University Degree

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thanks for all the advice. How did you come to actually go to being a freshwater biologist? Are you employed in the private sector or is it a government or uni job
?

[SheffieldLass]

Hi KT

I'd also say go for Ecology or very broad based Biology, but look very very carefully at the course details what they cover, what options you have. I've recently completed a Certificate in Conservation at Sheffield University ... there was a woman doing that who had already got a degree from Sheffield in Biology, but found she knew at the end of it very little about the flora and fauna or ecology. This may have been to do with the modules she opted for, or maybe the course was too focussed on micro-biology. The Geography degree students were able to opt into a few ecology/conservation modules, but most didn't seem that interested in the subject, and I suspect with your passion for plants you would feel it was far too limited, you'd want to spend far more time studying those areas that really interest you. You may find that Ecology courses have access to geology and relevant physical geography modules as an understanding of how the landscape is formed is important for ecology. I suspect also as geography is very popular that job opportunities in that field are pretty limited and that most end up getting jobs completely unrelated to geography ... like admin. My sister did geography ... no openings after, ended up doing admin. A friend's daughter recently did geography at Newcastle, got a 1st, now just doing admin ...

So think carefully on what really interests you ... do you want to end up sitting in a lab, or doing more practical stuff outside, or are you the research type. Does very academic appeal, or more 'hands-on' practical? Indeed is university the right option or would the college land-based courses that Highland Damsel mentioned tick more your boxes of what fires your interest. Then make sure a course allows a good level of flexibility, with the first year being broad based as you may very probably find your interests will change as you study in more depth.

I would also advise living away from home. The independence allows you to really discover who you are ... and believe me, you are not always who you think you are when you have the freedom/space to let yourself develop. When I was choosing universities I drew a 100 mile radius circle centred on my home and the universities I chose had to be beyond that circle .... The two most important things I think that university gave me was allowing me to become independent in a very supportive environment, with like minded people, and also learning to think independently, to question, to gain an open mind. Of course if I had then the wisdom and self-knowledge that I have now I'd have done something completely different to what I did. But in those days ecology wasn't available ....

Melanie

[Amylou]

I did Ecology and im now doing admin! Actually, best get back to doing it!

[Paul mabbott]

Yes, I think that many degrees are practically biased towards some areas for several reasons. If you have a lot of botanists on the books then you'll get a lot of botany taught! My own ecology degree, I felt, was weak in botany but much better on entomology than some other places. So, I think that getting the BSc should only be regarded as the starting point - go on short practical courses or take an MSc for more detailed and practical learning in specialised areas of your choice.

With regard to living at home or away, this is partly a personal thing: some people are unsettled by leaving home while others as you say, find themselves; to others it doesn't make any difference! I know that some students stay in their own towns but live at the University or elsewhere ... which seems a bit odd to me .... I suppose it's to get their washing done However with ever-increasing fees and other expenses I'm afraid that many students are being forced into their local university simply because they cannot afford anything else .....

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Hi KT

I'd also say go for Ecology or very broad based Biology, but look very very carefully at the course details what they cover, what options you have. I've recently completed a Certificate in Conservation at Sheffield University ... there was a woman doing that who had already got a degree from Sheffield in Biology, but found she knew at the end of it very little about the flora and fauna or ecology. This may have been to do with the modules she opted for, or maybe the course was too focussed on micro-biology. The Geography degree students were able to opt into a few ecology/conservation modules, but most didn't seem that interested in the subject, and I suspect with your passion for plants you would feel it was far too limited, you'd want to spend far more time studying those areas that really interest you. You may find that Ecology courses have access to geology and relevant physical geography modules as an understanding of how the landscape is formed is important for ecology. I suspect also as geography is very popular that job opportunities in that field are pretty limited and that most end up getting jobs completely unrelated to geography ... like admin. My sister did geography ... no openings after, ended up doing admin. A friend's daughter recently did geography at Newcastle, got a 1st, now just doing admin ...

So think carefully on what really interests you ... do you want to end up sitting in a lab, or doing more practical stuff outside, or are you the research type. Does very academic appeal, or more 'hands-on' practical? Indeed is university the right option or would the college land-based courses that Highland Damsel mentioned tick more your boxes of what fires your interest. Then make sure a course allows a good level of flexibility, with the first year being broad based as you may very probably find your interests will change as you study in more depth.

I would also advise living away from home. The independence allows you to really discover who you are ... and believe me, you are not always who you think you are when you have the freedom/space to let yourself develop. When I was choosing universities I drew a 100 mile radius circle centred on my home and the universities I chose had to be beyond that circle .... The two most important things I think that university gave me was allowing me to become independent in a very supportive environment, with like minded people, and also learning to think independently, to question, to gain an open mind. Of course if I had then the wisdom and self-knowledge that I have now I'd have done something completely different to what I did. But in those days ecology wasn't available ....

Melanie

[NicolaB]

Thanks for all the advice. How did you come to actually go to being a freshwater biologist? Are you employed in the private sector or is it a government or uni job
?

I'm employed by the Environment Agency, so it's a government funded job. I kind of fell into Freshwater Ecology after volunteering for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust after finishing my degree, and got offered the post on the basis of my voluntary survey work as well as the degree It took a year of volunteering and surviving on very little money to do it though.

Another good way into the EA in particular is to do an Msc. and get a work placement with us as part of your dissertation. I'm looking after a student from Kings College London at the moment who is helping with our catchment sensitive farming project work.

[Hedgeland]

As others have said - i would go for a wide ecology/biology degree course as this gives you scope to try different things during the course.

If you are still really interested in plants by the end and not drifted into other areas then opt for a good plant Msc like MSc Plant Diversity at the School of Biological Sciences - University of Reading

This is very well respected course.

But most of all - go to uni, leave home and enjoy yourself.
H