BSc (Hons) in Environmental Conservation (Top-Up)

Working With Nature… For Nature.

This course gives you the unique opportunity to study and research both terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Our Specialist environment and equipment here at Reaseheath will enable you to develop cutting-edge knowledge and skills in microbiology, limnology, marine ecology, environmental resource management and sustainable leadership.

You will also have the exciting opportunity to do research of your choice, including the chance to design, set up and run your own series of experiments within the discipline of environmental conservation.

You will develop the scientific knowledge, practical and management skills suitable for a wide range of jobs within conservation and environmental research. Modules have practical elements- both in the field and lab-based as well as theoretical elements.

Environmental and conservation concerns such as pollution, climate change, and biodiversity are becoming ever more significant in the 21st century. Preservation of the natural world is vital, and graduates with the knowledge, skills, and drive essential to achieving this aim will be better prepared to develop a career in this fast-moving sector.

University Centre Reaseheath is an academic partner of the University of Chester. Foundation degrees, Honours degrees, and Cert Ed are awarded by the University of Chester.

Typical Entry Requirements

Relevant Foundation Degree

Start Date

September 2022

Course Length

Full-time: 1 year

The qualification achieved through this honours degree top-up opens up a range of opportunities and routes to work for a whole host of organisations in the environmental conservation sector, including work overseas.

Our beautiful 350 hectare campus is full of possibilities. We have the following habitats within our grounds:

Woodland
Two lakes
Two rivers
Willow carr
Grasslands
Marl pit ponds
Wildflower meadows
Ancient hedgerows
Designated conservation area
Designated Site of Biological Interest

We also have access to:

Coastal sand dunes and salt marsh
The Goyt valley and the Peak District
The Cheshire Beaver Reintroduction project
Salt flashes

Any many other exciting places!

Employment opportunities include: Reserves supervisor, conservation supervisor, senior ecologist, science officer, nature recovery supervisor, biodiversity project manager, woodland delivery manager, reserves warden, conservation scientist, peatland conservation project manager, reserves officer, environmental consultant, and people and wildlife officer/manager.

Following successful completion of this course, you may go on to study at Master’s or PhD level, exploring and researching conservation issues at a higher level.

What will I study?

7 Modules (all at 15 credits with the exception of the dissertation module which is a double credit module at 30 credits) include:

Modules

Dissertation (equivalent to two modules)
Marine Ecology and Limnology
Micro Ecosystem Ecology
Environmental Resource Management
Leadership and Management for Sustainability

Teaching and Learning

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity, plus field trips. 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: 14% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 170 hours Independent Study: 1030 hours

For the dissertation module you will be given a dissertation supervisor.

Cohort sizes vary and can be up to 15 students. Some modules are taught with other cohorts.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment Methods

Assessments are designed to encourage both academic skills and skills valued in the workplace. They 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

80% coursework

20% Examinations

(subject to change)

Feedback

Feedback is supplied not only on assignments but also throughout the course in several ways. These include Turnitin, directly from module leaders, through one to one and group tutorials, during lessons and will be both oral or written. The majority of submissions for assessment are made via Turnitin and feedback for coursework is provided within twenty working days after the submission date.

For summative assessments, 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.

Timetable Information

Entry requirements

Successful completion of an FdSc programme (or equivalent qualification)

Further Study

M.Sc or Ph.D in Environmental Conservation

Career Options

These may include a career for organisations such as The Environment Agency, Natural England, The Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, or working overseas in Environmental Conservation roles

Reserves supervisor
Conservation supervisor
Senior ecologist
Science officer
Nature recovery supervisor
Biodiversity project manager
Woodland delivery manager
Reserves Warden
Conservation Scientist
Peatland conservation project manager
Reserves officer
Environmental consultant
People & wildlife officer/manager

There is also an opportunity for various field trips such as:

The Cornwall Beaver Project
Somerset habitats and adders

Please note these trips will incur an additional cost.

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

Students will need to purchase their own waterproofs, warm clothing, steel toe-capped boots, a x10 magnification hand lens and good quality wellington boots for practicals.

It is also strongly recommended that students have an up to date tetanus vaccination record before starting this course.

Reading lists are provided for each module studied and some students chose to purchase key texts.

Equipment Costs

Pens
Pencils
Notepad
A laptop that is windows compatible
A scientific calculator (£10-20)
Leaver arch files or equivalent
USB memory stick/hard drive or cloud based digital storage space
Wellies (£20 min)
Protective steel-capped boots (tip: steel capped boots are more comfortable when worn with a pair of thick walking socks) (£20 min)
Protective gardening gloves (£5 min)
A magnifying x10 hand lens (£5)
Waders are recommended but not essential
Plenty of warm, waterproof clothing – layers are the best!
A copy of ‘Maths Skills for Biologists’- available from the FSC online (£3.75)

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.

BSc (Hons) in Environmental Conservation (Top-Up)

Working With Nature… For Nature.

Typical Entry Requirements

Start Date

Course Length

What will I study?

Entry requirements

Further Study

Career Options

Useful Information

Foundation Degree in Environmental Conservation

Visit Us

How to Apply

Contact Us

View our Prospectus

BSc (Hons) in Environmental Conservation (Top-Up)

Working With Nature… For Nature.

What will I study?

Entry requirements

Further Study

Career Options

Useful Information

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Foundation Degree in Environmental Conservation