Sports Fisheries and Aquaculture

What makes UCS special?
University Centre Sparsholt is recognised worldwide for its expertise in providing education in fishery, aquaculture and marine studies. Our lecturing staff are known to be the experts in the industry and can often be found at conferences and industry forums discussing the latest techniques and their supporting research. Students gain real industry experience on and off‑site that is under‑pinned by the high level of technical lecture content to prepare them for a range of careers or progression to courses at Master’s and PhD level. Our industry contacts enable great employment prospects. Owing to the success of the work experience, the majority of our students have secured industry relevant employment before they graduate. Previous placements range from Scottish salmon farms, specimen carp fisheries in England, France and Spain and a tilapia farm in Jamaica to river keeping on local chalk streams, bait manufacturers, the London Aquarium and the Fish Disease Laboratory at Weymouth.

What Makes This Course Unique?

Exceptional facilities, industry connections and immersive learning environment:

• Salmonid Rearing and Trials Centre – our 76‑tank trials centre allows students to get hands‑on with fish research, gaining first‑hand knowledge of running successful research and an insight into nutrition and the future of fish production

• Aquatic Research and Conservation Centre – purpose‑built facility housing a variety of ornamental and tropical species gives students vital exposure to practical fishkeeping.

• Industry related placements – excellent links with potential placement destinations including public aquariums, coarse and game fisheries, government fishery laboratories and numerous fish farms.

• Opportunity to progress to final year of relevant BSc (Hons) programme after successful completion.

What will I learn?
Gain a wide range of knowledge in subjects such as fish anatomy and physiology, business and environmental management and aquaculture through a combination of practical and theoretical sessions.
Practical learning to ensure you graduate with career confidence:

• Contribute to industry research furthering our understanding of fish nutrition.

• Participate in fieldwork comparing and contrasting industry site visits.

• Grading and spawning of fish in both our aquatic centres to further the genetics of our broodstock.

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

• Research that addresses real‑world problems.

• Field‑based assignments that 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 opens doors to diverse career paths in a rapidly growing sector, such as Fishery Officer or River keeper; Ecological Consultant for planning and development; Research Scientist tackling global environmental challenges; Technician in a fish production facility.
This degree will also upskill you in a range of transferable graduate skills such as higher‑level communication, data literacy and project management.

How our graduates are shaping the future:

• Working with substantial Scottish Salmon farms developing better rearing and management techniques.

• Employed in governmental bodies like CEFAS, Environment Agency and IFCA shaping legislation and enforcement.

• Self‑employed or employed with own fisheries.

• Pushing the frontiers of ecological research by working in postgraduate education such as Master’s and Doctoral level degrees.

Course Modules

YEAR ONE – SOLID FOUNDATIONS

Fishery science

Applied aquatic industry skills Coldwater fish management

Principles in aquatic science

YEAR TWO – GET JOB‑READY

Fish health and nutrition Industry skills for the aquatic environment

Fundamentals in aquatic research

Plus choice of two optional modules from:

– Aquarium husbandry and welfare

– Global fish production methods

– Aquatic system design

*subject to change

Assessment includes coursework (such as practical portfolios, laboratory reports, case studies and essay style assignments) in combination with formal examinations and group research projects.