Ecology
Published: 15 August 2004
What do you come out with? BSc.
Why do it? Because you have a passion for environmental issues and want to save the world according to Professor Dave Raffaelli at York. You may not be as into chemistry as environmental science students, but you love your biology.
What's it about? Ecology in its simplest form is the scientific study of how organisms interact with each other and their environments. York offers a fantastic multidisciplinary degree called Environment, Economics and Ecology. You can specialise in the economics of environmental policy, economics of population and pure and applied microbiology. You do both ecological and economic field projects and for your final year research project you can study sustainable agriculture in Bolivia or evaluate marine parks in the Caribbean. At Sheffield, there is a lot of choice in the second and third years where you can choose to study wildlife forensics or animal behaviour. One third of students go on to study biological sciences for an extra year and gain an undergraduate master's. Fieldwork is a compulsory part of this course. At Sheffield you can choose to go abroad to arctic Sweden or the tropical rainforests of Borneo as well as the Peak District. The degree at Sussex, Ecology and Conservation BSc focuses on evolution and ecology, physiology neuroscience and behaviour and cell and molecular biology in the first year. You conduct a research project in your third year. At Leicester it is called Environment and Ecology and covers a lot of ground on physical geography along with ecology.
How long is a degree? Three years, unless you are lucky enough to spend a year abroad in which case it is four. At York students can spend their second year in the USA or can organise their own expeditions such as turtle conservation in Cuba or study forest ecology in north-eastern Australia.
What are the students like? Very keen on sorting out our environmental problems. There are more women than men at Sheffield; it is about 60 percent female. At York the balance is 50:50.
How is it packaged? At all universities it is a combination of exams, practicals and coursework. At Sheffield, there is slightly more emphasis on coursework then exams. At York it is about it is half and half.
How cool is it? Increasingly. As people become more and more aware of the environmental problems facing us, ecologists will be increasingly needed.
What A-levels do you need? You need at least one science.York wants a science or maths A-level. Sheffield requires biology and a second science. Sussex want one science other than maths. Leicester wants one of geography or biology.
What grades? ABB at Durham, BBB at Sheffield; BBC at York and Sussex or (310 UCAS tariff points). BCC (260-320 points) at Leicester.
Will you be interviewed? Possibly at Sheffield. No at York, although they invite you to open day sessions.
Will it keep you off the dole? The demand for qualified ecologists is growing as our environmental problems grow. The increasing amount of legislation that requires environmental monitoring is increasing the demand for ecologists. Ecology graduates generally work in areas such as ecological research, scientific editing, agricultural and horticultural services, biology teaching or for companies such as English Nature, WWF and the Forestry Commission.
What do students say? Janet Robinson, Environment, Ecology and Conservation BSc, Sussex. "The local area, especially the coast and South Downs, is handy for fieldwork. My degree is very hands-on, but I've also learnt a lot about the theoretical and legal aspects of conservation, as well as being introduced to various conservation organisations around the country. For me, the best part of my degree is the practical work, and having previously experienced working life I now definitely want to find a job in conservation where I'm not confined to the office."
Where can you do it? Aberdeen, Aberystwyth, Anglia Polytechnic University, Bangor, Bath Spa University College, Bradford, Brighton, Cambridge, Cardiff, Central Lancashire, Coventry, Derby, Durham, UEA, Edinburgh, Essex, Exeter, Hertfordshire, Hull, Imperial, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, LJM, Manchester Metropolitan, Middlesex, Queen Mary, University College Northampton, Nottingham Trent, Oxford Brookes, Plymouth, Sheffield, Stirling, Sussex, Wolverhampton, University College Worcester, York.
Where's the cutting edge? Global Environmental change and molecular ecology using DNA based technologies and Genome technologies in conservation biology at Sheffield. York is hot on wildlife management, infectuous diseases in rural areas and the development of marine protected areas.
Who are the stars? Professors Tim Birkhead (bird behaviour), David Read (plants fungal symbiosis and nutreint cycling) and Phillip Grime (plant strategies) at Sheffield. Professors Charles Perrings(environmental economics), Callum Roberts(marine protected areas), Dave Raffaelli (main drivers of biodiversity change) and Malcolm Cresser (nitrogen deposition in the UK landscape) at York.
What can you combine it with? At Anglia Polytechnic University it can be done with a modern language, various forms of biology or even ophthalmic dispensing (training to be an optician). At Bath Spa University College there is a broad range of 20 subjects you can combine environmental biology with. Ecology and environmental management is offered at Cardiff. UEA and Lancaster offer the chance to study in North America, Australia and Europe. Hull, Wolverhampton and Sussex offer geography with ecology. Oxford Brookes has the largest choice. At University College Northampton it is possible to combine it with a long list of subjects including business entrepreneurship, equine studies or third world development. Sheffield offers the only course in Landscape Architecture with ecology.
