STUDY

Undergraduate

FdSc Conservation Science and Animal Management (Wildlife and Zoo)

Chameleon skin
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: D328
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Two years full-time
Location: East Coast College (Great Yarmouth)
Typical Offer: 80 UCAS tariff points (or above)
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: D328
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Two years full-time
Location: East Coast College (Great Yarmouth)
Typical Offer: 80 UCAS tariff points (or above)

Overview

The FdSc Conservation Science and Animal Management (Wildlife and Zoo) is an exciting and dynamic course will enable you to develop an understanding of the essential practical and theoretical elements of the management of animal species, populations, and ecosystems.

You will study animal management, wildlife surveying, distribution and conservation. You will develop an essential broad base to the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed for working in the conservation and animal management industries and includes compulsory work experience. This course offers you an opportunity to follow a career into wildlife conservation and management at home or abroad by offering an insight into both in situ and ex situ conservation.

You will also have the opportunity to participate in field research both in the UK and usually an overseas research trip in the second year. In recent years this has been a 2-week trip to the Umphafa Private Nature Reserve in South Africa to offer some amazing, hands-on conservation experiences. You will have access to the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) facility – Africa Alive – in your second year to apply skills and knowledge in the field.

Whist this is a full-time course, typically this course generally only requires 1-2 days on campus attendance, supported by self-directed study. This means you can continue to work alongside your studies and balance other commitments.

Course Modules

The course gives you the necessary skills to help conserve wild animals by developing your knowledge in topics such as ecology, biodiversity, captive breeding, animal behaviour and learning.  You will also gain practical experience in observing, surveying and the husbandry of animals.

Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.

East Coast College building

This module introduces you to the biological principles that underpin and link with other units including Behavioural Ecology and Animal Breeding and Applied Genetics and Animal Husbandry and Wildlife Management and Rehabilitation. The content covers a range of biological concepts and knowledge and skills necessary for employment in animal management and conservation. This module is designed to develop your understanding of the issues surrounding animal health.

Behavioural ecology in its broadest sense is the study of adaptations, and the selective pressures that yield them, in different ecological environments. Some adaptations are behavioural and sometimes behaviour drives the evolution of new adaptations by creating new selective environments. This module will focus particularly on behaviours and other adaptations that arise as a consequence of interacting with others. There is a strong interest in social evolution, and the selective conditions that yield cooperation rather than conflict.

Substantial bodies of data indicate that the climate is changing. Evidence suggests we are fast approaching a climate tipping point. It is hard to refute that this change is largely the result of anthropogenic activity and the reliance upon a carbon economy. Deforestation, desertification, ocean acidification, glacial melting, sea level rise and increasing instances of extreme weather events are the realities of the early years of the 21st century. This module investigates the impact of climate change on a wide range of flora and fauna with a focus on British wildlife and explores the need for forward thinking mitigations to alleviate the current trends in extinction or population movement.

This module will provide an overview of the strategies involved in the management of wild populations, both the problems caused by wildlife and the conservation of wildlife populations. Rehabilitation techniques used to ensure the welfare and good recovery of wildlife that suffers ill health will be analysed and ethical, legal and economic implications of wildlife management and rehabilitation will also be covered. You will investigate the efficacy of different legislation and the different moral perspectives associated with it.

A solid foundation in data collection, recording management and basic analysis is an essential requirement in all modern work scenarios within the environmental and energy sectors and beyond. Strong foundations should be built from the outset to produce competent and confident individuals. Utilising the Data Analysis toolkit add-in for Microsoft Excel you will gain a thorough grounding in data management and basic analysis that can be applied to multiple scenarios.

As part of your progress in your career and in higher education you are expected to develop skills in communication, independent learning, working effectively with others as well as plan for your personal, educational and career development. Being effective in an organisation means having a proactive, self-managed and self-developmental approach, enabling people to manage themselves and to learn independently. This module considers the individual both academically and within the workplace, and the factors contributing to effective performance. It offers you the opportunity to gain vocational work experience.

This module will look at the ‘four facets’ of ecosystem service and will explore these factors by means of researching qualitative and quantitative data, national and international case studies and examples, framing investigations and evaluations by means of the question what has nature ever done for us? Ecosystem services will also be considered in light of their capital value forming basic introduction to environmental economics. This module provides a valuable theoretical and philosophical link to many of the other modules.

Effective animal breeding programmes and appropriate care and management of breeding animals are key elements in the success of captive breeding and reintroduction programmes. This module builds on scientific principles in genetics from Animal Biology and Health and Principles of Ecology and develops students’ application of the fundamentals by exploring the genetic management of small animal populations. The module also covers reproductive technology that is essential for effective management of breeding stock.

This module builds on the concepts delivered in the Level 4 module on Behavioural Ecology and enables you to analyse how a good knowledge of animal behaviour can be used to enhance welfare of captive animals and assist in training and husbandry regimes. You will analyse case studies and receive expert guidance from zoo staff on training and enrichment methods.

Emphasis in this module is placed on current zoo husbandry techniques, modern enclosure design, good management practice, and co-ordination of collections and breeding programmes for endangered species. The module includes the management of health, nutrition and breeding programmes for exotic zoo species and will encompass other key topics such as handling, welfare, behaviour, training, record keeping, enclosure design, legislation and the global community in a zoo context.

With an ever-increasing population there is more pressure on rural environments and the species that inhabit them. In order for wildlife conservation to be effective, both at home and abroad, it is essential people understand the functions of different environments and the impact their actions have on different species. This module provides you with an understanding of the development of environmental education and the different methods of delivering it to all sectors of society.

Due to the exponential growth of available technological aids for data collection, we are now faced with the fact that there is more data than people to analyse it. This module forms a natural progression from the Introduction to Data Analysis at level 4 building on and extending the skills gained there. This module introduces students to more advanced inferential statistics.

The ability to plan, manage, carry out, analyse and report on a project is an essential skill and this module enables you to develop skills of independent enquiry, undertaking a sustained investigation into a topic of relevance to their academic and professional development. It gives you the opportunity to develop planning and analytical skills, safe and accurate collection of data and information, precise and appropriate processing of data and information, report writing, presentational and communication skills.

Course Modules 2024

The course gives you the necessary skills to help conserve wild animals by developing your knowledge in topics such as ecology, biodiversity, captive breeding, animal behaviour and learning.  You will also gain practical experience in observing, surveying and the husbandry of animals.

Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record. 

East Coast College building

This module introduces you to the biological principles that underpin and link with other units including Behavioural Ecology and Animal Breeding and Applied Genetics and Animal Husbandry and Wildlife Management and Rehabilitation. The content covers a range of biological concepts and knowledge and skills necessary for employment in animal management and conservation. This module is designed to develop your understanding of the issues surrounding animal health.

Behavioural ecology in its broadest sense is the study of adaptations, and the selective pressures that yield them, in different ecological environments. Some adaptations are behavioural and sometimes behaviour drives the evolution of new adaptations by creating new selective environments. This module will focus particularly on behaviours and other adaptations that arise as a consequence of interacting with others. There is a strong interest in social evolution, and the selective conditions that yield cooperation rather than conflict.

Substantial bodies of data indicate that the climate is changing. Evidence suggests we are fast approaching a climate tipping point. It is hard to refute that this change is largely the result of anthropogenic activity and the reliance upon a carbon economy. Deforestation, desertification, ocean acidification, glacial melting, sea level rise and increasing instances of extreme weather events are the realities of the early years of the 21st century. This module investigates the impact of climate change on a wide range of flora and fauna with a focus on British wildlife and explores the need for forward thinking mitigations to alleviate the current trends in extinction or population movement.

This module will provide an overview of the strategies involved in the management of wild populations, both the problems caused by wildlife and the conservation of wildlife populations. Rehabilitation techniques used to ensure the welfare and good recovery of wildlife that suffers ill health will be analysed and ethical, legal and economic implications of wildlife management and rehabilitation will also be covered. You will investigate the efficacy of different legislation and the different moral perspectives associated with it.

A solid foundation in data collection, recording management and basic analysis is an essential requirement in all modern work scenarios within the environmental and energy sectors and beyond. Strong foundations should be built from the outset to produce competent and confident individuals. Utilising the Data Analysis toolkit add-in for Microsoft Excel you will gain a thorough grounding in data management and basic analysis that can be applied to multiple scenarios.

As part of your progress in your career and in higher education you are expected to develop skills in communication, independent learning, working effectively with others as well as plan for your personal, educational and career development. Being effective in an organisation means having a proactive, self-managed and self-developmental approach, enabling people to manage themselves and to learn independently. This module considers the individual both academically and within the workplace, and the factors contributing to effective performance. It offers you the opportunity to gain vocational work experience.

This module will look at the ‘four facets’ of ecosystem service and will explore these factors by means of researching qualitative and quantitative data, national and international case studies and examples, framing investigations and evaluations by means of the question what has nature ever done for us? Ecosystem services will also be considered in light of their capital value forming basic introduction to environmental economics. This module provides a valuable theoretical and philosophical link to many of the other modules.

Effective animal breeding programmes and appropriate care and management of breeding animals are key elements in the success of captive breeding and reintroduction programmes. This module builds on scientific principles in genetics from Animal Biology and Health and Principles of Ecology and develops students’ application of the fundamentals by exploring the genetic management of small animal populations. The module also covers reproductive technology that is essential for effective management of breeding stock.

This module builds on the concepts delivered in the Level 4 module on Behavioural Ecology and enables you to analyse how a good knowledge of animal behaviour can be used to enhance welfare of captive animals and assist in training and husbandry regimes. You will analyse case studies and receive expert guidance from zoo staff on training and enrichment methods.

Emphasis in this module is placed on current zoo husbandry techniques, modern enclosure design, good management practice, and co-ordination of collections and breeding programmes for endangered species. The module includes the management of health, nutrition and breeding programmes for exotic zoo species and will encompass other key topics such as handling, welfare, behaviour, training, record keeping, enclosure design, legislation and the global community in a zoo context.

With an ever-increasing population there is more pressure on rural environments and the species that inhabit them. In order for wildlife conservation to be effective, both at home and abroad, it is essential people understand the functions of different environments and the impact their actions have on different species. This module provides you with an understanding of the development of environmental education and the different methods of delivering it to all sectors of society.

Due to the exponential growth of available technological aids for data collection, we are now faced with the fact that there is more data than people to analyse it. This module forms a natural progression from the Introduction to Data Analysis at level 4 building on and extending the skills gained there. This module introduces students to more advanced inferential statistics.

The ability to plan, manage, carry out, analyse and report on a project is an essential skill and this module enables you to develop skills of independent enquiry, undertaking a sustained investigation into a topic of relevance to their academic and professional development. It gives you the opportunity to develop planning and analytical skills, safe and accurate collection of data and information, precise and appropriate processing of data and information, report writing, presentational and communication skills.

Entry Requirements

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Career Opportunities

Completing an FdSc in Conservation Science and Animal Management (Wildlife and Zoo) opens up a variety of career opportunities in conservation, wildlife management, zoos, and animal welfare. Here are some potential job opportunities after completing this course:

  • Wildlife Conservation Office
  • Zoo Keeper
  • Wildlife Ranger
  • Animal Care Technician
  • Ecologist
  • Sustainability Consultant

You may choose to progress to the one year BSc (Hons) Sustainable Futures (Progression Route)

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£8,220

per year
UK Part-time Tuition Fee

£1,370

per 20 credit module
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£15,690

per year

*Please contact Student Centre for further information on part-time fees

Further Information

At University of Suffolk, your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with you course that you will need to budget for.

UK fees and finance UK bursaries and scholarships International fees and scholarships

How to Apply

To study this course on a full-time basis, you can apply through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

Apply Now Further Information on Applying
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