Environmental Conservation BSc (Hons) Undergraduate - September 2023/24* Entry

Understanding how to tackle environmental issues such as pollution, climate change, unsustainable use of resources has become the important challenge of our century.  We need to understand how we can effectively conserve species and their habitats. This course gives a theoretical grounding in how ecological systems work and a practical understanding of the issues surrounding environmental conservation. You’ll learn key skills needed by conservation professionals for monitoring habitats and species and how these need to consider social and economic factors for successful conservation.

Successful conservation relies on an interdisciplinary approach. Our supportive, friendly and accessible staff have a range of expertise covering conservation, ecology, environmental science, forestry, and the social sciences. The Centre for Evidence Based Conservation, a world-recognised centre for translating conservation science into policy, is based here at Bangor.

Our location, between the Menai Strait and Snowdonia National Park, offers unrivalled opportunities for learning about ecology, conservation and the natural environment outside the lecture theatre. Our courses are packed with field trips and practical sessions.

We have close links with many of the local conservation organisations including Snowdonia National Park Authority, Natural Resources Wales and the British Trust for Ornithology which help students gain understanding of conservation practice.

We also have excellent links with conservation organisations throughout the world. Staff and students are currently working in Madagascar, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ghana, Kenya and Bangladesh for example.

It is possible to take the course as either a three-year degree or over four years with a placement year working with a relevant conservation organisation in the UK or overseas.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• TV presenter Steve Backshall is now part of our teaching team.
• Our location, between the Menai Strait and Snowdonia National Park, offers unrivalled opportunities for learning about ecology, conservation and the natural environment. 
• We have close links with many of the local conservation organisations: Natural Resources Wales, British Trust for Ornithology Snowdonia National Park Authority etc. 
• We have excellent links with conservation organisations throughout the world. Staff and students are currently working in Madagascar, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Bolivia, Kenya and Bangladesh.

Additional Course Options

The modules we offer on this degree use a wide variety of teaching methods ranging from lectures, practicals and fieldwork to seminars and tutorials. Seminars and tutorials concentrate on problem solving, study skills development and reinforcing material taught in lectures; their relaxed and informal atmosphere also encourages lively debate over current and contentious issues. We asses you through a variety of methods with an average split of 60% coursework and 40% examination. All our modules make extensive use of our virtual learning environment, which provides direct access to learning resources, course documents and lecture notes. If you opt for the placement year, you will spend your third year working with a relevant organisation gaining valuable career experience.

In year’s one and two you will study 120 credits in each year, through a range of lectures, tutorials, seminars and fieldwork. Our courses are modular. Although some modules are, by necessity, compulsory, others are optional, allowing you to expand your studies into new areas or develop specialisms that are of particular interest to you.

In the final year you will take a compulsory module in human aspects of conservation as well as selecting from a wide range of others, including wildlife ecology & conservation, marine conservation and exploitation, upland management and coping with a changing planet. You will also work with a supervisor to design and carry out some original research. The management plan – where students develop a plan for an area of Snowdonia National Park – is a unique feature of this degree and gives valuable professional training. You will also have the option of going to Tenerife or Uganda for a week-long field trip.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Environmental Conservation BSc (Hons) Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

General University Costs

Home (UK) students

• The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry and 2022/23 entry).
• The fee for all placement, international, and sandwich years is £1,350 (2021/22 and 2022/23).
• More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.

International (including EU) students

• International Student Tuition Fees
• International Student Living Costs and Scholarships

Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

• If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
• If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

General University Requirements

To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com.

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy, we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Bangor section of the website.   

EU and International Students' Entry Requirements

For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

Graduates from this programme have gone on to become conservation or environmental managers in the UK and overseas as well as carrying out further study and research or teacher training.

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. 

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) 

The BEA is a comprehensive online course that you can work through at your own pace, taking you through all the steps you need to take to explore, prepare and apply for your dream career.

Internships

Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments. 

Student Volunteering

Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about volunteering on the Students’ Union’s website. 

A 'with Foundation Year' option is available for this course. Apply for Environmental Science (with Foundation Year).