Ecology and Conservation BSc (Hons)

Nottingham Trent University

United Kingdom, Nottingham

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Nottingham Trent University

United Kingdom , Nottingham

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

C18A, C18B

Campuses

Brackenhurst Campus

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 3 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 17,500 / year

Next Intake September-2026

Ecology and Conservation BSc (Hons)

About

Introduction:

The world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, which threaten the future of plants, animals and people. You'll focus on ecological concepts, the natural world, and how we conserve it, through exploring community and ecosystem ecology of habitats, plants and the people who use them.

This course will help you explore practical solutions to these problems, through a range of lectures, practicals and fieldwork, preparing you for a career in ecology and conservation.

Our 200-hectare rural campus offers a unique learning environment where you will put theory into practice and gain hands-on ecology and conservation experience. We utilise this outdoor classroom in many of our modules, for example, by undertaking species and habitat surveys across the campus. You will be taught by lecturers that have vast experience in the conservation sector and in ecological research.

Throughout the course, you will have the chance to participate in exciting field courses. Previous examples of trips include South Africa, southern Spain and Pembrokeshire, looking at the unique biodiversity of savannah, Mediterranean and coastal ecosystems, respectively. You will also experience a range of non-residential field trips to various local and national sites of importance to nature.

You will have the opportunity to undertake a year-long industry sandwich placement in the conservation sector between your second and final year, providing an excellent opportunity to explore an aspect of ecology or conservation that interests you while increasing your employability prospects.

If you have any questions about the BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation course, you can contact the course leader Dr Adam Bates.

91% of BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation (full-time) students are positive about the academic support on their course (National Student Survey 2024).
There is currently a residential field course in the final year. Previous locations have included Pembrokeshire in the UK and South Africa (Mankwe Wildlife Reserve), studying coastal management and the effect of savannah burning on large mammal diversity, respectively.
You'll get the chance to volunteer with extra projects, such as surveying great crested newts, ringing birds and trapping small mammals on campus.
94% of our BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees (of those available for work or study, latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22).

Which course is right for you?

We offer two conservation degrees, each with a different focus:

BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation (this course) / BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation (with foundation year) - explores community and ecosystem ecology (i.e. larger scale ecology) and has more of a focus on habitats, plants, land use and the habitat requirements of species.
BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation / BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation (with foundation year) - explores behavioural and population ecology (i.e. smaller scale ecology) and has more of a focus on wild animal species and animal conservation management, both in the UK and overseas.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.

International qualifications

We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:

Entry requirements by country

English language entry requirements

You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:

Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)

If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:

Foundation courses leading to undergraduate study at NTU

Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)

You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.

English Program Requirements

Career

Careers and employability

Your future career

We pride ourselves on having an excellent track record of graduate prospects. Our course is designed to set you up ready for the workplace, giving you industry-ready skills (e.g. specific field-based and IT software skills) and transferable skills (e.g. critical thinking, professional writing and problem-solving), enabling you to work in the diverse field of ecology and conservation.

You will also be provided with the opportunity to talk to potential employees through work-like experience, which is embedded into the degree programme, and via a showcase at the end of your final year, which gives you the chance to demonstrate your skills to potential future employers.

This course will enable you to progress in the ecology and conservation industries. Our graduates have gone on to work for bodies such as ecological consultancies, the National Trust, the Wildlife Trusts, FrogLife, and local government and statutory agencies.

94% of our BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees
(of those available for work or study, latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22).

Some of our students also go on to further study. Our Employability team at Brackenhurst Campus are dedicated to helping you find and apply for suitable jobs during and after your studies.

Industry sandwich placement opportunities

During the course you will have the option to do a year's placement in industry. The vital experience you will gain in a vocational position will make you more employable when you graduate.

Sandwich placements take place between Year Two and Year Three. This is an excellent chance for you to explore an aspect of ecology or conservation that interests you as a career while significantly improving your employment prospects.

Placements can be undertaken with one or several organisations, either in the UK or abroad. A placement diploma is available for students who have undertaken a substantial placement of at least 36 weeks. A placement certificate is available for students who have undertaken a shorter placement of at least 6 weeks. Our Employability team can help you to secure your placement.

Students have recently undertaken placements with Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group, Earth Trust, National Trust, Canals and Rivers Trust, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England and ecological consultancies such as United Environmental Services.

What are the benefits of a work placement?

Practical work experience has many benefits for you. It can help you in your day-to-day studies and is often paid. It can enhance your commercial awareness and your ability to link theory and practice which will be an invaluable skill in your future career. Although a work placement is highly recommended, obtaining one is based on an individual’s efforts and is not guaranteed.

International Exchange

This course also offers the opportunity to get involved in our International Exchange programme and study abroad at another university for part of the second year, with potential opportunities spanning Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Students have previously been involved in exchanges with Brock University, Canada.

NTU Enterprise

You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.

What our students are doing now

04 Dec 2020

Lewis Aaron

BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation alumnus, Lewis Aaron, shares his time studying at NTU and why he chose the university, as well as discusses the various roles he has had in the industry and his passion for ornithology.

08 Dec 2020