BSc, 4 years, UCAS: C701
Typical A level offer: BCC
Subject overview
Why ecology and environment?
As the human population continues to grow, the natural environment is put under ever-increasing pressure. Losses of biological diversity and major environmental changes are occurring at an accelerating rate and as a direct result of human exploitation of resources. Growing public concern over issues such as degradation and destruction of coral reefs and tropical rain forests, greening of the Arctic and accelerated loss of Arctic sea ice, species extinctions and the impacts of global climate change make ecology, conservation and environmental sustainability some of the most relevant areas of science today. It is also essential to understand how ecology fits in the context of addressing key sustainable development challenges, where there is a need to reconcile economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The need to find solutions means that there is a growing demand for professional ecologists who will have a key role to play in protecting the environment for future generations.
Successful action on conservation and biodiversity issues should be based on a good understanding of the ecological processes and relationships that are impacted by environmental change. Key questions include:
- How quickly and where are environmental and climatic change leading to ecological change?
- What makes some species and habitats more vulnerable than others?
- What are the implications of increased ecotourism for tropical and polar ecosystems?
- How can we reconcile the resource requirements of a growing human population with the need to conserve species and ecosystems?
The study of ecology and environment is fundamental in answering these and many other questions posed by practical conservation and biodiversity issues.
Why ecology and environment at Sussex?
You will be taught by lecturers who are leaders in research, with a broad range of experience and expertise including plant, bird and insect ecology, climate-change science, earth science and environmental policy and management.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 80 per cent of our research was rated as recognised internationally or higher, and over one-third rated as internationally excellent or higher.
You will have opportunities throughout your degree course to meet professional ecologists as well as climate and earth scientists, many of whom are our own graduates.
Our campus, surrounded by the South Downs National Park, gives ready access for practical work in a rich variety of habitats and protected areas.
Two residential modules teach you key field skills in ecology.
You will have the option of a field module studying rainforest ecology in Ecuador.
There are collaborative conservation projects with Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Ecuador.
Programme content
The foundation year is taught at Chichester College.
This four-year course is designed for those who want to study the biological sciences at a top-rated university but lack the qualifications necessary for direct entry to one of our other degree courses. Typical entrants include those with non-science A levels, mature students, overseas applicants and students whose science A level performance fell below expectations.
The foundation year is specifically designed for the needs of students who will subsequently transfer to one of the degree courses offered by the School of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex. Introductory modules in biology and chemistry each make up 40 per cent of the study content. Practical work is an important element of these modules. The remaining 20 per cent of time is split between mathematics and study skills, including IT.
Teaching is by means of lectures, tutorials, classroom discussions and exercise classes. Small-group teaching is emphasised throughout. All modules run in parallel throughout the year and assessment is by coursework and exams.
After successful completion of the foundation year you are guaranteed a place on one of the following BSc courses at the University of Sussex: Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Science, Ecology and Environment, or Neuroscience. Other BSc courses may also be available. Your final overall pass mark will determine which BSc course you can progress to.
We continue to develop and update our modules for 2013 entry to ensure you have the best student experience. In addition to the course structure below, you may find it helpful to refer to the 2012 modules tab.
How will I learn?
The course begins with an exploration of some of the major themes in biology and environmental sciences, including evolution, the diversity of life and ecology, environmental cycles, animal behaviour, molecular biology and the earth’s climate system, together with modules designed to teach study and research skills. Lectures are supplemented with small-group tutorials where you have an opportunity to discuss issues raised by the course. There are also practical classes, both in the laboratory and in the field, for you to gain direct experience of some of the techniques discussed in lectures.
Second-year modules introduce you to key issues in conservation biology, sustainable development and resource management (looking both at the problems and remedies designed to tackle them) and to a variety of practical field survey methods. In addition, you may study evolution and behaviour, animal and plant diversity or climate change science.
In the final year, you choose from a range of options and you also carry out your own research project, supervised by a member of faculty, working in the field, in the laboratory, or both. This gives you first-hand experience of working in an active research environment alongside professionals.
At Sussex, the scheduled contact time you receive is made up of lectures, seminars, tutorials, classes, laboratory and practical work, and group work; the exact mix depends on the subject you are studying. This scheduled contact time is reflected in the Key Information Set (KIS) for this course. In addition to this, you will have further contact time with teaching staff on an individual basis to help you develop your learning and skills, and to provide academic guidance and advice to support your independent study.
For more information on what it's like to study at Sussex, refer to Study support.
What will I achieve?
- comprehensive training in the science of ecology and its application to current issues in conservation and environmental sustainability
- an appreciation of the diversity of biological and environmental processes and the impact that human activity is having on them at different scales, including molecular, individual organisms, populations, and communities considered locally, regionally and globally
- a wide range of practical field, laboratory analytical and IT skills, including methods for surveying biodiversity in a variety of habitats, a thorough understanding of the National Vegetation Classification, and hands-on familiarity with modelling and Geographical Information System (GIS) approaches to monitoring the environment
- familiarity with a range of current conservation issues, as conveyed in lectures by guest speakers from conservation organisations and from meeting practitioners of conservation management in the field
- skills required to plan and carry out your own research project through all stages, from project development, design of methodology, data collection, and data analysis and interpretation, through to writing the final report and giving a presentation about it
- the ability to evaluate information and ideas in the scientific and popular literature critically, to debate contentious issues, to present your own ideas to others in a concise and informative way, and to make decisions as part of a small group.
Core content
Year 1
Year 1 provides a thorough grounding in all aspects of modern ecology and conservation, from molecular biology to community ecology and earth systems science.
Year 2
Year 2 offers a deeper treatment of topics such as conservation, sustainable development and resource management.
Final year
Specialist modules in the final year give you a deeper understanding of current advances in your chosen fields. A highlight of the degree is the final-year research project where you work independently, drawing on and applying the skills and understanding you have developed in Years 1 and 2.
Please note that these are the modules running in 2012.
Biology - Foundation Year Module
48 credits
Undergraduate academic year, Year 0
Chemistry - Foundation Year Module
48 credits
Undergraduate academic year, Year 0
Mathematics - Foundation Year Module
12 credits
Undergraduate academic year, Year 0
Study Skills/Science IT - Foundation Year Module
12 credits
Undergraduate academic year, Year 0
Entry requirements
Sussex welcomes applications from students of all ages who show evidence of the academic maturity and broad educational background that suggests readiness to study at degree level. For most students, this will mean formal public examinations; details of some of the most common qualifications we accept are shown below. If you are an overseas student, refer to Applicants from outside the UK.
All teaching at Sussex is in the English language. If your first language is not English, you will also need to demonstrate that you meet our English language requirements.
A level
Typical offer: BCC
Specific entry requirements: Some science is desirable, but good grades in non-science subjects will be considered. GCSE (or equivalent) in both Mathematics and English, with at least grade C in each, are also required.
International Baccalaureate
Typical offer: 28 points overall
For more information refer to International Baccalaureate.
Other qualifications
Access to HE Diploma
Typical offer: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher.
Specific entry requirements: Access applicants welcomed (although the foundation is itself an alternative to taking an Access to HE Diploma in Science). The foundation may be suited to applicants who took an Access to HE Diploma which lacked sufficient Level 3 credit in science or was in a non-science area, where the applicant now wishes to change discipline. GCSE (or equivalent) in both Mathematics and English, grade C, also required.
For more information refer to Access to HE Diploma.
Advanced Diploma
Typical offer: Pass with grade B or C in the Diploma and C in the Additional and Specialist Learning
Specific entry requirements: Ideally the Additional and Specialist Learning would be a science A-level. GCSE (or equivalent) in both Mathematics and English, with at least grade C in each, are also required.
For more information refer to Advanced Diploma.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
Typical offer: DMM
Specific entry requirements: GCSE (or equivalent) in both Mathematics and English, with at least grade C in each, are also required.
For more information refer to BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.
European Baccalaureate
Typical offer: 70% overall
For more information refer to European Baccalaureate.
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level)
Typical offer: BBCCCC
Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
Typical offer: BBBCC
Specific entry requirements: Applicants will also need Maths and English at Standard Grade, grade 1 or 2.
For more information refer to Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in each section. Internet-based TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 19 in Reading, 21 in Speaking and 23 in Writing.
For more information, refer to alternative English language requirements.
For more information about the admissions process at Sussex:
Undergraduate Admissions,
Sussex House,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 678416
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E ug.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
Fees and funding
Fees
Home/EU students: £9,0001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £9,0002
Overseas students: £13,0003,4
1 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
4The foundation year only is charged at the lower fee rate of £13,000. Subsequent years are charged at the higher rate of £16,200.
To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.
Funding
The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.
To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.
Care Leavers Award (2013)
Region: UK
Level: UG
Application deadline: 31 July 2014
For students have been in council care before starting at Sussex.
First-Generation Scholars Scheme (2013)
Region: UK
Level: UG
Application deadline: 13 June 2014
The scheme is targeted to help students from relatively low income families – ie those whose family income is up to £42,611.
First-Generation Scholars Scheme EU Student Award (2013)
Region: Europe (Non UK)
Level: UG
Application deadline: 13 June 2014
£3,000 fee waiver for UG Non-UK EU students whose family income is below £25,000
Careers and profiles
Career opportunities
We aim to provide you with an excellent preparation for a wide variety of careers in research, consultancy and other careers in the ecological and related sciences, teaching, and for professional or management posts.
Our recent graduates have gone on to work in roles such as:
- assistant conservation officer at Surrey Wildlife Trust
- trainee countryside ranger at Plumpton College.
About one in five of our graduates goes on to further study, either on a Masters or doctoral degree course.
Specific employer destinations listed are taken from recent Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education surveys, which are produced annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
Careers and employability
For employers, it’s not so much what you know, but what you can do with your knowledge that counts. The experience and skills you’ll acquire during and beyond your studies will make you an attractive prospect. Initiatives such as SussexPlus, delivered by the Careers and Employability Centre, help you turn your skills to your career advantage. It’s good to know that 94 per cent of our graduates are in work or further study (Which? University).
For more information on the full range of initiatives that make up our career and employability plan for students, visit Careers and alumni.
Contact our School
School of Life Sciences
The School of Life Sciences provides an exciting and attractive environment for learning and research, with a thriving international community of students and academics.
How do I find out more?
For more information, contact:
School of Life Sciences,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
E lifesci@sussex.ac.uk
T +44 (0)1273 678057
Biology
Visit us
Campus tours
We offer weekly guided campus tours.
Mature students at Sussex: information sessions
If you are 21 or over, and thinking about starting an undergraduate degree at Sussex, you may want to attend one of our mature student information sessions. Running between October and December, they include guidance on how to approach your application, finance and welfare advice, plus a guided campus tour with one of our current mature students.
Self-guided visits
If you are unable to make any of the visit opportunities listed, drop in Monday to Friday year round and collect a self-guided tour pack from Sussex House reception.
Go to Visit us and Open Days to book onto one of our tours.
Hannah's perspective
'Studying at Sussex gave me so many opportunities to really throw myself into university life, and being taught by enthusiastic academic staff who are involved in ground-breaking research meant that the education I received was second to none.
'Coming to an Open Day gave me a great insight into both academic and social life at Sussex. Working here means that I now get to tell others about my experiences and share all the great things about the University. And if you can’t make it to our Open Days, we’ve other opportunities to visit, or you can visit our Facebook page and our Visit us and Open Days pages.'
Hannah Steele
Graduate Intern, Student Recruitment Services
Aaron-Leslie's perspective
'Leaving home to study at Sussex was an exciting new experience, and settling in came naturally with all the different activities on campus throughout the year. There are loads of facilities available on your doorstep, both the Library and the gym are only ever a short walk away.
'My experience at Sussex has been amazing. It's a really friendly campus, the academics are helpful, and Brighton is just around the corner. I now work as a student ambassador, and help out at Open Days, sharing all the things I've grown to love about Sussex!'
Aaron-Leslie Williams
BSc in Mathematics