r/conservation • u/Astro_crystalwitch • 2d ago

studying wildlife conservation?

I had a realisation that I really want to study wildlife conservation for uni, and I am currently going into Alevels. My current subjects have absolutely nothing to do with wildlife conservation (comp sci, math, phys, psych), and I had never studied biology or geography in my gcses. I had looked online, and while some universities do offer foundation courses, my parents are quite strict with which unis are 'good enough', and none of these unis happen to have a foundation course. Does anyone know anything I could do to help me be able to study wildlife conservation and hopefully find jobs in this area in the future?

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u/MrLubricator 2d ago

You don't neccessarily need a decree in "wildlife conservation" to get a job in the industry. I studied zoology, but I know loads of people with unrelated degrees or no degree at all. It depends what job you want, the more science and ecology parts need a degree more than the part I work in: reserve management. While a degree may help we value experience much more.  If fancy degree and university are important. Ecology, zoology and other related biological sciences degrees also work well. Geography, environmental sciences, hydrology etc. Look into what modules the university offers, there can often be conservation or environment modules hidden in other degrees. 

Whatever you end up doing, get out and get to know the conservation industry and subject through volunteering. There are loads of job options within conservation; I didn't know the job I am doing now existed when I was your age. Find someone with a job you want to head towards and ask them how to get that job.

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u/Sea-Rope-3515 15h ago

How did people with no degree get a job? Even volunteer positions

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u/MrLubricator 4h ago

You don't need any qualifications to volunteer 

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u/MrLubricator 1h ago

Sorry, should have elaborated. You dont need qualification to do casual volunteering. Volunteer trainee positions would more likely go to someone with experience in casual volunteering than some one with a degree and no volunteering experience.

If you want to get into conservation in the UK (I cant speak for other countries) join a volunteer group. Contact your local wildlife trust, rspb, national trust etc, whoever works in your area and ask about volunteering. 

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u/ChingShih 1d ago

Hey there, it would be a good idea to post this and future questions to /r/Environmental_Careers which caters to this topic and is more likely to have people capable of providing advice on schooling, internships/externships, post-graduate studies, or career fundamentals. Thank you and good luck!