Field trips

A line of students walking through grassland

We strongly believe that, as well as learning about ecology and conservation in lectures, you should have the opportunity to experience them for yourself.

Read more about the hands-on field trips we run for Animal Behaviour, Zoology, Ecology and Conservation, and Biology students. As well as those listed below, we also run multiple day trips to local sites, where students gain experience in practical ecology and conservation.

The listed field trips are examples of those that we currently run and may be subject to change.

Tropical field course

Previous locations for this trip have included Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and Madagascar. The focus of the trip is tropical ecology and conservation, and you'll collect data on a range of species, from plants and insects to birds and mammals.

This field trip is compulsory if you take the Tropical Ecology and Management, which is an optional module. You'll gain a greater understanding of tropical biodiversity and learn about the ecology of the forest and the human factors that affect the structure of habitats and the distribution of animals and plants.

Awareness of these issues is invaluable, whether your career aspirations are in animal behaviour, ecology and conservation, zoology or elsewhere in society. You'll also see some stunning wildlife.

Courses for which this field trip is available:

Dutch zoo enclosure design

This field trip takes you to the Netherlands to visit four very different Dutch zoos: Rotterdam, Amersfoort, Burgers, and Apenhuel Primate Park.

You'll see a wide variety of world-class zoo enclosures, and learn how the needs of the animals, keepers and the viewing public are taken into account when designing new ones.

This field trip is compulsory if you take the ‘Zoos and Zoo Animal Management’ module; a third year module specifically designed to provide students with a range of key biological skills that many employers require.

Students who have been on this trip have gone on to work for British zoos, and those further afield. They've told us that the skills and experience gained on this field trip, and on the module Behaviour & Management of Zoo Animals, has helped them gain jobs in the zoo world.

Courses for which this field trip is available:

Professional field ecology – Shropshire

Group of students using torches to observe a stretch of water at twilight

This is a final year week-long residential field trip held at the Field Studies Council’s historic Preston Montford HQ on the banks of the River Severn in rural Shropshire, close to the Welsh borders.

Interesting local site excursions are complimented by hands-on applied field work activities that take place in the picturesque habitats of the sprawling 12-hectare site. Preston Montford has species rich wildflower meadows, wetlands and ponds teeming with life, the meandering River Severn at Montford SSSI, old woods and hedges, and even a walled garden with an ancient orchard! Attendees also have access to fully equipped teaching rooms and laboratories, specialist field equipment, a well stocked library, and enjoy comfortable shared accommodation and tasty full board on-site catering.

This student-centred experience will equip you with essential technical skills to forge an exciting career in ecology and content closely aligns with Graduate competencies as outlined by the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environment Management (CIEEM).

You'll complete your Professional Field Ecology module on site, responding to a ‘Live Brief’ assessment designed in collaboration with the Field Studies Council. You’ll be responsible for carrying out a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal with accompanying survey work for notable and protected species including amphibians, reptiles, badgers, small mammals, songbirds, flora, and invertebrates.

Courses for which this field trip is available:

BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation (compulsory module)
BSc (Hons) Zoology (optional module)

North Devon

This trip is part of the Field Skills in Biology module, and will give you an opportunity to develop skills in various components of field biology.

It will introduce you to the research methods necessary for conducting fieldwork in temperate habitats including how to identify UK fauna and flora, and carrying out ecological surveys, and designing sampling schemes to answer key ecological questions.

Through a range of exercises, you will receive training in field techniques in marine, terrestrial and behavioural ecology. Students who have been on this field trip have gone on to work for Wildlife Trusts and other conservation organisations. Accommodation and transport are included in the cost of your fees.

Courses for which this field trip is available: