Field Courses
BIOL10642 Field Course in Animal Behaviour and Diversity
BIOL10622 Field Course in Comparative and Adaptive Biology
BIOL10602 Field Course in Marine Biology
BIOL10662 British Conservation Ecology & Behaviour
BIOL20552 Tropical Ecology & Conservation
BIOL20872 Urban Biodiversity & Conservation
BIOL21422 Alpine Biodiversity & Forest Ecology
You must attend the compulsory Field Course Talk (link to important dates) where you will be given essential information which expands on what is given below.
If you are studying Zoology or Plant Science, you will enrol on a 10-credit field course as part of your compulsory units in both your first and second year. Other degree programmes offer a field course as part of the practical unit requirement in first year or the Research Skills Module (RSM) in the second year (link to course unit profile database). You will be asked to submit your choice of three field courses (and/or practical units or RSM units, depending on your programme) in rank order. If there are not enough places on a field course unit for everyone to get their first choice, places will be allocated based on an essay or assignment. You will be informed before the end of Semester 1, Week 2, as to whether or not you have been accepted on your first choice course. If any second year field course RSM unit is over-subscribed, places will be allocated based on first year mean mark. For advice and further information please contact Dr Ben Chapman or Dr Donald Ward.
Residential Field courses (where you stay over for the duration) are 1 to 2 weeks long in first year and 2 to 3 weeks long in second year. They take place during the Easter or summer vacation at locations suitable for marine or terrestrial field work within the UK and overseas. Non-residential field courses usually consist of several day trips.
There is a cost to attend a residential field course. It is very important that you are fully committed to attending and paying for your field course so that we can effectively plan your trips; we start booking flights and accommodation at the end of Semester 1. We therefore require a £500 non-refundable deposit to secure your place, to be paid at the time of selection. If you have any concerns about paying for a field course, please contact the Student Support Office for advice.
You will be asked to sign a declaration form to confirm that you will meet all the requirements of attending your field course. In addition to payment, there is documentation you must submit by the given deadlines. These are:
- Health Screening Questionnaire – required for all residential field courses. Your medical fitness to travel must be confirmed by our Occupational Health team, who will issue your Fitness to Travel certificate. Depending on the location of your field course and the information included in your Health Questionnaire, you may need to attend an appointment with them and you may also require vaccinations. You will therefore be required to submit a copy of your vaccination history. If you are from the UK, we strongly recommend that you are fully up to date with your NHS vaccination schedule.
- Copy of your passport – required for all overseas field courses.
- Copy of a valid European Health Insurance card – required for UK students travelling overseas within Europe.
- Copy of your visa – if you are an international student and this is required to enter the country you are visiting.
If you are attending a non-residential field course and have any concerns regarding health conditions that may affect your participation, you can meet with Occupational Health for confidential advice.
For your safety and comfort you must have suitable footwear (strong walking boots and/or Wellington boots) and warm waterproof and windproof clothing.