FdSc Environmental Science & Sustainability (with Foundation Year option)

(Wiltshire College and University Centre, Lackham Campus)

UCAS Code:
F449
Institution:
B50
Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions, Part-time

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Delivered at Wiltshire College and University Centre's Lackham campus, this course is for anyone wishing to specialise in ecology, biodiversity or conservation.

Although you can graduate after 2 years with the FdSc in Environmental Science and Sustainability, an additional third year on a top-up course to achieve a full BSc degree could be more attractive to employers in the field.

If you do not meet the entry requirements for the FdSc, you can opt to take a foundation year in applied science before progressing on to the FdSc Environmental Science and Sustainability. The number of students at any one year will be relatively small so all students will have maximum support for each module from a personal tutor.

You will learn how to research current topics, and although there is no work experience as part of the course, there is a Work Related Project in year 2 of the FdSc which may require you to liaise with a local company or organisation and apply your knowledge to a live, relevant topic or issue.

Overall, the course will get you workplace ready, with the theoretical and practical knowledge which would benefit any employer in the fields of ecology, biodiversity and conservation.

See Course details for more information.

Please visit the Wiltshire College website to book onto one of their Spring Open Days.

Image description — Wiltshire college life science facilities 1

Next start date:

September 2021, September 2022

Location:

Wiltshire College – Lackham campus

Duration:

FdSc 2 years full-time, 3 years part-time, or with foundation year 3 years full-time, 5 years part-time

Required subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

For September 2021 and September 2022 entry:

FdSc: 48 UCAS Tariff Points, e.g. 2Es or 1C at A Level or an AVCE Double Award at EE or BTEC / City and Guilds National Technical Diploma. For more information check out our 2021 entry requirements.

FdSc with foundation year: 32 UCAS Tariff Points and 3 GCSEs in English, Science and Maths (grade C/4) or equivalent.

For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

For September 2021 and September 2022 entry: If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 or equivalent. For more information check out our International entry requirements.

Course details

Students will be given the opportunity to participate in lectures and workshops, plan and deliver presentations to their peers, research areas of relevance to the degree programme, critically evaluate the validity and implications of information and work with a wide variety of Environmental Science hardware and software.

Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.

Download the programme specification FdSc (pdf 400kb)Download the programme specification FdSc with foundation year

Foundation year

Foundations in Biology: This unit provides the necessary skills and knowledge to gain an understanding of some of the key principles in biology and microbiology. Essential biological practical skills and techniques are built into the practical aspects of the module which supports the theoretical subject material.
Foundations in Chemistry: This unit provides the necessary skills and knowledge to gain a fundamental knowledge of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. Essential chemical operations such as mole calculations and developing chemical formula will be incorporated into the practical aspects where basic chemical techniques will be introduced.
Mathematical Science Skills: This unit will give you confidence in mathematics allowing you to perform calculations on a range of scientific data and to be able to represent the findings in an appropriate format including graphs. To carry this out, it is essential to be able to convert the data between systems of units and to understand how to present very large and very small numbers in standard form. Basic statistical analysis of tabulated data will be carried out to introduce the concept of confidence limits.
Practical Science: This unit will increase your confidence in identifying suitable scientific practical techniques in order to carry out a wide variety of chemical, biological and physical practical tasks. You will develop your practical scientific skills across chemistry and biology to achieve given outcomes whilst working safely.

FdSc Year 1

Essential Biology for Environmental Science: The main aim of this module is to enable you to understand the source of variation within living organisms and to appreciate the changes in genomes at the cellular level
Mathematics for Science: This module provides you with confidence in performing calculations on a range of scientific data and to be able to represent the findings in an appropriate format including graphs.
Academic Writing Skills: This module prepares you for producing extended pieces of writing on scientific topics using the conventional format that shows clarity and consistency.
Environmental Geography: In this module, you will gain knowledge and understanding of individual parts of the Earth system and their interrelationships in terms of natural cycles, feedbacks and interconnected processes
Introduction to Ecological Science: In this module, you will gain an understanding of ecology and the disciplines necessary to solving ecological problems such as managing pests or the problems associated with climate change.
Practical Laboratory Skills: This module provides you with confidence in identifying suitable scientific practical techniques in order to carry out a wide variety of chemical and biological practical tasks.

FdSc Year 2

Professional Development Portfolio: This module places the emphasis on the practical approaches towards students’ personal development planning and self-assessment.
Human Impact on the Environment: This module addresses the environmental sinks that exist which absorb pollution created by humans.
Sustainable Energy and the Environment: This module provides a survey of the most important renewable and alternative energy resources and the technologies for using these in various types of energy systems.
Biodiversity and Conservation: In this module, students will gain an understanding of the value of biodiversity and drivers of its loss.
Sustainability and Management in Practice: This module will raise students’ awareness of topical environmental and sustainability issues and their interrelated nature.
Work Related Project: This module allows the student to undertake a period of 200 hours of work related learning enabling them to complete a project relevant to the workplace.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Your application

For this course we are looking for applicants who:

Have a strong interest in science
Are looking to develop a career in a scientific field.

Applicants should either be young learners aged from 18 to 21 who have not engaged in post-16 education but whose experience since leaving full-time education may have helped to equip them for further study.

Applicants aged over 21 who are mature learners with no formal qualifications or learners with A Levels (or equivalent) which were obtained more than three years ago are welcome to apply.

How to apply

Selection methods

How we assess your application

Our offer-making process

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

Entry requirements

FdSc entry requirements

We use the UCAS Tariff to show our entry requirements and will accept a combination of grades from your qualifications. You can use the UCAS calculator to see how your qualifications equate to tariff points.

For September 2021 and September 2022 entry: 48 UCAS Tariff Points (normally to include Biology), e.g. 2Es or 1C at A Level or an AVCE Double Award at EE or BTEC / City and Guilds National Technical Diploma. You should also have 5 GCSEs at grade C (4) or above including English, Maths and Science (or equivalent).

Numeracy and Literacy requirement: GCSE English Language or English Literature and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework. See all the equivalencies.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

T Levels: We will recognise T Level qualifications at a suitable level (and in a suitable subject, if applicable).

Foundation year entry requirements

For September 2021 and September 2022 entry: 32 UCAS Tariff Points and 3 GCSEs in English, Science and Maths at grade C (4) or equivalent.

Applicants without traditional qualifications are encouraged to apply. We will consider relevant personal and professional experience where it demonstrates an ability to succeed on the course.

GCSE English, Mathematics and Science grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework. See all the equivalencies.

International entry requirements

For September 2021 and September 2022 entry:

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students’ page.

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5. in each component or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course. Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

Costs and fees

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. You can find full information about funding your studies and paying your fees in our undergraduate fees and funding section. Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise.

Further study

Once you have completed your course, you can move on to a top-up degree or the final year of an undergraduate honours degree to achieve the next level of qualification.

Graduates may apply to progress onto the final year of an honours degree or top-up degree at Bournemouth University, at a BU partner college or another institution, subject to a suitable course being offered, places being available and applicants obtaining the University's required entry criteria.

For entry onto a Bournemouth University top-up degree, you will be assessed on your overall mark (there may be a minimum requirement), your performance on the foundation degree and where appropriate an interview with the programme coordinator.

View our top-up degrees webpage

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that staff can change.

Adam Harper – Lecturer in Animal Care

As a postgraduate of Animal Science and Management, Adam has spent a number of years working for international NGOs in the field of conservation and field biology. He is currently studying Ecology and Biodiversity at Edinburgh University. He was also a contributing author to the “Mammals of Wiltshire Atlas” published in April 2018 along with other online publications focusing on small mammals in the region.

Adam was previously the Monitoring Coordinator of the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece and has since monitored migratory whales and dolphins in the Atlantic, collaborated with the Marine Conservation Society supporting their Capturing our Coast project and most recently became a Guide/Lecturer for Wildlife Seminars, a large carnivore conservation group with a focus on Wolves, Bear and Lynx in the Western Carpathians.

Adam is currently an Ambassador for the Sea Turtle Protection Society, Youth Coordinator for the World Wildlife Fund and was granted Member status in 2017 to the Royal Society of Biologists (MRSB).

Louise Woodward – Lecturer in Mathematics

Louise graduated from university with a Mathematics honours degree and then completed a Postgraduate Certificate of Education which enabled her to fulfil her ambition of becoming a Mathematics Teacher. Louise spent several years working in a secondary school in Bath where she taught a full range of ages and abilities including A-Level before taking a career break to raise her children and help run her family business and smallholding. During this time, she also took on roles as an Exam Marker and School Governor.

Since returning to education at Wiltshire College and University Centre, she has taught a Further Education Mathematics study programme and has implemented and taught two higher level courses.

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.

FdSc Environmental Science & Sustainability (with Foundation Year option)

Key information

Next start date:

Location:

Duration:

Required subjects:

Entry requirements:

International entry requirements:

Planning your future

Course details

Foundation year

FdSc Year 1

FdSc Year 2

Programme specification

Your application

Selection methods

How we assess your application

Our offer-making process

Entry requirements

FdSc entry requirements

Foundation year entry requirements

International entry requirements

Costs and fees

Further study

Our staff

Adam Harper – Lecturer in Animal Care

Louise Woodward – Lecturer in Mathematics

FdSc Environmental Science & Sustainability (with Foundation Year option)

Course search

Search form

Key information

Next start date:

Location:

Duration:

Required subjects:

Entry requirements:

International entry requirements:

Planning your future

Related courses

Course details

Foundation year

FdSc Year 1

FdSc Year 2

Programme specification

Your application

Selection methods

How we assess your application

Our offer-making process

Entry requirements

FdSc entry requirements

Foundation year entry requirements

International entry requirements

Costs and fees

Further study

Our staff

Adam Harper – Lecturer in Animal Care

Louise Woodward – Lecturer in Mathematics