BSc Ecology and Conservation Biology with Placement Year

This course explores how humans, animals and plants interact with each other and their environment, and how this determines their abundance, distribution and the biodiversity we see on the planet. You’ll learn about human impacts on ecological interactions, the climate crisis, biodiversity and sustainability, as well as what we can do to manage natural resources in the face of changing environments. You’ll have the opportunity to do a year-long, paid work placement as part of your degree.

Our students have found placements in industry with organisations such as GSK, Atkins Environmental Consulting and EMEC Ecology – with charities like the Wildlife Trusts, Newquay Zoo, and the Field Studies Council, or in government with the Environment Agency. You could apply your scientific knowledge outside of the bioscience industry in areas including market research, communications or business development.

A placement is a great opportunity to test out a career path and many students are offered a graduate-level job at the end. You’ll pay reduced fees for the year you’re on placement and you’ll have the support you need from your tutor and the University.

Alongside your specialist ecology and conservation modules, from your first year you’ll have the flexibility to study topics across the breadth of biology to complement your knowledge. Topics range from plant science, biotechnology and zoology, to neuroscience, genetics and physiology. This flexibility allows you to study ecology and conservation in greater depth, broaden your interests or even switch to another biosciences degree programme.

No matter what modules you choose to study, you’ll develop the practical laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers including project management, problem solving, communication skills and data analysis.

Modules

In your first year, you’ll spend your first week on a field course in Sheffield, collecting and analysing data throughout the city’s green spaces and out to the edge of the Peak District. Throughout the year, you’ll study topics including sustainability, biotechnology, biodiversity, climate change and environmental management. You’ll develop practical skills in the lab, including microscopy and genetics, complemented by regular field trips to zoos, aquariums and nature reserves. You’ll also have lectures and take part in small group tutorials where you’ll enhance your writing, data analysis and presentation skills as you learn about the latest research findings from our world-leading academics.

In your second year, you’ll build on your new skills and knowledge covering more advanced scientific topics and techniques across ecology and conservation biology. Some students choose to take our science communication module where you’ll get the chance to make your own factual science documentaries, with support and advice from professional filmmakers.

All of our ecology and conservation biology students receive training in modern data analysis techniques and get the opportunity to participate in an optional two-week intensive project, designing and carrying out your own research. Depending on your focus, this could be in the field, giving you the chance to develop an understanding of the ecology and biodiversity of different habitats across the globe, or in one of our world-class labs here in Sheffield, dedicated to an area such as molecular biology, genetics or even wildlife forensics.

You will spend your third year on a work placement in industry. Previous students have found placements within industry, charities or government at organisations that include Atkins Environmental Consulting, Cadbury (Mondelēz International), Kew Gardens and Transport for London.

In your final year, you’ll complete a research project and dissertation in an area of ecology and conservation biology, conducted under the supervision of one of our world experts. You’ll work in a small group to define questions, develop experimental protocols, conduct the research, analyse the data and ultimately produce a written report in the form of a scientific publication.

Entry requirements

Applications for places on courses starting the following September (except Medicine and Dentistry) should be submitted to UCAS between:

• 1 September and 25 January to be guaranteed equal consideration with other applicants
• 26 January and 30 June for further consideration, although we may not be able to consider your application if all the places on the course you’ve applied for have been filled

Applications for places on Medicine and Dentistry courses must be submitted between 1 September and 15 October.