Wildlife Conservation with Foundation Year

Wildlife conservation is the scientific and practical discipline concerned with protecting biodiversity and sustaining wild populations in the face of the pressures that human activity has placed on the natural world. Habitat destruction, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution have driven unprecedented rates of species decline, and the science of conservation seeks to understand these pressures and develop evidence-based responses that can slow or reverse them. It is a field that combines ecology, biology, environmental policy, and practical land management, and it is increasingly urgent.

At the University of Salford, this part-time programme with a foundation year is designed for students who need to build their scientific and academic foundations before progressing to the main wildlife conservation degree. The foundation year provides a strong grounding in biology and environmental issues, developing the knowledge and study skills that will allow you to engage effectively with degree-level material. Through the foundation and main programme, you will explore the biological basis of conservation science, examining topics such as population ecology, habitat management, environmental impact assessment, and the policy and governance frameworks that shape conservation practice.

Studying part-time allows you to fit your education around other commitments.

Wildlife conservation graduates work across a wide range of settings. Many find roles with conservation organisations, national parks, wildlife trusts, and environmental NGOs, carrying out fieldwork, habitat management, species monitoring, and public engagement. Others work in environmental consultancy, carrying out ecological surveys and producing environmental impact assessments for development projects.

Government agencies, local authorities, and international conservation bodies also employ graduates with this background. Some graduates go on to postgraduate study in conservation biology, ecology, or environmental management, developing specialist expertise that allows them to take on research or senior professional roles within the sector.