Program Description

This course explores how humans, animals and plants interact with each other and their environment, and how this determines their abundance, distribution and the biodiversity we see on the planet. Students will learn about human impacts on ecological interactions, the climate crisis, biodiversity and sustainability, as well as what can be done to manage natural resources in the face of changing environments. Students will have the opportunity to do a year-long, paid work placement as part of their degrees.

The University of Sheffield's students have found placements in industry with organisations such as GSK, Atkins Environmental Consulting and EMEC Ecology – with charities like the Wildlife Trusts, Newquay Zoo, and the Field Studies Council, or in government with the Environment Agency. Students could also apply their scientific knowledge outside of the bioscience industry in areas including market research, communications or business development.

A placement is a great opportunity to test out a career path and many students are offered a graduate-level job at the end. Students will also pay reduced fees for the year of placement while having value-added support from their tutors and the University.

Alongside their specialist ecology and conservation modules, from their first year students have the flexibility to study topics across the breadth of biology to complement their knowledge. Topics range from plant science, biotechnology and zoology, to neuroscience, genetics and physiology. This flexibility allows students to study ecology and conservation in greater depth, broaden their interests or even switch to another biosciences degree programme.