University Degree

[Words]

It's difficult to advise, but I'm not sure that a geography degree would necessarily provide the right background for working with plants. It's likely to focus either on human or physical geography, though obviously some moduels will cover environmental issues. A Biology degree or Ecology & Conservation might prove better. Most of the latter will include animal as well as plant biology (strong inter-connections between them as in both cases the one depends on the other). Check what options they offer as well as core modules/courses. And what the range of field work is. That's vital in all these subjects.

As for location, put down a couple of 'local' options and a couple of flyers in other parts of the country. And visit all of them on Open Days. Find out as much as you can about the courses and facilities you'll be working with. Worth doing the research now as it will be three or four years of your life, and great years if all works out

And don't write of Geography or Botany yet. It's your degree and having a passion for the subject gives you a fantastic head start. You'll find career optinos widen out as you learn more. And take a look at what graduate jobs previous students have got. Most universities publish this sort of information on departmental web pages. That will give a good idea of the type of thing to expect; and if you can't find the info email the admissions tutor. They'll be only too pleased to help.

Good luck whatever you choose!

[KeenTeen17]

I found this on Lancaster University. Its a dual course geography and biology.
Course Search
It looks pretty good, Lancaster is up the road.

this as well which looks pretty good for Cumbria.
http://www.cumbria.ac.uk/Courses/Cou...nv/ConBio.aspx

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

I found this on Lancaster University. Its a dual course geography and biology.
Course Search
It looks pretty good, Lancaster is up the road.

this as well which looks pretty good for Cumbria.
Conservation Biology

If you genuinely like the Lancaster course, worth a go, but do not let the location take priority at all costs!!!-

[Highland Damsel]

I agree with Words, go look around at open days they can be really informative and find a course that really excites you. Don't go for something just because it's local but if it's the right course don't let that put you off it. Be aware that geopgraphy can be geared toward human geography e.g.towns and population but also lanscape and geology, i'm not sure but read the syllabus for any course you're looking at really carefully.

There is a wealth of subjects you can study that relate to plants and conservation. You could start off with a National or a Higher National Diploma, either of which are two year courses and the HND will give you the opportunity to top up with one year and get a degree. These courses are relatively practical but with a good emphasis on the academic. There will undoubtedly be identification work involved that will give you the basics but to get good you are going to have to learn in your spare time as well. Subjects you can study include those you have mentioned but also Countryside Management, Ecology Conservation, Forestry, Arboriculture (Askham Bryan in York has a course on that). There is the Scottish Agricultural College in Dumfries? in Scotland offering a range of courses, I studied Countryside Management at Uni of East Anglia, Horticulture (Urban Forestry) at York and Arboriculture at the Forestry College in Inverness . Newton Rigg on the edge of the Lake District offers countryside courses. Don't just look at Universities but also at colleges offering land based quals and degrees.

My advice would be to go for a general Countryside Management/Conservation based HND, it will give you a taster of everything including plants, animals, ecology, science and practical work and teach you about real issues in the countryside but also give you a chance to find what it is that you are most into and it will have quite a bit of relevance in terms of jobs in that field.

Good luck and have fun looking.

[Gue Jam Fowsid]

I did my Zoology degree in Bangor, North Wales. The uni has a fantastic centre for biological and ocean sciences. The uni even has its own ship!! The city is very small and has a great student life. For the environmetal degrees, Bangor has everything on its doorstep with the Snowdonia National Park only a stones throw away.

One of the best decisions of my life was uprooting from London and heading to Bangor. At the time it was the only University that had Herpetology as a module in the third year, which was perfect for me.

They also have their own botanical gardens and so have a number of expert botanists.

Good luck.

[ring ouzel]

Lancaster has (or used to have when I did it) an excellent course in Ecology but two things. First of all I think you need to define a bit more what you want to do, zoo keeper, conservationist or ranger Sit down and work out what direction you really want to go into, do your research now. Its astonishing how many people dont know the difference between conservation and welfare for example.

Secondly if you do go to Lancaster then dont stay at home, you will always regret it! And if you really like your family life too much to move to another University then forget any job in the Environmental sector as you must be prepared to move around to chase the jobs, you cant afford to be picky.

Another point that springs to mind is dont think because you study one thing then that is all you will ever work on. I started as an Ornithologist but amongst other things worked on Asian Big Cats, helped found the Shark Trust and became CEO of a national charity - none of which had anything to do with birds!

Good luck. I wish I'd had the Internet when I was starting out!

[Paul mabbott]

It's probably too soon for you to home in on a particular profession: there may be no openings and you may change your mind. So go for a broad biology or ecology degree - the ecology one may tend to be a bit more practically based but you should get the broad knowledge from either.

Save the specialisation (to botany, &c) until you do your MSc.

From what people say who have qualified at them, I gather that Bristol and Sheffield are the best universities outside of the two "big" ones (Cambridge and Imperial) and quite nice places to live. If you really want to stay fairly close to home then Newcastle is very good, especially if you're into invertebrates.

[Highland Damsel]

Have a think about what it is that attracts you to the proffession, is it because you love beng outside, is it that you have a really intellectual interest or a practical one and then it might be useful to think about what level you want to go in at, as a ranger doing practical stuff and education or at a higher level managing a site and a team.

[shirl]

I did a Certificate in Ecological and Environmental Studies with Lancaster University but by distance learning, the equivalent to the first year attending the universuty. There were 4 modules including a project and I have to say it was excellent. Really enjoyed it and the tutors were really good, of course you do miss that interaction with other students and the joys of student life .

Good luck with what you do decide to do.

Shirl

[NicolaB]

I did Environmental Biology at Swansea...it covered a very broad range of subjects, and I could choose to specialise in something particular for my dissertation (although I did heathland botany, and ended up working as a freshwater biologist..oh well!).

I'm not sure if they still run the course as the Uni has had a lot of cuts since I was there, but I'm sure other places do similar ones. At work (Environment Agency) we take on placement MSc students who have mostly done Environmental Management degrees.