School of Life Sciences

BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation with Sandwich placement

BSc (Hons) Sandwich 4 years

Dive into the fascinating world of animal behaviour and wildlife conservation with our BSc (Hons) program. Featuring a sandwich placement year, this course offers hands-on experience in the field, preparing you for a rewarding career in wildlife management and conservation.

Dive into the fascinating world of animal behaviour and wildlife conservation with our BSc (Hons) program. Featuring a sandwich placement year, this course offers hands-on experience in the field, preparing you for a rewarding career in wildlife management and conservation.

Award
BSc (Hons)
Start date(s)
16 September 2024
UCAS Code
DD36
Course specifications
Course length
Sandwich (4 years)
Campus location
University: City Campus
School
School of Life Sciences
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

  • Develop students’ interest, knowledge and understanding of the behaviour of animals in their natural environments.
  • Enable students to use the knowledge of the behaviour and biology of animals in order to effect the protection and conservation of species and their habitats.
  • Develop practical skills in species and habitat survey alongside techniques in behavioural observation to prepare students for employment.

The emphasis will be on wildlife species and their conservation in the UK, with field visits and residential fieldwork integral to the course. There will also be opportunities to study more exotic species through participation in international field courses and engagement with zoos, aquaria and wildlife parks.

Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation

Watch our video below featuring staff and students from Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation.

What's unique about this course?

  • Professionally Accredited: This course is accredited by The Royal Society of Biology, meaning that the course and its content meet industry and professional standards. 
  • Expert Staff: Dr Christopher Young, who serves as the course leader, brings with him extensive experience in teaching at the higher education level. Additionally, he has accumulated many years of practical experience in the field of ecology through his work with organizations like MAFF, ADAS, and the Wildlife Trusts partnership.
  • State-of-the-Art Facilities: As part of your learning, you will have access to three cutting-edge laboratories in our Rosalind Franklin Building, that offer the latest in technology, teaching and equipment.
  • Field Trips: This course provides students with the opportunity to observe animals and wildlife in their natural habitats by participating in off-site placements locally and nationally.

What happens on the course?

Year 1 offers a thorough introduction to animal behaviour and the fundamentals of conservation. It also introduces key aspects of ecology, evolution and diversity, biogeography, physiology and ethology. A particular emphasis is placed on the techniques and the skills required for effective fieldwork.

Year 2 looks more closely at the theories behind the ways in which animals interact with each other and with their physical environments. A strong emphasis is put on developing research skills alongside experience of planning and undertaking data collection outside of the classroom. Aspects of conservation biology such as landscape ecology, conservation genetics and the role of captive populations are examined. Options for international field courses and work placements are available.
Year 3 offers an optional sandwich year or alternatively you could progress directly to your final year. This provides more detailed study of animal behaviour and its application in practical wildlife conservation in a range of settings from reserve design and landscape-scale conservation initiatives through to management of captive populations. Further opportunities for international field courses may be offered and you will also undertake and write up your own research project.

Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

A graduate of Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation is qualified to seek employment opportunities within a range of careers. Whilst some may continue to higher degree studies (PGCE, MA, MSc, MPhil or PhD), many others enter into employment with organisations in both the public or voluntary sectors such as Natural England, The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Those graduates with a strong behavioural interest often follow careers with zoos, aquaria, game parks and other animal collections where they can bring their expertise to bear on all aspects of species management.
The mix of field-based information collection/recording, practical activity and office-based work is unmatched in most other subject areas. A degree in the relevant area gives individuals a head-start in securing the interesting careers that others envy and will guarantee experiences that will last a lifetime.

Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

 

  • The course provides a thorough grounding in the study of animal behaviour, with emphasis on biological diversity, evolution, physiology, ecology and behaviour itself.
  • Conservation is at the heart of the course and there is a strong focus on applying behavioural knowledge in different conservation contexts from site-based management to landscape-scale.
  • Animals are studied from the molecular level up to the whole organism and are considered as members of communities and populations.
  • There are two compulsory week-long field courses, one in the UK and a second in Europe. There are further options to participate in international field courses worldwide as well as opportunities to study abroad with partner institutions in the USA and the EU.
  • The course incorporates an optional work-based placement, for example, at local or regional zoos, wildlife collections, and wildlife-related NGOs.
  • You will find a strong practical emphasis in your studies, putting theory into practice, which prepares you for employment in this field.
  • The course staff have extensive fieldwork, research and consultancy and work experience which feeds directly into teaching.
For more detailed information, check our Animal Behaviour & Wildlife Conservation FAQs

You will develop knowledge and understanding of:

  • The theory of how and why animals behave both individually and in social groups;
  • The legislative framework for wildlife conservation and conservation practice;
  • The diversity of living organisms, their structure and life processes;
  • The classification and identification of animals and their habitats;
  • Recent advances in behavioural and conservation science and the philosophical and ethical issues involved;
  • How to use the knowledge of the behaviour, ecology and biology of animals in order to effect the protection and conservation of species and their habitats.

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Sandwich £9250 per year 2022-23
Home Sandwich £9250 per year 2022-23
Home Sandwich £9250 per year 2023-24
Home Sandwich £9250 per year 2024-25
International Sandwich £13450 per year 2022-23
International Sandwich £13450 per year 2022-23
International Sandwich £14450 per year 2023-24
International Sandwich £14950 per year 2024-25

Additional Course Costs

Field courses are offered as optional International Studies modules at Level 5 (Not HND) and Level 6.

Cost is met in full by the student.

Location and precise length varies year-on-year (South Africa, Azores, India, Ecuador). Including flights and with differing destinations and time lengths this is estimated at between £1200-£2500. 

Further information on these additional costs will be provided prior to the start of your studies

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

  • 96 UCAS points
  • A Levels - grades CCC / BCD to include a Science subject, preferably Biology.
  • BTEC L3 Extended Diploma or OCR Cambridge L3 Technical Extended Diploma - grades MMM  (in Animal Management or Applied Science) 
  • Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (96 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at merit)

Use the UCAS Tariff calculator to check your qualifications and points

Students must usually have studied for a minimum of two years post GCSE level. However, we will consider applications from mature students who do not have two years of post-16 study, where they have relevant work experience. Please see http://wlv.ac.uk/mature for further information.

If you've got other qualifications or relevant experience, please contact The Gateway for further advice before applying.

International entry requirements and application guidance can be found at http://www.wlv.ac.uk/international/apply

English language requirements also apply

Royal Society of Biology

"Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting, in part, the academic and experience requirement of membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol)."

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


Self-funding:

If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

For more information please contact the Gateway.


Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Bursaries and Scholarships:

In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

Order a prospectus

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Sandwich Course