Integrated Wildlife Conservation

Wildlife conservation is one of the defining challenges of our time, as habitat loss, climate change, invasive species and human-wildlife conflict continue to put pressure on biodiversity across the globe. Addressing these pressures requires practitioners who understand ecology and animal biology at a scientific level but can also engage with the practical realities of managing wild populations and the organisations that protect them. This two-year Foundation of Science in Integrated Wildlife Conservation at the University of the West of England, Bristol is developed and delivered in partnership with a working zoo, meaning you learn directly from conservation scientists with hands-on professional experience.

You will study the ecology, behaviour and biology of wild species, developing the scientific literacy needed to interpret research and contribute to conservation planning. The integrated dimension of the programme reflects the understanding that effective conservation cannot focus on animals alone but must also engage with habitats, ecosystems, local communities and institutional frameworks. Working alongside practising conservationists in a real zoo setting gives you access to species, facilities and professional networks that a purely campus-based programme would not provide, and the practical dimension of your learning is embedded throughout rather than limited to occasional placements.

Graduates of this foundation degree go on to roles in zoos, wildlife parks, nature reserves, environmental charities, government conservation bodies and fieldwork organisations. Many use the qualification as a stepping stone to further undergraduate or postgraduate study in conservation biology, zoology, ecology or related disciplines, building on the practical foundation they have developed. For those who want a career working directly with animals and wild populations rather than in a laboratory or policy context, the combination of scientific training and real-world experience that this programme offers is a strong starting point.