Best conservation qualifications & uni's

[Kenyatta1993]

Hello, new to the forum,
Just wondering, what in your opinion, is the best qualification to have in conservation related fields? e.g. animal management, wildlife conservation, zoology etc.

I understand all of the above can lead to a career in wildlife conservation, but i am planning on moving abroad so i wander if the actual wildlife conservation ourse will focus to much on uk native species?

Also if anyone knows any highly rated animal conservation/science etc. degrees in the UK, please post them aswel, would also consider marine conservation...

Please reply

Thanks,

[KeenTeen17]

someone recommended the Open University to me because I'm in the same boat. they said that I work at the same time as what I am studying. Still deciding on a degree though - botany or biology

[Kenyatta1993]

Cheers, im thinking more of staying at uni and doing a full 3 year on site course?
In your biology-botany, doesnt biology allow you to go into botany related careers, but if you choose botany, you cannot go back to a wildlife career.

Cheers for the reply.
Keep them coming

[KeenTeen17]

thats what everyone has said - botany is too specific. I mean what would I do in the winter?

[Kenyatta1993]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

thats what everyone has said - botany is too specific. I mean what would I do in the winter?

Very true. But what is your real passion, Wildlife or Plants? If you are sure you like plants more then you could spend the rest of your life as a botanist, during the winter you could go to another country :L.
And back to your earlier point, what course at the open university?

[KeenTeen17]

they told me :

Originally Posted by CapAndBracket

KT (and anyone interested) you may like to look at the open university, you
can work while you learn.
You can do an open degree mixing courses across the sciences, environment, biology, evolution, oceanograpy (that one is still on my todo list),
meteorology, geology, the list goes on, (and practical summer schools) its hard work for us old brains but you may fly it.

Cheers J.P.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

thats what everyone has said - botany is too specific. I mean what would I do in the winter?

be skilled in identification of plants in their vegetative form.

[Kenyatta1993]

Hmm, you got any ideas on what you would want to do there ?

Yes i guess you are a Botanist mayhaps?

[cmullen]

Hello, I did zoology at Aberdeen Uni, and found it really good. It does alot of conservation courses and you can also do conservation biology, ecology, marine biology, plant and soil science or wildlife management there and they let you change your degree until the end of 2nd year (rememeber it's Scotland so it's a 4 year course) so it's really flexible. You can pick lots of different courses. I did a lot of the conservation and ecology ones as well as the zoology ones. I really enjoyed it there and as one of only three uni's that have a zoology department (the others being Oxford and Cambridge) they have a lot of varied staff and research interests.

I'm not saying it leads to a lot of practical experience though, a lot of the courses are very theoretical, and it's just as difficult to get a job at the end of it so think carefully about it but thought it might be an option.

[gliderrider]

I'm studying with the OU at the moment. Its still a 3 year course like a full time uni, but for me the plus sides are that I dont have to get in debt by the time I've finnished it. The tuition fees are comparable to full time but IF your eligable they will pay your tuition fees, and pay towards things like a PC and bus travel for you to your tutorials, but the main financial bonus is that you dont have to move into student accomodation on the other side of the country, so you dont have any hyper expensive bills.

The other thing with the OU, as has been stated, you can still work, again saving the need for a student loan, but make no mistake, this will be hard work studying the 16+ hours per week and holding down a full time job.

I'm studying a Bacholers Environment Studies and the material is realy interesting.

I'm also studying 2 days a week on an environment Conservation course with the BTCV, thats a more practical Vocational centered course, so I'm hoping with the combination of the two I can get into a warden with the RSPB/National Parks etc.