Course structure
The course consists of the following elements:
• Core skills self-study courses x 5
• 3 additional self-study courses to suit your specific interests
• 2 self-study tutorials
• 2 x 2-day field courses
• 3 career-planning webinars
• 2 Assignments
• Exam
• WhatsApp Group to connect with other students.
Your tutor will also be on hand to help you whenever you need it.
Core Skills courses
The course consists of 5 compulsory Core Skills self-study courses:
• Habitat Management
• Habitat Restoration
• Introduction to Ecology
• Introduction to Conservation Biology
• Climate Change, Sustainability and Behaviour Change
Additional courses
You will then have the choice of 3 other self-study courses to suit your own interests:
• Animal Behaviour*
• Beginners Botany +
• Bird Biology
• Countryside Management+
• Invasive Species +
• Mammal Biology and Evolution*
• Marine Biology and Ecosystems*
• Phase 1 Habitat Mapping+
• Population Ecology*
• Rewilding +
• River Restoration +
• Surveying for Protected Species *+
• Woodland Management for Biodiversity +
* suitable for a career working with animals
+ suitable for a career in reserves management (UK)
If you want to do extra courses these will be offered at a 20% discount.
Field Courses
There will be two 2-day field courses in May and September. These will take place in Devon, UK. A great opportunity to meet your fellow students and see conservation in action!
May Field Course:
- River restoration and flood management examples
- Woodland management examples
- Invasive species
- Surveys – butterfly transect, small mammal trapping, breeding bird surveying, bat walk.
September Field course:
- Heathland management examples
- River corridors and managed retreat examples
- Surveys – reptiles, freshwater invertebrates (pond dipping), beavers and otters
Assignments and Exam
In order to assess your progress each self-study course will have a short quiz at the end and you will receive a separate certificate for each of these courses. For each of the self-study courses you will need to get 70% or more to pass.
There are also have two written assignments:
Assignment 1: Conservation Case Study – Species – choose a specific species and write about the issues and conservation strategies being used and how they are benefitting the species.
Assignment 2: Conservation Case Study – Site – you can choose a specific site and write about the issues, conservation management being used and the results.
Exam – once you have studied your Core Skills modules, your additional courses and your field course you will take an exam. This will be in the form of multiple choice and will be online.
Other course elements
In addition you will receive two short online tutorials:
• Mammal ID (UK)
• Reptile and Amphibian ID (UK)
There will also be three webinars:
• Course introduction and meet other students
• Career Planning and Goal Setting
• Applying for jobs – CV, covering letter, how to present yourself
These will be held in the evenings and spread out throughout the course.
Once all elements of the course have been completed you will receive your Certificate in Conservation Management which will outline all the courses you have completed and your marks.
Meeting your fellow students
The group will get to know each other during the Course Introduction webinar at the beginning of the course and be able to keep in touch via email or WhatsApp group. They will also meet on the field course and other webinars.
Next course starts: 21st September 2022 with the Introductory Webinar, however you can start the self-study elements any time before that.
Price: £2400 including VAT (£2000 excluding VAT) – instalment options available over 10 or 12 months or longer. Please contact us first about this if you are interested in this option.
Pre-Requisites: This course is for anyone interested in working in conservation. Maybe you are post-graduate or career changer. We do NOT require any previous qualification just a passion for conservation and biodiversity! Ideal for working around a full-time job or looking after a family.
