Course Overview
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, plant ecology and environmental microbiology. 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 modules including Life in a Changing Environment and a Spanish Field Course. In your second year, modules include Populations to Ecosystems and Evolution. In your third year you will study modules such as Animal Behaviour and Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.
Without the experience I gained at Lancaster I would never have been able to reach the level I'm at now.
Career opportunities
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.
Entry Requirements
A-level: ABB. To include two science A-levels from Biol/Chem/Comp/EnvSc/Geog/Geol/Maths/Phys/Psychology. We normally expect three A-levels.
General Studies: Not accepted as one of 3 A-levels
Key skills: Not included in offer
GCSE: Maths and English Language at Grade C
Scottish Highers: BBBBB, 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: 32 points total with 16 in three HL subjects
IELTS: 6.0
BTEC: DDM
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
For details of how we evaluate international qualifications, please click here.
Financial Support
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. In addition to government maintenance loans, grants and national scholarships, Lancaster University offers a range of financial support for full time UK Undergraduate students from lower-income backgrounds. Many students each year will be entitled to bursaries or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses.
The Lancaster Scholarship package is designed to reward the hard work and natural ability of full-time UK students applying to study with us regardless of their household income. Students achieving A*, A, A in their A-level examinations (or equivalent academic qualifications) will receive a £1,000 per year Lancaster Scholarship during their undergraduate studies if they place us as their firm choice institution. Continuation of the Lancaster Scholarship is subject to satisfactory academic progression.
Our combined £5,000 bursary package will help students from England whose household incomes are less than £25,000 per year with fees and living costs.
Students from England eligible for our £5,000 bursary package will also be awarded a £3,000 Lancaster Scholarship if they achieve A*, A, A in their A-level examinations (or equivalent academic qualifications). This totals £8,000 of support for students during their studies.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our
fees and funding page.
