BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology (including Foundation Year)

This course is all about building your confidence and giving you the skills and knowledge required to progress on to study the BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation and Ecology.

Supported by a team of dedicated staff, you will develop your study skills and gain plenty of guidance through regular one-to-ones and small tutorial group sessions.

UCAS Entry Points

72 UCAS points

Start Date

September 2021

September 2022

Course Length

Full-time: 4 years

Throughout your first year of study, you will cover a range of topics such as an introduction to environmental science and animal form and function, along with enhancing your numeracy skills through practical data handling and analysis. Through hands-on sessions in our licensed zoo, you will explore key principles in animal husbandry, including animal health and welfare, enclosure design, nutrition and feeding.

You will also study vital scientific principles in the animal sciences such as cell types, genetic principles and inheritance, working in our dedicated science laboratories. Your second, third and fourth years will cover the same modules as the BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation and Ecology.

The course features:

Ready access to a diverse rural green space across the campus, which boasts a convergent mix of habitat and native wildlife species with which to study.
Opportunities to engage in meaningful conservation project work within the local community.
Opportunities to engage in overseas field courses to a range of localities including Southern Africa, South America and Europe.

Please note: Students are based at Reaseheath for the duration of this course. For students wishing to live in, you will live in Halls of Residence at Reaseheath College during your first year.

What will I study?

Foundation Year

Academic Skills for the Animal Sciences
Introduction to Environmental Science
Introduction to Data Handling & Analysis
Practical Skills in Animal Husbandry
Scientific Principles in the Animal Sciences
Animal Form & Function

Click here for the module descriptor.

Year 1

Year 2

Level 5

Research Methods
Principles of Ecological Restoration
Wildlife Health and Rehabilitation*²
Behavioural Ecology*¹
Technological Advancements in Conservation*¹
Ecological Assessment, Impact Mitigation & Enhancement*²
Animal Ecophysiology
Experiential Learning*³
Work Based Learning for the Land Based Industries*³

*Denotes optional modules. The number corresponds to the combination for selection.

Click here to view the module descriptor

Year 3

Applied Issues in Wildlife Conservation
Environmental Sustainability & Natural Resource Management
Dissertation†
Biology & Conservation of Mammals*¹
Biology & Conservation of Birds*¹
Biology & Conservation of Herpetofauna*¹
Conservation Education*²
Applications of Animal Behaviour for Conservation*²
Anthrozoology*²

* Denotes optional modules. The number corresponds to the combination for selection.

† Dissertation is a double-weighted module, worth 40 credits. Therefore, only five modules are selected for study at Level 6 (Year 3).

Click here to view the module descriptor.

Optional Modules

Please note that availability of optional modules (Levels 5 & 6 only) is subject to availability of subject-specialist staff and the recruitment of the minimum viable student number (7 individuals). Should a module not be deemed viable for operation then all students whom selected for that module will be communicated to in writing in advance of the academic year, and will be informed of the alternative options available to select from.

Students will be expected to make their module choices for the following academic year during March/April, via on online module selection service. Confirmation of module selections will be provided via email following approval.

Teaching and Learning

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity, plus field trips. Your actual contact hours may depend on which optional modules you select, but the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each year of the course:

Year 1: 36% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity

Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 432 hours

Independent Study: 768 hours

Year 2: 30% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity

Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 360 hours

Independent Study: 840 hours

Year 3: 21% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity

Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 252 hours

Placement: 150 hours

Independent Study: 798 hours

Year 4: 14% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity

Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 170 hours

Independent Study: 1030 hours

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment Methods

Assessments are designed to encourage both academic skills and professional skills highly sought after in industry. Assessments include a combination of coursework and examinations. Coursework may take many forms including: essays, reports, data processing, presentations, academic posters, seminar discussions, interviews, critical reviews, portfolios of evidence and practical competency assessments. The examinations vary, depending on the nature of the module, but may take the form of multiple-choice papers, essays, practical assessments, data handling questions, short answer quizzes, and in class examinations.

The balance of assessment by examination and assessment by coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by coursework is as follows:

Year 1

85% coursework

15% written exams

Year 2

54.5% coursework

45.5% written/practical exams

Year 3

85% coursework

15% written/practical exams

Year 4

75% coursework

25% written/practical exams

Feedback

Feedback is supplied via Turnitin or directly from the module tutor. The majority of submissions are made via Turnitin and feedback for coursework is provided within twenty working days after the submission date.

Written feedback will be supported verbally should the student require clarification. Formative assessment feedback will be provided at the time of completion where possible, with more detailed summative feedback for reports.

Placement Information

Students are given the opportunity to study an optional module at level 5 entitled Work Based Learning for the Land Based Industries. Students are expected to source their own placement, and complete a minimum of 100 hours of work, which can be accrued either in a block or cumulatively over weekends and holiday periods. When selecting a placement, students should consider the financial implications associated with accommodation, travel/commuting and the possible need for a Disclosure Barring service (DBS) check, as UCR is unable to subsidise such costs.

Entry requirements

A minimum of 72 tariff points from A & AS levels (a Science subject is preferred)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) –A minimum of grade MMP in Applied Science or Animal Care/Management
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) – A minimum grade DM in Applied Science or Animal Care/Management
City & Guilds Level 3 Technical Advanced Extended Diploma (1080 – first awarded in 2019) – a minimum of grade MMP in Applied Science or Animal Care/Management
City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma (720 – first awarded in 2019) – a minimum of grade DM in Applied Science or Animal Care/Management
Access to HE – a minimum of 72 tariff points
Mature students (aged 21+) will be considered on an individual basis on their prior knowledge and experience. This may be assessed by interview, completion of coursework/essay or other methods. There may be a requirement for a formal qualification to be completed first e.g. Access to HE course

Further study

MSc Wildlife Conservation or other postgraduate study or professional qualifications.

Career Options

Native species management
Wildlife management
Conservation
Wildlife trusts
Wildlife rehabilitation
Wildlife research.

Useful Information

How much will this course cost?

Tuition Fees

As a Higher Education student you will have two main costs to meet; your tuition fees and living costs.

Our full-time tuition fees for UK and EU students, entering University, can be found on the student finance page. These fees are charged for each academic year of a course and are set by the college annually.

If you are an international student or for the latest information on tuition fees visit the student finance page on our website.

Additional Costs

Additional costs may include the purchase of suitable outdoor wear for practical activities, both on our Animal Centre/Zoo and out around the wider campus. This may include overalls and steel toe-capped work boots, walking boots, wellington boots, waterproof/windproof coat, waterproof trousers. Additionally, students may wish to purchase a pair of binoculars to assist them with species identification whilst undertaking practicals. A full suggested kit list is available upon request.

Students will be offered the chance to engage in both domestic and overseas learning opportunities with which to enhance their classroom-based learning experience. Here, students will have the option to undertake overseas study for academic credit in year 2 of the programme, or simply participate for experiential purposes. These may include opportunities to study zoological collections in Europe, but also undertaking conservation field courses within locations such as Southern Africa, South America and the UK.

The main emphasis placed on these field courses is the development of professional, industry relevant skills and the application of students’ knowledge in a novel, stimulating, yet challenging environment. Costs associated with the field courses range from £500 – £1200 (UK), and between £2,200 – £3,000 (South America & Southern Africa). Please note that precise pricing of all field courses is subject to change, pending availability and recruitment.

Equipment Costs

Boiler suit: £20-£30 OR UCR Polo shirt (£12)/UCR Sweatshirt (£16) + work trousers (£15-£20)
Steel toe capped boots: from £30
Lab coat: £13-£20
USB drive: from £5

Prices of equipment are subject to change dependent on retailer.

Additional financial support

Accommodation

All Higher Education students are given the opportunity to apply for residential accommodation. First year students are guaranteed accommodation and this offer is made to all applicants who live more than a reasonable daily travelling distance from Reaseheath and who apply before 31st July of the year they intend to start their course. For full details on our halls of residence visit the accommodation pages.

Student support

How do I apply?

Before you apply you can come and visit us at one of our HE Open Events to see what we have to offer. Once we have received your application we will invite you to attend an Offer Holder Day.

Applications for full-time Degrees and Foundation Degrees are made through UCAS. Applications for all other full-time courses such as Access to HE and Level 4 Diplomas should be made directly to Reaseheath via the online application form. You can find out more here.

Student contract

For students to get the best out of their time at University Centre Reaseheath, we must both recognise that we owe obligations to each other. These obligations are set out in our Higher Education Student Contract. Before you accept an offer of a place at University Centre Reaseheath, it is important that you read these contract conditions. If you are going to be living in Halls of Residence, you will also need to read the Student Accommodation Licence Conditions. Both of these contracts can be found here.

Click here to view the University Centre Reaseheath Student Protection Plan.

Despite the hard work needed to complete my degree, it was some of the best years of my life.

Katie Adams BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology

Read the full profile

BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology (including Foundation Year)

This course is all about building your confidence and giving you the skills and knowledge required to progress on to study the BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation and Ecology.

UCAS Entry Points

Start Date

Course Length

The course features:

What will I study?

Entry requirements

Further study

Career Options

Useful Information

Despite the hard work needed to complete my degree, it was some of the best years of my life.

Katie Adams BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology

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How to Apply

Contact Us

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BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology (including Foundation Year)

This course is all about building your confidence and giving you the skills and knowledge required to progress on to study the BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation and Ecology.

The course features:

What will I study?

Entry requirements

Further study

Career Options

Useful Information

Despite the hard work needed to complete my degree, it was some of the best years of my life.

Katie Adams BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology

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