BSc Ecology and Conservation (Placement Year)
About this course
BSc Hons in Ecology and Conservation (Placement Year), a marine biology degree focused on natural environments, habitats, and ecological theory. Core topics include Data Analysis, Statistics, Research Methods, Fieldwork, Environmental Analysis, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Entrepreneurship, Human Behaviour, and Design & Creative Practice. Students undertake an integrated work placement year during the course. The first year covers core topics through Biodiversity and Global Change, Ecology, Ecology Field and Data Skills, Evolutionary Biology, and Foundation Skills for LEC, alongside optional choices like Genetics and Biotechnology. The second year progresses with Biological Research Design and Delivery, Ecology and Conservation, Ecology Field Skills, and Evolution, with options such as Geographical Data Science. The third year consists of a professional placement role. The final year centres on an independent Dissertation research project and advanced optional modules including Animal Behaviour, Coral Reef Ecology, Creative Geographies: Place, Space and the Geographies of Imagination, Eco-Innovation for Sustainable Development, Food and Agriculture in the 21st Century, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science, Marine Ecology Field Course, Political Ecology, Spatial Data Analysis, Sustainable Agriculture, and Tropical Ecology and Conservation Field Course.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: BBB. This should include two science subjects from: Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology. IB: 30 points overall with 15 points from the best 3 HL subjects including two HL science subjects at grade 6
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 73%: 22 offers from 30 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 6 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 98%
- Learning opportunities: 88%
- Assessment and feedback: 88%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 96%
- Learning resources: 97%
- Student voice: 94%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 9 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Conservation and environment professionals: 50%
- Skilled trades occupations: 10%
- Natural and social science professionals: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Architects, Chartered Architectural Technologists, Planning Officers, Surveyors and Construction Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 90 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 4%
- North West: 47%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 8%
- East Midlands: 7%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 13%
- South East: 4%
- South West: 5%
- Wales: 3%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- A degree: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Biodiversity and Global Change
- Ecology
- Ecology Field and Data Skills
- Evolutionary Biology
- Foundation Skills for LEC
- Genetics and Biotechnology
- Microbes, Pathogens and Immunity
- Catchment Science
- Biological Research Design and Delivery
- Ecology and Conservation
- Ecology Field Skills
- Evolution
- Geographical Data Science
- Living with the Landscape
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Plant Biology
- Soil Science
- Vertebrate Biology
- Placement
- Dissertation
- Animal Behaviour
- Coral Reef Ecology
- Creative Geographies: Place, Space and the Geographies of Imagination
- Eco-Innovation for Sustainable Development
- Food and Agriculture in the 21st Century
- Interdisciplinary Conservation Science
- Marine Ecology Field Course
- Political Ecology
- Spatial Data Analysis
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Tropical Ecology and Conservation Field Course
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Ecology and Conservation (Placement Year) at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £28,500 after 15 months, £24,000 after 3 years, £31,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,000 and £40,000. The £31,000 median after five years is £5,000 more than the UK median for Ecology and environmental biology.
What do graduates of BSc Ecology and Conservation (Placement Year) at Lancaster University do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Ecology and Conservation (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
98% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Ecology and Conservation (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 148 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BSc Ecology and Conservation (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
73% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 22 offers from 30 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BSc Ecology and Conservation (Placement Year) at Lancaster University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory placement year.
How many students continue on BSc Ecology and Conservation (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.