In a bid to support careers in Geography, we have started a weekly blog where we explore Geography-related degrees in detail, including what sort of thing students can expect to study over the 3 year course (including field work and possible dissertation focus), the typical entry requirements, universities that offer it, and the careers it can lead into. This is our 3rd one - you can find the collection of blogs here...

Studying Ecology and Conservation

Why are some species thriving while others are disappearing? How can we restore damaged ecosystems? What happens when an invasive species enters a new habitat? And how do we balance the needs of people with the protection of wildlife? These are exactly the kinds of questions you'll explore on an Ecology and Conservation degree.

Ecology is the scientific study of the relationships between organisms and their environment, while conservation focuses on protecting species, habitats and biodiversity. Put the two together and you get a degree that combines biological science with plenty of practical fieldwork and some of the biggest environmental challenges facing the planet.

If you enjoy Biology or Geography, care about wildlife and the environment, and like the idea of spending at least some of your degree outside rather than sitting in a lecture theatre, Ecology and Conservation could be well worth considering.

What do you study on an Ecology and Conservation degree?

Most undergraduate Ecology and Conservation degrees last three years, although some universities offer an optional placement or study-abroad year. Four-year integrated Master's (MSci) courses are also available.

Course titles vary - you might find degrees called:

• Ecology and Conservation
• Conservation Biology and Ecology
• Ecology and Wildlife Conservation
• Wildlife Conservation
• Ecology
• Conservation Biology

Despite the different names, there is considerable overlap between them.

First year: Understanding how ecosystems work

Your first year normally gives you a broad foundation in biology and ecology before you start specialising.

Typical topics might include:

• Ecology
• Evolution
• Biodiversity
• Genetics
• Animal and plant biology
• Ecosystems
• Animal behaviour
• Environmental change
• Conservation biology
• Fieldwork and species identification
• Statistics and data analysis

At the University of Reading, for example, first-year Ecology and Wildlife Conservation students study Fundamentals of Ecology, Field Ecology, Our Changing Planet and Animal Behaviour, Welfare and Ethics. Field Ecology introduces students to biodiversity sampling and techniques for identifying and monitoring organisms.

At Sussex, first year similarly combines biological science with hands-on experience in laboratories and in the field, alongside research methods and data analysis.

One thing that can surprise students is the amount of data and statistics involved. Ecologists don't simply go outside and look for interesting animals. They need to collect reliable data, analyse it and determine whether the patterns they observe are scientifically meaningful. You might, for example, investigate whether the number of plant species changes with distance from a footpath, compare insect populations in different habitats or analyse whether a conservation intervention has actually increased the population of a threatened species.

Second year: Developing your skills as an ecologist

During second year, you'll normally move into more specialised ecology and conservation topics.

You might study:

• Conservation biology
• Population ecology
• Behavioural ecology
• Habitat management
• Marine and freshwater ecology
• Climate change
• Biodiversity
• Ecological genetics
• Wildlife management
• Conservation policy
• GIS and mapping
• Ecological survey techniques

Reading's second-year course, for example, includes Advanced Ecology, Conservation Science in Practice and Quantitative/Professional Skills. Students learn statistical approaches to ecological data and use visualisation techniques including maps created from GIS data. This is also when practical skills become particularly important.

You might learn how to carry out:

• Vegetation surveys
• Bird surveys
• Mammal surveys
• Freshwater sampling
• Insect sampling
• Habitat assessments
• Population estimates
• GIS mapping

These are useful professional skills if you eventually want to work as an ecologist.

And be prepared for ecology to operate on wildlife's timetable rather than yours. Some professional ecological surveys take place early in the morning, at night or at particular times of year. Bat surveys, for example, can require night-time work.

Third year: Specialising and completing your dissertation

By final year, you'll usually have much more freedom to concentrate on the areas of ecology and conservation that interest you.

You might choose modules in areas such as:

• Advanced conservation biology
• Tropical ecology
• Marine conservation
• Behavioural ecology
• Disease ecology
• Environmental management
• Climate change
• Urban ecology
• Conservation genetics
• Wildlife management.

A major part of the final year is normally an independent research project or dissertation. This is where you'll take a question and investigate it yourself, working with an academic supervisor. At Reading, for example, the final-year Research Project involves independent research, experiments and/or data analysis alongside science communication. Students may also be able to use the university's farms as sites for final-year projects.

Depending on the university and your interests, a dissertation might involve fieldwork, laboratory experiments, existing datasets, GIS analysis or computer modelling.

Possible dissertation topics could include:

• How does urbanisation affect bird diversity?
• Are rewilding projects successful at increasing biodiversity?
• How does artificial light affect nocturnal wildlife?
• What effect does intensive agriculture have on pollinators?
• How is climate change affecting the distribution of a particular species?
• Does habitat fragmentation reduce mammal populations?
• How effective are wildlife corridors?
• What impact do invasive species have on native biodiversity?
• How does water quality affect freshwater invertebrates?
• How effective are conservation areas at protecting threatened species?
• How does tourism affect wildlife?
• What determines the success of woodland restoration?
• How do different farming practices affect biodiversity?
• Can cities provide important habitats for wildlife?
• How effective is reintroduction as a conservation strategy?

Your dissertation can be particularly useful when applying for jobs because it allows you to demonstrate practical research, data-analysis and specialist ecological skills.

Opportunity for fieldwork

Fieldwork is one of the defining features of an Ecology and Conservation degree, but the exact amount varies considerably between universities, so this is something worth comparing when choosing courses.

At Exeter, Conservation Biology and Ecology students undertake extensive fieldwork in the UK and can choose from field-course opportunities in international locations. The university describes field courses led by wildlife specialists as an important part of the degree.

Sussex is particularly well placed for fieldwork because its campus sits next to the South Downs National Park and close to the coast. Its Ecology and Conservation course advertises field-trip opportunities across the UK, Portugal, Southern Africa and Ecuador.

Reading offers another strong fieldwork component. Its campus itself contains lakes, woodland and hay meadows and is home to more than 1,000 animal species. Students can undertake field trips further afield too. Current options include a UK Biodiversity Field Course and a residential Ecology and Conservation Field Course, currently based in South Africa, where students carry out their own research project.

International trips can sound particularly exciting, but check the costs carefully. Some universities include core fieldwork within tuition fees while optional overseas trips may involve additional travel, accommodation or equipment costs. Exeter, for example, explicitly notes that some optional field courses can incur extra costs.

Which universities offer Ecology and Conservation?

There are plenty of Ecology and Conservation degrees in the UK, although the course names differ.

Examples include:

• University of Exeter – BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology: A three-year degree based at Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall. The course places a strong emphasis on practical ecology, wildlife identification, data handling and fieldwork, with UK and international field-course opportunities.
• University of Sussex – BSc Ecology and Conservation: A three-year degree with access to the South Downs National Park and the coast. Students combine ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation with laboratory and field skills, with field-trip opportunities in the UK and overseas.
• University of Reading – BSc Ecology and Wildlife Conservation: A three-year course combining ecology and conservation science with extensive practical experience. Reading's campus itself provides woodland, meadow and aquatic habitats for fieldwork, while students can also choose residential field courses.

These are only examples - but you'll find related Ecology, Wildlife Conservation, Zoology and Conservation Biology degrees at universities around the UK, so it's worth searching UCAS using several different course titles rather than just 'Ecology and Conservation'. When comparing them, look beyond the course title. The fieldwork, optional modules and opportunities to gain practical survey experience can be more important than small differences in the degree name.

What are the entry requirements?

Entry requirements vary, but Ecology and Conservation is fundamentally a science degree, so universities will normally want evidence that you can cope with scientific study.

For 2027 entry, examples include:

• Exeter – Conservation Biology and Ecology = ABB
• Sussex – Ecology and Conservation = ABB-BBB
• Reading – Ecology and Wildlife Conservation = ABB

Exeter currently asks for ABB for its three-year course. Sussex asks for ABB-BBB and requires at least one accepted science subject; its list includes subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics and Psychology. Reading asks for ABB including a B in an accepted science subject.

Biology is particularly useful, but don't automatically assume every university requires A-level Biology. Some accept a wider range of sciences, including Geography or Environmental Science. Always check the exact requirements for the course and year you're applying for because these can change.

What careers can an Ecology and Conservation degree lead to?

The most obvious careers involve protecting wildlife and ecosystems, but the degree can lead into environmental consultancy, government agencies, research and environmental management too.

Ecologist

Ecologists study species, habitats and ecosystems and investigate how they are affected by environmental change and human activity. You might carry out wildlife surveys, identify species, analyse ecological data, use GIS, undertake habitat assessments and make recommendations about how a site should be managed.

Assistant ecologists and conservation officers typically earn around £22,000-£29,000, rising to approximately £32,000-£36,000 with experience. Senior and principal ecologists can earn around £30,000-£46,000, with some senior roles reaching £75,000.

Ecological or environmental consultant

Consultants advise businesses, developers and other organisations about the environmental impacts of projects. For example, before a housing development, road or renewable-energy project is built, ecologists may need to survey the site for protected species and habitats and recommend ways to avoid or reduce environmental damage.

Graduate environmental consultants typically earn around £24,000-£28,000, rising to roughly £30,000-£42,000 after around five years. Senior consultants can earn approximately £45,000-£60,000, with principal consultants and team leaders reaching £60,000-£70,000+.

Nature conservation officer

Nature conservation officers help manage and protect habitats and species. You could work for a wildlife charity, local authority, National Park or another conservation organisation, monitoring wildlife, managing habitats, developing conservation projects and working with local communities.

Typical starting salaries are around £19,000-£24,000, increasing to approximately £25,000-£30,000 with experience. Experienced managers may earn £35,000+.

Countryside ranger

If you want a particularly practical outdoor career, you might work as a countryside ranger. Rangers look after natural areas such as forests, wetlands, coastlines and country parks. They might monitor wildlife, create and maintain habitats, work with volunteers and lead educational activities.

The National Careers Service gives a typical salary range of approximately £20,000-£28,000.

Countryside or conservation officer

Countryside officers tend to combine conservation with land management and project work. You might manage habitats, develop environmental projects or help organisations decide how rural areas should be protected and improved.

The National Careers Service gives a typical salary range of around £22,000-£34,000.

Research scientist

If the research side of your degree particularly appeals to you, you could continue to a Master's degree or PhD and move into ecological or conservation research. You might work at a university, research institute, museum, conservation organisation or government agency.

A general research scientist salary has a range of approximately £27,000-£48,000, although salaries vary significantly according to the organisation, seniority and type of research. A postgraduate qualification, particularly a PhD, is commonly required for academic research careers.

Other possibilities

Ecology and Conservation graduates can also move into:

• Wildlife conservation
• Habitat management
• Biodiversity assessment
• Environmental impact assessment
• Environmental policy
• Rewilding and ecological restoration
• Forestry
• Marine conservation
• Environmental education
• GIS and ecological data analysis
• Government environmental agencies
• Environmental charities
• Sustainability
• Scientific research
• Environmental communications

What skills will you develop?

One of the strengths of an Ecology and Conservation degree is the mixture of scientific, analytical and practical skills you'll develop.

These could include:

• Identifying plants and animals
• Ecological survey techniques
• Habitat assessment
• Field sampling
• Statistical analysis
• GIS and digital mapping
• Experimental design
• Laboratory techniques
• Data collection and interpretation
• Scientific report writing
• Presenting research
• Teamwork

If you want to become a professional ecologist, practical experience matters a lot – pre-entry experience and field-survey skills are particularly valuable when applying for ecology jobs. So volunteering with a Wildlife Trust, conservation charity or local environmental project, or choosing a degree with a placement year, can be very worthwhile.

Is Ecology and Conservation a good degree?

Ecology and Conservation could be a particularly good choice if you're fascinated by wildlife but also enjoy the scientific side of understanding it. That's an important distinction. You won't spend three years simply observing animals in beautiful places. You'll need to understand ecological theory, design investigations, collect data, use statistics and evaluate scientific evidence.

You'll probably also encounter mud, rain, early mornings, insects and fieldwork that doesn't go exactly according to plan - but that's part of the attraction! One week you might be analysing population data in a computer lab; another you could be surveying a woodland, identifying freshwater invertebrates, mapping habitats using GIS or designing your own conservation research project.

And the questions ecologists are trying to answer are increasingly important. Climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species and changing land use are putting pressure on biodiversity around the world. Understanding which species are being affected, why they're being affected and what we can actually do about it is at the heart of Ecology and Conservation.