Dinosaurs, seals and snails

Fieldwork is an attractive option for students on our Biology, Genetics and Zoology programmes, taking learning out of the lecture theatre and into the real world.

From hunting dinosaur fossils in Canada and filming leopards in South Africa, to spotting seals in Scotland and scouting for snails in Somerset, our residential field trips will equip you with a range of practical skills as well as being an unforgettable experience.

Ecology – Somerset

This module covers the essentials and fundamental concepts of population and community ecology as well as applied issues such as conservation. There is a one-week residential field course at Nettlecombe (Somerset) Field Centre, where students study organisms in their natural environments, rather than in the laboratory.

Marine and Animal Diversity – Millport (Scotland)

The module is entirely taught on a 10-day field course in Millport, Scotland, with lectures covering functional morphology and evolutionary relationships complementing the practical work focusing on identification, classification, anatomy, ecology and behaviour. The course equips students with an understanding of the taxonomy, phylogeny and basic biology of species from over 20 invertebrate phyla that they will experience directly on the field course.

Ecological Interactions – Croatia

In this module students obtain knowledge of ecological practice and undertake fieldwork in Croatia, learning how to integrate theory with empirical observations and data collection. Students gain practical experience in the field and also observe researchers collecting scientific data for both terrestrial and freshwater aquatic ecosystems.

Species: Dinosaurs to DNA – Canada

Understanding the nature of the species and how they are defined is a crucial part of modern biology, especially in the context of biodiversity and conservation. This module includes an eight-day field trip to Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada, and covers all aspects of the correct identification and naming of species and higher groups of organisms (taxonomy) and how these data are used in modern biological research.

Savannah Ecology and Conservation – African savannahs

The module is taught over 12 days as a field course based at Wits Rural Facility, South Africa. Topics covered in the module include the characteristics of savannah ecosystems, adaptations in tropical plants, conservation of small populations, wildlife management, hunting and conservation and human-wildlife conflict.