger or Ecological Consultant. Ecology is also increasingly integrated into sectors such as renewable energy, urban planning and sustainable agriculture, expanding opportunities for ecologists in non‑traditional roles. This degree will also upskill you in a range of transferable skills such as higher‑level communication, data literacy and project management.

How our graduates are shaping the future:

• Working with NGOs (Non‑Government Organisations) like the RSPB and local Wildlife Trusts to protect endangered species

• Joining governmental bodies like Natural England, advising on sustainable land use, or working with a range of public bodies and local authorities with activities such as rangering, education, and community engagement

• Self‑employed or employed within ecological consultancies assessing the impact of development on ecosystems

• Continuing in education, for example with our BSc (Hons) Top‑up programme.