Course Overview
Our Ecology and Conservation degree allows you to select specialist topics to match your interests and spend a year at a partner university overseas. The flexible nature of the programme enables you to focus primarily either on ecology or conservation, or combine the two as your interests determine. Because of the breadth of modules available in LEC, you can also expand your knowledge by including earth science and geography modules in your degree.
You will examine biological ecosystems in which organisms are locked in complex interactions with each other and their environment. It's a huge field and your degree focuses on areas including animal behaviour, evolution and global change biology. You will also gain an understanding of how biological principles relate to the conservation of wildlife and ecosystems. We also offer specialist topics with visiting lecturers from leading UK environmental agencies and charities, such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
You will begin your degree with an integrated first year, which combines subject-specific modules, such as Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity and Conservation, with broader modules introducing key environmental issues. In your second year, modules include Populations to Ecosystems and Principles of Biodiversity Conservation. You will spend then spend your second year at one of our partner universities in the USA, Canada or Australasia.
In your third year you will study modules such as Animal Behaviour and Conservation in Practice. You will also undertake your own research project, during which you will benefit from the experience of our internationally-renowned academic staff. There are also opportunities to carry out your project with a commercial partner, or at a European university via the Ersamus scheme.
Related Courses
Modules
Lancaster degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to compliment their degree. The following is an example list of modules which our previous students have studied. For a full list contact the Lancaster Environment Centre department.
Year 1
- Evolutionary Biology
- Variety of Life
- Aquatic Ecology
- Life in a Changing Environment
- Biodiversity and Conservation
- Spanish-Donana Field Course
- Environmental Issues for the 21st Century
- Interdisciplinary Skills
- Environmental processes and systems
Year 2
Year 3
- Biological Sciences Research Project (for USA Yr Abroad)
- Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
- Animal Behaviour
- Conservation in Practice
- Issues in Conservation Biology
- Global Change Biology: Challenges and Solutions
- Ecophysiology of Host-pest Interactions
- Sustainable Agriculture
Lancaster University offers the chance to follow a structured study programme or the option to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into 2 sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). In Part 1 you will take three modules of study which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, a higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
For further information about the department, staff and courses please visit the Lancaster Environment Centre department website.
Entry Criteria
A-level: AAB. To include two science A-levels from Biol/Chem/Comp/EnvSc/Geog/Geol/Maths/Phys/Psychology
General Studies: Only accepted if taken as one of four A levels
Key skills: Not included in offer
GCSE: Maths and English Language at grade C
Scottish Highers: ABBBB; inc. two sciences
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
International Baccalaureate: 35 points with 16 from best three HL subjects
IELTS: 6.0
BTEC: DDM/DDD
HNC/HND: Considered for credit transfer to second year
Mature students: Applications welcome, especially with evidence of recent and successful formal study (e.g. an Access course). Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
Careers
Ecology has never been so important and can open up careers with government departments, such as the Environment Agency, or conservation organisations, such as The Wildlife Trust. Our degree will also equip you with transferable skills that are as relevant to management as they are to research. For example, recent graduates have found work in marketing and customer relations management. Around a third of our graduates continue their learning to MSc or PhD level.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with the relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments which include the traditional lectures, tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory and practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based delivery.
The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using various methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, exercises, literature reviews, short tests, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include basic and in-depth questions, essays and data analysis. Students are supervised in the production of final year project reports and dissertations, while students in laboratory classes are supported by demonstrators. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue.
In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Funding
Lancaster University has committed £2.7m in scholarships and bursaries to help with your fees and living costs. Our financial support depends on your circumstances and how well you do in your A-levels (or equivalent academic qualifications) before starting study with us.
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. For students starting their study with us in 2014, over 600 each year will be entitled to bursaries and/or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. For UK students entering in 2014 we will have the following financial support available:
- An Academic Scholarship of £2,000 for the first year of study to any student from the UK entering with A*, A*, A or equivalent academic qualifications
- An Access Scholarship of £1,000 per year for all UK students from households with an income of less than £42,600 who achieve grades of A*, A, A or the equivalent academic qualifications
- A Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 per annum for all students from England with a household income of more than £25,000 but less than £42,600
- As part of the National Scholarship Programme, a £1,000 Bursary, a £1,000 Fee Waiver and a £1,000 Accommodation Discount in the first year of study, for students from England with a household income of less than £25,000. Plus a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 in subsequent years.
*All of the financial awards above are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access July 2013.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page
View details of our current Undergraduate fees.
