Integrated Wildlife Conservation

This course is open for applications.

About this course

Entry year:: 2020/21
Course code:: F750
Applications:: UCAS
Level:: Undergraduate
Tariff points:: 64
Department:: Applied Sciences
Campus:: Bristol Zoo Gardens
Duration:: Two years full-time; three years part-time
Delivery:: Full time; part-time
Programme leader:: Daphne Kerhoas (Bristol Zoo) and Dr Ian Wilson
Key fact:: We're the only university to offer a FdSc Integrated Wildlife Conservation foundation degree in partnership with a working zoo, providing you with real-world experience.

Page last updated 18 December 2019

Introduction

Why study integrated wildlife conservation?

By taking a biological approach to studying wildlife conservation, we can get a deeper understanding of our relationship with wildlife and the impact of our actions on it.

Studying conservation at this level gives you a springboard into further study, and a variety of interesting conservation careers.

Why UWE Bristol?

FdSc Integrated Wildlife Conservation is particularly relevant if you're attracted to a career in conservation but haven't considered university before.

You'll get a recognised qualification in wildlife conservation after two years and can take your study to degree level by doing the one-year BSc(Hons) Integrated Wildlife Conservation top-up at UWE Bristol.

Gain the practical skills and knowledge to work in wildlife conservation, and play a positive role in helping to solve our planet's conservation challenges.

Study in Bristol, home to the BBC's world-renowned Natural History Unit, and a recognised hub for environmental organisations and projects.

Gain invaluable experience at Bristol Zoo, and participate in diverse conservation projects and fieldwork both in the UK and overseas.

We encourage you to apply for volunteering roles in the holidays, to add extra weight to your CV.

Where can it take me?

This course is excellent preparation for local, national and international careers in conservation.

Around 90 percent of our graduates continue to do their full BSc(Hons) degree in Integrated Wildlife Conservation. This allows you to study a range of contemporary topics in depth, including Primate Conservation, Wildlife Film and Media, and Science Communication, while developing your research skills through your research project.

Watch: The learning and teaching experience

Accreditations and partnerships:

Structure

Content

Year one

You will study:

Ecology and Environmental Systems
Wildlife Biology
Wildlife and People
Professional Work Skills.

Year two

You will study:

Conservation Biology
Animal Behaviour for Wildlife Conservation
Effective Communication for Conservation
Integrating Sustainable Development and Conservation
Work and Research Skills.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.

This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.

Learning and Teaching

You'll study at Bristol Zoo in the dedicated Institute of Conservation Science and Learning, and be taught by experts from the zoo and University, learning about live conservation projects.

This is a hands-on course, so you'll take part in conservation projects and fieldwork, and work with different conversation organisations in the UK and overseas.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:

Year	Scheduled learning and teaching study	Independent study	Placement study
1	27%	65%	8%
2	27%	65%	8%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year

Assessment

We use a range of assessment tools to reflect the different concepts, knowledge and skills we develop on the course. You can expect to be assessed using coursework and exams in both years.

See our full glossary of assessment terms.

Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:

Year	Written exam assessment	Coursework assessment	Practical exam assessment
1	30%	65%	5%
2	19%	50%	31%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year

Features

Placements

Students who go on work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought after graduate.

You'll go on 100 hours of placements in each year of this course, at either Bristol Zoo or another conservation organisation.

Previous students have worked with Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre, Tree Life Centre, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Somerset Wildlife Trust, and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

We'll encourage you to take up volunteering roles to boost your experience further.

Get help to find a placement and support throughout from department staff and our award-winning careers service.

Fieldwork

Take part in real-world conservation projects and apply your academic knowledge to practical situations in the field.

Go on residential field trips in both years one in the UK and one in Europe.

If you progress to level three of the BSc(Hons) Integrated Wildlife Conservation course, you can choose to go on a self-funded two-week field trip to the Madagascan rainforest or to Cuba.

Study facilities

You'll be based in the Institute of Conservation Science and Learning at Bristol Zoo Gardens, which includes classrooms, a laboratory, IT facilities, a library with a large collection of natural history literature, and a student common room. There are facilities for disabled users.

As a UWE Bristol student, you'll also have access to our teaching and learning facilities, including extensive library resources, laboratories and student support facilities.

Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.

Careers

Careers / Further study

FdSc Integrated Wildlife Conservation is excellent preparation for local, national and international careers in conservation.

If you want to progress to a full degree, you can go straight into level three of BSc(Hons) Integrated Wildlife Conservation after getting this qualification.

Fees

Full Time Course

Fees	Amount (£)
Home/EU-Full Time-Annual (Per Year) Fee	9250
Home/EU-Full Time-Module Fee (15 Credit)	1156
International-Full Time-Annual (Per Year) Fee	13500
International-Full Time-Module Fee (15 Credit)	1688

Indicative Additional Costs

Fees	Amount (£)
Additional Course Costs - Full Time - Home/EU - Indicative Maximum Cost Per year	482

Part Time Course

Fees	Amount (£)
Home/EU-Part Time-Module Fee (15 Credit)	1156

Supplementary fee information

Additional costs

Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.

Learn more about costs.

Entry

Typical offers

Tariff points: 64
A-level subjects: A minimum of an AS in a Science subject.
Relevant subjects: Subjects that meet the Science requirement for this course: Applied Science, Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Design Technology, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography, Geology, Maths, Use of Maths, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Science in the Environment, Statistics.
EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: To include three units in a Science subject. Please list the units you are studying in your application. For further advice on acceptable units, please email us.
Access: Level 3 credits in Science.
Baccalaureate IB: To include Science at Higher Level.
Irish Highers: a minimum of o4 in a science subject.

All applicants will also require:

GCSE subjects: Grade C/4 or above in English Language or Literature, Mathematics and Double Science, or equivalent. We do not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy as alternatives to GCSEs.
English Language Requirement: International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit http://uwe.ac.uk/englishlanguagerequirements

We recognise the individual nature of each application and our typical offer should be viewed as a guide. UWE Bristol welcomes interest from applicants who may not have the standard entry requirements. We will consider evidence of your relevant personal, professional or educational experience where it demonstrates an ability and potential to succeed on the course. Please include details of any relevant experience in your application.