Ecology and Conservation with a Year Abroad

Ecology and conservation with a year abroad is a degree that combines the scientific study of how organisms relate to their environments with direct international field experience in a different ecological and conservation context. Ecology examines the relationships between living organisms and the physical and biological world they inhabit, from the population dynamics of individual species to the structure and function of entire ecosystems. Conservation biology applies this knowledge to the urgent practical challenge of protecting biodiversity and maintaining the services that natural systems provide to people.

At the University of Kent, this four-year full-time programme covers natural science areas including ecology, wildlife survey methods, rewilding, wildlife management, conservation biology, biogeography, and conservation genetics, with an emphasis on fieldwork alongside some laboratory-based training. You will develop both quantitative analytical skills and the practical field competencies that conservation and ecological science require, learning to survey habitats and populations, analyse data, and contribute to evidence-based conservation decisions. The year abroad takes you to a different country and ecosystem, broadening your experience of biodiversity and conservation challenges in an international context.

Entry typically requires around 120 UCAS tariff points.

Graduates work in conservation organisations, national parks, wildlife trusts, government agencies such as Natural England, environmental consultancies, research institutes, and international conservation bodies. The combination of strong ecological science with fieldwork skills and international experience is particularly valued by employers in conservation and environmental management. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in ecology, conservation biology, or environmental science.