Ecology and Conservation with a Year in Professional Practice - BSc (Hons)
Canterbury, United Kingdom
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
Join the oldest undergraduate conservation program in the UK. Our degree equips future ecology and conservation professionals.
Natural science areas of focus include ecology, wildlife survey methods, rewilding, wildlife management, conservation biology, biogeography, and conservation genetics, and include an emphasis on field trips with some lab-based training too.
Explore the human dimensions of conservation including climate change, environmental sustainability, species reintroduction, working with rural communities, human-wildlife conflict, and conservation policy, so upon graduation, you can make a real difference in tomorrow’s world.
Graduate with skills in wildlife and habitat surveying, data analysis, survey design, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and ecological project management - having planned your dissertation research project in the final year. Become part of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), an award-winning research center. You’ll be taught by award-winning DICE staff, giving you the knowledge, skills, and global networks to address modern environmental challenges.
Our extensive range of UK and overseas field trips take advantage of the UK’s rich landscapes, our beautiful green campus, and you could even venture to the forests and beaches of Costa Rica on our tropical field course. Kent is now an epicenter of rewilding efforts in the UK, and we take advantage of our proximity to reintroduction projects including the Bison in Blean Woods, just a stone's throw from the University of Kent.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
The University of Kent has a long-standing relationship with Chevening, which has successfully placed scholars worldwide at the university for many years. Kent is proud to be a Chevening partner and offers three partner scholarships and the standard Chevening Scholarships. The University of Kent welcomes applications from all Chevening-eligible countries for any one-year taught master’s degree starting in September 2024, based at our UK campuses. Find out how to apply.
We have several scholarships for students starting a postgraduate course in September 2024 at one of our UK campuses. Check if you are eligible to apply and get more information on our scholarship's web pages.
Here are Scholarships that might be of particular interest:
- British Council GREAT Scholarship: China, Ghana, Greece, India, Kenya, Thailand, Turkey (link: https://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/search/FNADBCG0601)
- International Scholarships for Taught Masters students (International) (link: https://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/search/FNADINMASA02)
- Kent Law School LLM Global Welcome Scholarship (Canterbury) (International) (link: https://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/search/FNADGLOWEL01)
- MBA Woman in Leadership Scholarship (Home & International) (link: https://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/search/FN35WILS0002)
Curriculum
Stage 1
Compulsory modules
- Academic and Research Skills
- Environmental Sustainability
- Survey and Monitoring for Biodiversity
- Biodiversity
- Wildlife Conservation and Management
- Principles of Biogeography and Ecology
Stage 2
Compulsory modules
- Methods and Field Work in Social Science
- Key Issues in Conservation Science
- Data Analysis for Conservation Biologists
Year in Industry
If you want to stand out from other graduates in today’s highly competitive global job market, spending time in the workplace as part of your degree can be invaluable. Many students find that prospective employers are very interested in their professional practice experience.
Participation in the placement year is normally dependent on maintaining a clean disciplinary record during your registration for the degree Program up to the time of your placement. It is your responsibility to find a placement, but the department offers help and support. You must achieve a minimum of 60% across your compulsory and optional modules in Stage 1 to qualify for the Year in Professional Practice. Students who do not meet these conditions or are unable to find a placement will normally be advised to transfer to the standard three-year degree Program without a Year in Professional Practice.
The Year in Professional Practice involves a minimum of 24 weeks spent on placement at one or more organizations whose work is relevant to your degree Program. This contributes to 10% of your final degree classification.
You are required to pay 15% of the normal annual tuition fee to Kent. Placements are primarily internships and vary significantly. Some employers will offer a salary, some offer subsistence whilst others offer no financial support.
During your placement, you work under the direction of a line manager within the host organization, with additional support from a member of academic staff from the University. You work on one or more tasks agreed upon in advance; for example, a management plan, a policy report, a consultation process, a piece of applied research, or the development of a set of educational materials.
Assessment is via an appraisal by your designated line manager (10%) and a written report (80%) and presentation (10%) which are assessed by a member of the academic staff.
Compulsory modules
- Professional Placements
Stage 3
Compulsory modules
- Contemporary Conservation Science
- Research Project
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
The conservation and environmental sector is an expanding area for employment opportunities. Employers include ecological surveying, local, regional, and national government departments, conservation organizations, and the private sector, as well as international conservation and environmental organizations.
Our recent graduates have found work as:
- Ecological officer for various ecological consultancies including Thomson Environmental Consultants
- Bison Ranger for Kent Wildlife Trusts
- Conservation Advisor for Natural England
- Senior Officer, WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)
- Senior Advocate at RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
- Seabird Ecologist for JNCC (the UK government's conservation advisory body)
- CITES licensing officer for JNCC
- Curatorial assistant at Chester Zoo
- A level Biology teacher
- Data & GIS Officer at Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
- Keeper at WildWood Trust
- Data & GIS Officer at Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
- Academic Editor for CACTUS Scientific Publishers
- Climate Adaptation Officer at Somerset Wildlife Trust
- Program Officer at UNEP-WCMC
- Country Manager at Operation Wallacea
- Programs Officer at Save the Rhino International
- Outreach and Volunteering Officer, Bumblebee Conservation Trust
- Project Manager, UK Environment Agency.