Ornithology at university.

Bethany15 · #1 (**permalink**) 17-10-2006, 09:49 PM

Does anybody know if any universities in in British Isles do Ornithology as a course?

I can't find anywhere, so was wondering if any of you could help me.

Thanks!

Words · #2 (**permalink**) 17-10-2006, 10:06 PM

It may be tricky to find an undergraduate degree that does only ornithology, though you may find that some biological science degrees include ornithology modules. The one degree I did find is at Hull, which offers a BSc in Biology with Ornithology. Scroll down this link. It's about half way down.

Oscar2006 · #3 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 07:29 AM

I think that there is a degree course run at/by Leicester University, though where to find the information is another matter.
web search maybe?

Oscar

Bethany15 · #4 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 01:16 PM

Thank you very much for your help, although I'm not due to go to university for a few years yet (I'm 15), I wanted to find unversity courses so I can decide what to study at college.

The one in Hull has particulary interested me, as I live there!

Thank you once again.

Paul mabbott · #5 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 03:25 PM

Even *if* such courses exist, Iwould warn against taking such a specialised degree. All Biology and most Ecology courses will deal with birds and probably have opportunities for bird-centred projects and detailed study. Get a good general degree - you can't know much about birds unless you know about geography, botany, broader zoology &c. At Masters level is the time to think about specialising.
Good luck with whatever you do, eventually ....

Imaginos · #6 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 04:18 PM

I'd like to endorse Pauls comments-a broader based degree in something like Environmental Science will be more appealing to potential employers.

Have you considered volunteering? The RSPB (for example) are usually keen to recruit former or current volunteers over & above those that haven't done any. It also gives you a 'free' grounding in many ornithological methods.

Linky: Volunteer for the RSPB - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Lou-D · #7 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 04:21 PM

Hi Bethany15

Bishop Burton College near Beverley do a foundation degree in Applied Ornithology, which is validated by Hull University, though it does not appear to be a full time course:

Bishop Burton College

I'm currently starting my 2nd year on the part time foundation degree in Wildlife and Countryside Conservation there which I can thoroughly recommend. There's also a full time course in this subject.

Lou

Ps I'm from Hull too though I live in Holderness now

Bethany15 · #8 (**permalink**) 19-10-2006, 04:50 PM

Thank you for all of your help, unfortunately it wouldn't be easy for me to do volunteering as I have no transport.

I will definantely look into Bishop Burton, as I do want to go there, but I didn't know they did the type of courses I want to do.

The BSc (Hons) Wildlife and Countryside Conservation looks very interesting!

Nick Robinson · #9 (**permalink**) 20-10-2006, 10:20 AM

I did my undergrad Ecology degree at UEA, Norwich. There is a full module in Ornithology. It's a cracking campus and you'll be in Norfolk, definately the best birding counties to be in!

Gill Catton · #10 (**permalink**) 20-10-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Robinson

I did my undergrad Ecology degree at UEA, Norwich. There is a full module in Ornithology. It's a cracking campus and you'll be in Norfolk, definately the best birding counties to be in!

Cor I wish I'd done that!! I did Biology at Derby and it was good but really too broad, touched far too briefly on ornithology or enotmology. I had a place at UEA until I stuffed my a-levels up!!