Study ecology and graduate with a university degree

Ecology is the science of relationships, amongst organisms and between organisms and their environments. It is a vital science of the modern age because it underpins how best we can interact with, use and conserve the natural resources of the planet.

It is also concerned, at the largest scale, with the role of organisms as components of the ‘Life Support Systems’ of planet earth. Humankind is totally dependent on the 'goods and services' provided by organisms and ecosystems: Food, fibre and fuel; clean air and water; recreation, and even cultural identity.

Ecology underpins sustainable development and as such it is mainstream in policy development and planning. The Ecology degree at Stirling is designed to give a robust introduction to the science of sustainability, making it relevant to real-life situations and improving students’ employability prospects.

Year 1

Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC. IB Diploma with a total of 32 points. HNC or HND with Bs in graded units.
Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

Year 2

A-levels or Advanced Highers ABB including Biology or Human Biology and one of Geography, Geology or Environmental Science.
Some HNDs in related subjects will be considered on an individual basis with Bs in graded units.
General Entrance Requirements apply.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree course.

Other information

If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.

Required subjects

One of Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics at Higher (B), A-level (C), IB Higher Level at 4 or equivalent.

Other qualifications not mentioned above must include science-based subjects.

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent. Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.

Mathematics at Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

HNC or HND in related subjects.

Mathematics at Standard Grade (3) is considered on an individual basis.

information on possible sources of funding

Full-time (three modules per semester). Part-time (one or two modules per semester).

The Ecology degree at Stirling is designed to give you a rigorous introduction to the science of ecology as well as providing training in essential field and laboratory techniques.

Semesters 1 - 4

In Years 1 and 2 you will take core modules in:

• Biological Sciences: Cell Biology; Physiology; Ecology; Evolution and Genetics; Biodiversity
• Environmental Sciences: Building Planet Earth, or People and the Environment; Landscape Evolution, or Global Environmental Issues; The Biosphere
• Practical Skills in the Natural Sciences; Statistical Techniques; Biology or Environmental Field Course
  

Semesters 5 - 6

In Year 3, you will take the following advanced modules:

• Animal Ecology
• Plant Ecology and Physiology
• Field and Laboratory Techniques

You will also take two or three modules from a wide range of options including: Animal Physiology, Microbiology, Environmental Policy and Management, Marine Biology, and the field class in Spain (see below).

Semesters 7 - 8

In your final year you will undertake an independent research project and attend the overseas field course in Switzerland (see below). You will also take between four and six advanced modules from a range of options which currently include:

• Conservation Biology
• Molecular Evolution and Phylogenetics
• The Evolution of Sex
• Conservation Genetics
• Cell Birth, Life and Death
• Agriculture and Food Security in the 21st Century 
• Conservation Management
• Restoration Ecology
• Geographical Information Systems
• Reconstructing Quaternary Environments
• Proteomics
  

Fieldwork is an essential part of an ecologist’s training. Stirling’s campus location is an ideal base from which to make field excursions, whether to study lekking Black Grouse in the Highlands, the growth of trees on the sides of the Ochil Hills, or the distribution of animals in the Forth Estuary.

An extensive research project takes up one third of the final-year course. A wide variety of project topics are available and these reflect the active research interests of academic staff in Biological and Environmental Sciences. These include:

• The behavioural ecology of birds on the University campus
• Climate change and the altitudinal limits of native montane plant species
• The effects of habitat enhancement of stream invertebrate communities
• Assessment of wildlife-friendly farming initiatives on invertebrate abundance and bat foraging
  

Teaching is delivered in the form of formal lectures and practical classes, tutorials, seminars, computer-based learning and guided reading and research. Modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and examination, completed during semester. For many modules the marks awarded for coursework contribute 40 – 50 percent of the final grade but for some modules this is as high as 100 percent.

Biology; Conservation Biology & Management; Environmental Science; Marine Biology.

Biological and Environmental Sciences (BES) within the School of Natural Sciences is a multi-disciplinary division that participates in research and teaching in a broad range of subjects in the biological and environmental sciences.  The principle focus of the research is at the interface between the environment and society. Within BES, staff conduct research in areas as diverse as the reconstruction of past landscapes; conservation, environmental impact assessment and environmental management; evolutionary ecology of plants and animals; and cellular biology and immunology.  BES is a friendly, vibrant, and dynamic place in which to learn and research with a great sense of belonging engendered in our students from their very first days at the University.

Research-led teaching is the key to deep learning and understanding.  The academic staff in Biological and Environmental Sciences at Stirling are typically world leaders in their respective fields, thus ensuring that research-led teaching is at the core of all of our courses.  Many students work closely with academics throughout their time and benefit from actively participating in research programmes.  We have strong contacts with external conservation and environmental organisations who also contribute to the undergraduate experience.  This approach ensures that our students appreciate the transferable nature of a science degree and see how their learning can be applied to the real world.

Students may spend all or part of Year 3 abroad. There is a well-established reciprocal exchange programme with the University of Guelph in Canada where you will take subjects equivalent to those at Stirling. In addition, there are exchange opportunities with a range of universities in the USA, Australia and Europe.

Philip Wookey is an ecosystems ecologist/biogeochemist who started his research career studying the effects of air pollutants on plants and soils. Since the early 1990s he has worked extensively in the Arctic on the potential effects of environmental change on the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. Philip chaired the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere programme from 1996-2003, and led the Circum-Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Initiative (CAT-B) of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) from 2004-2008. He joined the University of Stirling in 2004 having previously been based at the University of Uppsala in Sweden.

The Stirling Ecology degree is well-respected and our graduates have gone on to a range of jobs in academic and applied ecology, including roles as university and government researchers, nature reserve managers, policy makers and consultants with both environmental agencies and conservation bodies, natural history film makers and journalists. Graduates have also obtained posts unrelated to ecology. These include careers in management, the media, finance, law, computing, and the leisure industry.

The skills learned in the Ecology degree – such as the ability to gather, interpret, synthesise and present information in an interesting and original way – mean that you will be well-qualified to work in a broad spectrum of careers.