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2026/27

BSc Ecology and Wildlife Conservation

  • UCAS code
    CD94
  • A level offer
    ABB
  • Year of entry
    2026/27
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  3 Years
  • Year of entry
    2026/27
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  3 Years

Learn about the ways in which living things interact with their environment and apply this knowledge to tackling the biggest challenges facing the world today.

introduction

This course will equip you with the skills needed for a career in ecology or wildlife conservation through a combination of classroom learning and fieldwork.

You will learn to apply knowledge of ecosystems to environmental issues such as habitat conservation, the biological control of diseases, and the protection of the world's rarest plants and creatures.

 

 

intro to ecology and conservation

Why study Ecology at Reading

  • Overall, 90% of graduates from the School of Biological Sciences are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23, includes all School of Biological Sciences responders)
  • We are in the UK's top 10 universities for biosciences (ranked 9th in the Daily Mail University Guide, 2024)
  • Most of our staff are actively engaged in research, and our work on wildlife ecology and conservation feeds into undergraduate teaching. 92% of School of Biological Sciences students said teaching staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2025, 92.3% of responders)
  • 96% of BSc Zoology students said teaching staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2025, 95.5% of responders from BSc Zoology)
  • All graduates are eligible for membership of The Royal Society of Biology and can apply for Chartered Biologist status
  • You have access to state-of-the-art facilities for your practical sessions and research projects.

What you'll study

This course will equip you with the skills needed for a career in ecology or wildlife conservation through a combination of classroom learning and fieldwork.

You will learn to apply knowledge of ecosystems to environmental issues such as habitat conservation, the biological control of diseases, and the protection of the world's rarest plants and creatures.

You will also have the opportunity to take part in original research with a potentially global impact. 

The University of Reading’s award-winning campus is home to over a thousand different animal species and is extremely useful for learning fieldwork skills. It offers multiple habitats for study, including lakes, hay meadows and woodlands, and allows you to step straight from the laboratory to the field. Additionally, the University owns a number of large farms, which can be used as sites for final year projects.

You will also be able to practise species identification and ecology skills through a choice of field trips in the UK and beyond. Our Ecology and Conservation Field Course takes place in South Africa, exposing students to diverse conservation and development issues, while our Marine Biology Field Course explores South Africa's incredible marine biodiversity. Closer to home, our UK Biodiversity Field Course takes students to Devon to explore the UK's diverse habitats and the animals that call them home.

Your learning environment

Your studies will be based in our new £60m Health and Life Sciences building. This space features:

  • research and teaching laboratories
  • seminar rooms
  • study and social space
  • a cafe.

The building is also home to the Cole Museum of Zoology. The collection, comprising more than 3,500 natural specimens, provides a fantastic resource for biological scientists and the wider community.

The Museum will feature extensively in your zoology studies, offering unique opportunities to develop hands-on skills in taxonomy and natural history conservation. As a student, you can also volunteer at the museum and receive training in curation.

Facilities and equipment

You will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience using our state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, including:

  • a cardiovascular imaging facility
  • advanced microscopy suites purpose-built for biomedical research
  • tissue culture suites
  • multi-mode microplate readers (absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence)
  • multicolour flow cytometry
  • real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), digital gel scanning and documentation
  • spectrophotometers, centrifuges and ultra-centrifuges
  • fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • large-scale growth, migration, harvesting, electroporation and introduction of genes of microbial and animal cells
  • equipment for animal behavioural assays.

Placements and field trips

Some students choose to complete our MSci Ecology and Wildlife Conservation with a placement and take a year-long placement between the third and forth year.

Students in previous years have worked at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, the RSPB and the Environment Agency. You can also choose to spend a year abroad, typically conducting research for an academic institution.

At Reading, we also offer a wide range of field work opportunities as part of our ecology courses. Learning within the field provides essential knowledge and experience for anyone entering a career in ecology, conservation or zoology.

Our department has a dedicated academic in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support. For more information, please visit the School of Biological Sciences website.

Build your skills portfolio with the Living Rainforest

Home to over 850 species of plants and animals, the Living Rainforest brings a vibrant rainforest ecosystem to life with a mission to educate the public about rainforests, conservation and sustainable living. Through our exclusive partnership, you will gain employer-verified evidence of your skills in a real-world setting. From animal observation and welfare, to public engagement and plant management, your skills will be officially signed off by the Living Rainforest team, boosting your portfolio’s impact with future employers.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: the University of Reading will charge undergraduate home tuition fees at the upper limit as set by the UK government for the relevant academic year. The fee cap for 2026/27 hasn't been confirmed yet. Please check the fees and funding webpage for the latest information. The annual fee for 2025/26 is £9,535.

New international students: £30,650 for 2026/27. The international tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study as set out in your student contract. For more details, please visit our Fees for International Students page.

Tuition fees

To find out more about how the University of Reading sets its tuition fees, see our fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Become a Global Sustainability Leaders Scholar

This exciting new undergraduate scholarship scheme is focused on creating a community of global sustainability leaders of the future. We are offering up to 400 scholarships per year, for high-achieving students from the UK and overseas.

Each scholar will receive £6,000 a year for maintenance and living costs, for up to four years of full-time study on their course (subject to terms and conditions).

Find out more about the Global Sustainability Leaders Scholarship scheme.

During the course you will develop your communication, information handling, numeracy and problem-solving skills. Additionally, you can become a member of the Society of Biology and apply for Chartered Biologist status following graduation.

This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) following an independent and rigorous assessment. 

Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and establish a profile of key skills that bioscience employers can recognise in accredited graduates, including technical and transferable skills.

Royal Society of Biology Accredited Degree logo

You can go on to work as a trainee in a non-governmental conservation organisation or ecological consultancy. Alternatively, you could find a role within the government or a government-funded agency, in an area such as pollution mitigation. You may also decide to become a conservation biologist and typically carry out practical conservation, management or fundraising for local wildlife trusts. Specialist expertise gained from the course can also apply to a career in the media. Finally, you will be well-placed to move into research or academia, or pursue further studies.

Overall, 90% of graduates from the School of Biological Sciences are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2025, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23, includes all School of Biological Sciences responders).

Past BSc Ecology and Wildlife Conservation graduates at Reading have gone on to work for employers such as AECOM Game, Wildlife Conservation Trust, Natural England, WSP, and Lidl (based on HESA data © HESA 2020 - 2025, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18 - 2022/23; includes BSc Ecology and Wildlife Conservation responders).

Build the skills to succeed in your career – and contribute to a sustainable future

At the University of Reading, we help you turn your environmental and sustainability values into opportunities that make a difference to your career and the wider world.

Employers are already reshaping their businesses to respond to climate change, and they increasingly value graduates with expertise in environmental stewardship – one of the fastest-growing skill areas (World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025).

During your time at Reading, you’ll have access to a wide range of opportunities and support. This will help you graduate with the knowledge and confidence to tackle environmental and sustainability challenges in your career.

In 2025, the University of Reading won the AGCAS Green Careers Award. Judges highlighted the impact of our Careers service and the positive outcomes our students achieve.

Explore climate and sustainability initiatives you can get involved with as a student at Reading.