Are you passionate about protecting woodlands and the future of the earth?
Our planet needs woodland ecology and conservation graduates to secure a sustainable future, and so, we’ve designed this course for people like you.
You’ll learn the science and art of conserving and sustainably managing trees, woods and forests at the National School of Forestry on our Ambleside campus in the heart of the Lake District National Park.
You won’t just learn about it though, you’ll be doing it by exploring the woodlands on your doorstep, meeting the hosts who look after them and undertake surveys to understand them.
Study options
We also offer this course without a sandwich placement.
Graduate destinations
You'll be well prepared for a career in forest and woodland conservation in the UK and overseas, or for going into Masters level study and further applied research. Our graduates have moved onto positions in the Forestry Commission, the Woodland and National Trusts, Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage and environmental NGOs, so you can be confident that you will receive the skills needed to progress into a fantastic career that appeals to your interests.
Course outline
Course summary
Course Overview
Climate change and biodiversity loss are the twin challenges of our time, choose woodland ecology and conservation to gain the expertise to enable you to become part of the solution.
Delivered by research active academics, some of whom have recent woodland management experience; the course includes lectures, laboratory practicals, computer sessions and fieldwork in the ancient semi-natural woodlands and commercial forest plantations around our beautiful Ambleside Campus, in the heart of the Lake District National Park. You will be inspired by passionate lecturers telling you about their own research findings, and by fieldtrips where staff discuss the ecologically evidence based decisions they made.
The National School of Forestry has been producing future foresters and woodland ecologists for fifty years. A professional body, the Institute of Chartered Foresters, accredits this course, and the Woodland Trust awards the prize for best graduate. Some recent students have benefitted from our exchange programme with Humboldt State University, studying among the redwoods of California.
Why Choose University of Cumbria?
- This is the only Woodland Ecology and Conservation course in the UK, possibly the world.
- Woodland Ecology and Conservation with and without placement received 100% Overall Satisfaction in the 2019 NSS as part of a suite of forestry and conservation courses.
- Full employment of 2019 Woodland Ecology and Conservation with and without placement graduates in the woodland ecology and forest industry sector.
- Recent graduates have included National Park Wildlife Rangers, Planning Foresters with Forest and Land Scotland, Woodland Management Consultants and Assistant Forest Managers with Tillhill Forestry.
Modules
Programme Specification
Assessment, Feedback, and Teaching and Learning methods
Full details are available in the programme specification.
Timetables
The teaching timetable should be available from the end of August. Access to the timetable is through the Student Hub – you will be able to access the Student Hub after you have completed online registration. The teaching day is 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; please keep your other commitments open until confirmation of your teaching timetable, and bear in mind that many courses will offer placements or fieldwork which sometimes extends into the evenings and weekends.
Entry requirements
Have a question about our entry requirements?
Entry Requirements
40 UCAS tariff points - to include GCSE in Mathematics at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).
Potential to succeed can be measured in a number of ways including academic qualifications and skills obtained outside academic study such as work experience.
Find out more about qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.
Please check selection criteria for any additional entry requirements.
Selection criteria
If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application. The Integrated Foundation Year programmes support your return to education and are specifically designed for students who have the ability to study for a degree but may not have all the necessary qualifications, skills or experience to join the degree in Year 1. Contact our Course Enquiries Team for more information.
Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment. We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. For 2021 the University of Cumbria will make offers to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 and 2 – you can check your postcode here https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/young-participation-by-area/search-by-postcode ) Care leavers and mature students returning to education we will make an offer at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. Find out more about our events at but must meet the terms and conditions of these events.
Application information
Full-time courses
Apply online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), between September and January; they will send your application on to us. Applications submitted after this date will be considered late and the course you have applied for might be full by this time; however, we will consider you for alternative suitable courses.
Their website www.ucas.com provides all the information you need about universities, courses, locations, entry requirements and financial support. You are allowed to select up to five course choices. You need to use the correct UCAS campus and course codes as not all courses are offered at every campus. You will be asked for the following information when you apply online:
Institution code name: UoC
Institution code: C99
Campus location:
- A Ambleside
- B Brampton Road, Carlisle
- E University of Cumbria at Energus, Workington
- F Fusehill Street, Carlisle
- L Lancaster
- T University of Cumbria in London
- Y University of Cumbria at Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness
Part-time courses
Applications should be made online directly to the university; visit our website or contact enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk for details and guidance. There is no official closing date but we would encourage you to apply as early as possible, as many courses are competitive.
What makes a good application?
We consider all aspects of your application, not simply your qualifications and grades. We look at your academic background and performance, relevant experience (particularly for professional courses where some voluntary or paid experience is required) and your reference. Above all, we look for motivation, commitment and potential-evidence that you can benefit from study at higher education level.
Make sure you include:
- Relevant qualifications/evidence of ability: check our website for the specific entry requirements required for each course. Tell us your previous academic results and your projected grades.
- A supportive reference, from an employer or your school or college.
- A good personal statement.
- Explain clearly what attracts you to the course and tell us about your wider interests and experience. If you are applying for a course that incorporates professional training and placements, you should include any relevant experience or visits you have made in the workplace. Highlight your individual strengths and qualities, personal skills, capacity for teamwork, contribution to the community and your enterprise, originality and determination. Select some activities which bring out these qualities.
What next?
When we receive your application, we will send you an acknowledgement and if you are successful at this stage you will get either an offer (with an invitation to visit the campus to which you have applied), or an invitation to interview on a particular date. If we are not able to offer you a place on your chosen course we will usually try to offer you a place on a similar course and will contact you to discuss this. Alternatively, if we think you are suitable, but cannot offer you a place on your preferred campus because of the level of competition, we will offer you a place at another campus if one is available.
And if I accept?
The admissions team will contact you and send further information from February onwards about accommodation, and from May/June onwards about preparing to join the university. If you have any other queries, please telephone the admissions offices for information and advice on 0845 6061144.
Deferred entry
We welcome applications for deferred entry on some courses. If you have specific plans during your year out, indicate these on your personal statement as they may be relevant to your course and could enhance your application.
International students
Applications for full-time undergraduate study are made through UCAS. Please see the international pages of our website for full details of our entry requirements (including English-language skills) as well as contacts for advice and support.
From 2009 the UK Border Agency introduced a Points-Based Immigration System (PBS) for students coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Students entering higher education will need to obtain a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) plus finance confirmation to obtain a Tier 4 student visa. UK education providers are licensed by the UK Border Agency. When students apply for their visa (or entry clearance) they will need a valid Certificate of Acceptance of Studies from the university. Please note that a CAS is not a guarantee that a visa will be issued.
See the following websites for further details: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk
Additional costs
All students will need to purchase stationery, course books and personal equipment. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. The following PDF link below provides an overview of these costs for this course.
Additional CostsResources and facilities
Our National School of Forestry has over 50 years of experience in producing career ready graduates, thanks to our exceptional range of facilities enjoyed by students and researchers alike. Over a hundred hectares of Cumbrian countryside can be explored, giving you direct access to a wide range of habitats including coniferous woodland, wetland, willow plantations, arable farmland and more.
All this diversity allows many classes and field visits to be conducted just outside the lecture rooms, giving them chance to study in the real world as well as in our excellent new laboratory facilities.
