Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science
Wildlife ecology and conservation science is a discipline that combines the scientific study of wild animals and their habitats with the practical knowledge and skills needed to protect, manage and restore them in a world under increasing ecological pressure. Ecology examines the relationships between organisms and their environments, asking how populations are regulated, how energy and nutrients flow through ecosystems and what factors determine the distribution and abundance of species. Conservation science applies this knowledge to the real challenges of maintaining biodiversity and ecological function in the face of habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, pollution and the complex social and political dynamics of land use.
At the University of the West of England, Bristol, this four-year, full-time programme prepares you to use ecological skills and scientific knowledge to help tackle these issues and explore new and novel approaches to conserving wildlife. You will develop expertise in species identification, ecological survey methods, habitat assessment, population biology, GIS and remote sensing, data analysis and conservation management planning, alongside the behavioural, evolutionary and physiological understanding that underpins conservation practice. The programme includes a sandwich year and a work placement, giving you extended professional experience in ecological or conservation settings before graduation.
UWE's proximity to the diverse habitats of the West Country and the Severn Estuary provides an exceptional field environment.
Graduates pursue careers in ecological consultancy, nature reserve management, conservation research, biodiversity monitoring, wildlife trusts, national parks, government environmental agencies, zoological institutions and the rapidly growing field of biodiversity net gain assessment. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in conservation biology, ecology, wildlife management or environmental science, building on the undergraduate foundation to develop deeper expertise and advance toward senior research or management roles.