Ecology and Wildlife Conservation

Ecology and wildlife conservation is a degree driven by a genuine commitment to protecting the natural world. If you are passionate about wildlife and committed to protecting our planet, this programme gives you the knowledge and hands-on experience to tackle the global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Ecological science underpins all conservation work, providing the understanding of how species and ecosystems function, how they are threatened, and how effective management and policy can help reverse those threats.

Conservation in the twenty-first century requires practitioners who combine scientific rigour with practical field skills and an understanding of the social and political contexts in which conservation happens.

At the University of Cumbria, this four-year full-time programme with an integrated foundation year begins with an introductory foundation year at the Carlisle Fusehill Street campus, designed to develop your skills, confidence, and core knowledge in a supportive environment, ensuring you are fully prepared to progress into the undergraduate degree. From year two, you study at the Ambleside campus, located in the heart of the Lake District, one of the UK's most ecologically rich landscapes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This setting provides exceptional access to upland, freshwater, and woodland habitats for fieldwork and applied ecological study.

You will develop skills in species identification, ecological survey methods, habitat management, conservation genetics, environmental monitoring, geographic information systems, and the legal and policy frameworks governing biodiversity.

With a typical entry tariff of 104 UCAS points, this programme is accessible to students with a genuine motivation to contribute to conservation science and practice. Graduates pursue careers in ecological consultancy, conservation management on nature reserves and national parks, environmental impact assessment, government environmental agencies, zoological institutions, international conservation NGOs, biodiversity net gain assessment, and ecological research. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in conservation biology, ecology, or environmental management.