Wildlife Conservation Biology

Wildlife conservation biology addresses one of the defining challenges of our time: the accelerating loss of biodiversity and the degradation of the ecosystems on which all life, including human life, depends. The discipline applies biological science to the practical problem of protecting and restoring wildlife populations and the habitats they require, drawing on ecology, genetics, behaviour, landscape science and the social and political contexts in which conservation decisions are made. It is a subject that combines fieldwork and laboratory science with advocacy and policy thinking.

At the University of Gloucestershire you will study this three-year full-time programme in a region with remarkable ecological diversity, from the Cotswolds and the Severn Estuary to the Forest of Dean. The programme places significant emphasis on fieldwork, giving you direct experience of wildlife surveying, habitat assessment and species management in real landscapes. You will study ecology, population biology, conservation genetics, landscape ecology, animal behaviour and the human dimensions of conservation, developing both the scientific grounding and the practical field skills that employers in the conservation sector look for.

The typical entry tariff for this programme is around 104 UCAS points.

For those who choose to take a year in industry, the university provides dedicated support to secure a placement aligned with your interests, and students who do this return with valuable professional experience and connections. The programme also supports independent research projects in the final year, often based on original field investigations.

Graduates work in conservation organisations including wildlife trusts, national parks, government environmental bodies and international NGOs. Roles in ecological surveying, species monitoring, habitat management, environmental impact assessment and nature recovery planning are all well-established destinations. Some graduates move into conservation science, education, wildlife photography, journalism and public engagement.

Postgraduate study in ecology, conservation biology, environmental management or related fields is a natural progression for those who wish to pursue research or specialist roles.