has anyone done an ecology and conservation degree at uni?

[Jodielm]

HI im currently investigating the option of doing a degree in ecology, conservation, wildlife, zoology. Im wondering if anyone has done any if these courses and can give me a little info about them and how hard/easy you found it and where?

Thank you Jodie

[Meta menardi]

First, welcome.

That question is very wide, and I think you may get some helpful answers, but I think that if you could focus your question more and give more information about your skills, interests and aspirations, you may get more from this.

Having said this, best of luck, and I am sure you will get some answers.

[specimin]

Hi Jodie,
Are you looking for first degrees or a masters?

I've just done an MSc in environmental conservation the the University of Greenwich. I did my first degree in biology at the University of Bangor in North Wales and found that this gave me a good broad base in understanding organisms as a whole whilst also taking as many ecology based modules as possible. An appreciation of an organism's form and function is important to understand its place in an ecosystem. My fellow students in the MSc course who did not have this background found the course more challenging than i did. But with any course of further education the more effort you put into it the more you get out of it in the end.

Hope this helps.

[Jodielm]

more info: im 17 and in my last year in 6th form. i really love wildlife and zoo animals so would like to get into that area. i really like biology but im am rubbish at it in exams so im hopeing in going to get a C or lowest a D. i did want to be a vet nurse but changed my mind like 5 days ago. i would really like to go around the world helping conserve animals. Im interested in going to salford uni, anglia ruskin or bournemouth (after a gap year).

hope you could give me some advice
Jodie

[svenrufus]

I did a course called Ecology and Conservation at Sussex uni - about 15 years ago. I was in the first year of intake for that course - as far as I know it is still running but may well have changed a lot over that time. I covered stuff like Population Ecology, Community Ecology, conservation Ecology (whihc had a lot of stuff about international protection/legislation etc, as well as a lot of other associated courses that set the context for Ecology as an applied discipline of Biology eg cladistics, statistics, genetics, physiology etc.

I thought the course was superb, and I learnt stacks (despite living the life of a student, if you know what I mean ) but more than the acquired knowledge, what I gained most was inspiration. I didn't have a clear idea of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do afterwards as I started the course, but it opens up ways of thinking that helped me come to those decisions later.

I note that you list a few towns that you want to go and study in, rather than naming the course that you want to do. I would say that is a real consideration, as you have to be happy with wherever you are for 3-4 years, but don't let the place be the only thing you think of. You can have a laugh for the duration of your degree and come out with a qualification you are not happy with, and that is what you will live with forever. Alternatively, you get the course right, and you'll find ways of enjoying your time wherever you are.

One other thing I would say, is that if you are going to have a gap year, do something useful with it. I finished my degree and had a few years of volunteering to get through before I got paid for the work I was doing - simply down to lack of experience. Take time out by all means, but don't spend it on the beach in Goa, get some time in with an organisation that looks good on your CV, and you'll be in a better position to do your degree for a start, but the in a much better position to get decent work when you finish it. And who knows, maybe you can get some experience on a conservation project near the beach in Goa

Good luck - it'll be hard work at times, but worth it in the end.