Sussex university, UWE, Kent or reading for Ecology!

lu22225

I'm looking at studying ecology this September and struggling to decide which of these would be best for Ecology.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 1

University of Kent

Official Rep

Hi @lu22225,

I hope you're keeping well :smile:

I'm going to come off the bat a bit biased (do forgive me ;] ) but I will say that we would absolutely love to have you study ecology here at Kent!
Do allow me to list a few reasons why:

Exceptional team of faculty alongside research opportunities:
Our ecology program is supported by a team of passionate and knowledgable lecturers, professors, and PhD students who are actively involved in cutting-edge research. We as a university believe this to be immensely important as it allows you to not just be taught from textbooks, but from experts who are actively contributing to the advancement of the science.
As a student here myself, one of my favourite parts of the uni are its supportive staff and structures, whereby you're given many opportunities to ask questions and to grow, not just in classes or lectures. The university truly prides itself on this - but we'll save all that for later!

State-of-the-Art Facilities:
We thankfully boast both modern laboratories and research facilities, such as our very own on-campus field ecology site, modern genetics labs and an Ecology lab to provide you with hand-on experience using the latest technologies and methodologies for your studies in ecology. This is all to give you exposure to current equipment, in order to familiarise yourself with it, both for research purposes, but also for when you go out into the labour market.

Fieldwork and Pratical Experience:
We as a university are also incredibly lucky to be positioned in such a beautiful and stunning geographical position, which we want our students to utilise. We place a strong emphasis on practical learning, whereby our location offers incredibly diverse ecosystems, right at our doorstep, perfect for field studies and research projects. This is all to say that you'll have plenty of opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world settings!
In fact our extensive range of UK field trips don't just take advantage of our beautiful green campus, but also of the UK’s rich landscapes, and you could even venture to the forests and beaches of Costa Rica on our tropical field course!

Supportive Environment:
Here at Kent, you'll also be part of a supportive and vibrant community of students and staff. I don't just mean our numerous student societies and clubs related to ecology and environmental science, which help foster and enrich your university experience (+ networking ;] ), but also in the fixed institutional departments to help you succeed academically.
So, not only do most major classes have drop-in sessions, which is really just an hour of questioning your lecturer, you'll also get consultation hours which is where professors have to drop everything they do and converse with you about any questions you may have, as well as you having your own academic advisor - who are staff with specialised knowledge in your area of study whom you can contact to support you, if need be. (I guess I may as well note, this is all alongside your regular classes as well!). Then on top of that, the uni also provides a whole host of support departments which are around to give you necessary help, such as Mental Health Support. Work Opportunity and Job Searching Support, Academic Support, etc.
As such, I truly mean it and can back it up when I say that this university truly values supporting its students to better them, and frankly, it demonstrates a level of care which is truly a gem in this current day and age. Regardless, as said before, as a student, this is honestly my favourite part of this uni!

Career Prospects:
Our graduates have also gone on to pursue successful careers as well, in various sectors, including environmental consultancy, conservation organisations, government agenices and departments, as well as academia - to list a few sectors. For example, we've had alumni go on to the JNCC (The Joint Nature Conservation Committee - the UK government conservation consultancy body), the UK Environment Agency, Thomson Environmental Consultants, and WWF, just to list a few examples. Essentially, I want to show you that the practical skills and experience that you'll gain at Kent, coupled with its opportunities and support, will help make you a competitive candidate in the job market.

Of course, university is ultimately what you make of it, and at Kent, we strive to provide and create an environment where you can thrive both academically and personally. Please don't hesitate to reach out some more if you happen to have any more questions.

Best of luck with your decision, and I do hope to see you at Kent this September!
Regardless, sorry for writing a lot! I do hope this has helped you out, even if just to think about what to consider.

Warm regards,

David :smile:

University of Kent Student Rep

Reply 2

UniofReading

Official Rep

Original post by lu22225

I'm looking at studying ecology this September and struggling to decide which of these would be best for Ecology. They all have their own strength and uni is what you make of it after all- I'm just looking for anyone who has studied Ecology or similar at any of these unis and could offer what was good or not so good about them and the course
Would be a great help, thank you

Hello @lu22225

I am a current student at the University of Reading, where I study Ecology and Wildlife Conservation. It's great to hear you are thinking of studying Ecology.

I believe it is a good-quality education; the lectures are amazing, and the opportunities they provide students are good. In my first year, I had around 10 field trips and 12 or more laboratory experiences. If you have any specific questions please get in touch via this link.

The ecology program is part of the Biological science school. This means we use the Health and life science buildings for our laboratory work. As a Reading student, you can access the Harris Gardens, Whiteknights Lake, Herberium, and Ecovalley. You can read more about these facilities here.

Similarly, we have full access to three museums: the Cole Museum, the EARL, and the Ure Museum of Archaeology. You can find out more about the local museums here.

At Reading, there are two semesters per academic year. Throughout the year, you need to have 120 credits. Each module is worth 20 credits, so you must complete six. Ideally, you will have 3 modules per semester, but the modules don't always work out like this. It depends on when the optional modules are taught. You can have a look at the modules taught here.

The IWLP (Institute-Wide language program) is a great way to learn languages. It is sometimes offered as an optional module so you can learn the language alongside your degree. I wrote a blog about the IWLP program and how it works. Here is the link if you would like to read it. They offer a range of different languages. I chose French in my 1st year, and it was great; the teachers were super, and the class sizes were really small.

The town centre is a vibrant place and has a lot to do. There are bowling alleys, cinemas, bars, and restaurants. There are great places to eat out and many shops. The transport links into the main town are great, and we have a regular bus service which runs every 20 minutes from the middle of the Whiteknights campus. There are two different buses. One goes to the local Asda, and the other goes directly into town, where many grocery shops, clothing shops, and train stations can be found.

When you first arrive at the University, there is freshers' week, which is a great time to become orientated within the university; it gives you time to know where everything is and settle in before lessons start. Similarly, there are society and sports fairs where you can get lots of free things, such as sweets and stationery, and learn all about the different societies you can join.

I hope this helps, and if you have any questions please let us know.

All the best
Ella 😄
BSc Ecology and Wildlife Conservation.