BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation with a Placement Year

Course Overview

Get ready to deep-dive into the key concepts of ecology and discover how organisms behave, evolve and interact with their physical and biological environments.

This BSc Ecology and Conservation with a Placement Year is for you if you have a scientist’s mind combined with a love of the natural world, animals, plants and ecosystems. You'll be fascinated by life science and how it underpins our understanding of the natural world and conservation.

You might aspire to work in conservation, research, agriculture, or even conservation communication. Or you might not yet know which career path you want to take and be excited about exploring the wide range of careers open to ecologists and conservation biologists.

This four-year degree programme follows the structure of our BSc Ecology and Conservation, while giving you the opportunity to spend your third year on a work placement from across the field of ecology and conservation biology.

A placement year makes an invaluable addition to your scientific knowledge and skills, increasing your employability and giving you the chance to put your first two years of learning into practice.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.

You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.

English and Mathematics

All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.

We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.

Typical International Entry Requirements

We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.

A levels

AAB including Biology or Human Biology, Biology or Human Biology, Geography or Environmental Science

Where applicable Science A Levels awarded by an English Exam board require a pass in the practical element. Not accepted: Critical Thinking and General Studies.

International Baccalaureate

33 points overall with HL 5 in Biology, Biology or Human Biology, Geography or Environmental Science

Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements

International Baccalaureate

33 points overall with HL5 in Biology, Geography or Environmental Science

Irish Leaving Certificate

4 subjects at H2, 2 subjects at H3 including Biology, Geography or Environmental Science

Scottish Highers

AAAAA including Biology, Geography or Environmental Science

Scottish Advanced Highers

BBC including Biology, Geography or Environmental Science. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable

INTO UEA

If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

• IELTS:  6.0  overall (minimum 5.5 in all components) 

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

  If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Deferred Entry

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.

Recent Study

We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.

Employability

You’ll graduate as a skilled ecologist ready to take advantage of East Anglia’s wealth of varied habitats, or range further afield. Either way, you’ll be able to use what you have learned at UEA to make a real difference.

You could go on to a career in many different areas – from ecological research, agriculture and horticulture to environmental management, consultancy and conservation. You might also consider education or science communication and engagement. Many of our students progress to postgraduate study.

Examples of careers that you could enter include:

• Ecological research
• Agriculture and horticulture
• Environmental management and conservation
• Science communication and engagement
• Education
• Advanced research courses

Discover more on our Careers webpages.