We are delighted to welcome you to your Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science course at Canterbury Christ Church University.

You will have lots of opportunities to learn practical skills and work with us and your fellow students in your first few weeks. We pride ourselves that this is a very friendly and supportive place to study, so we believe you will have an enjoyable and productive time with us.

There are plenty of ways to keep up to date with the latest staff and student activities by checking out our social media accounts.

You can keep an eye on us via X (@cccugeography) and can join our Facebook page (Geography Geeks) at any time.

You can also find some of our videos, such as our Summertime Science YouTube channel, or by searching “Summertime Science” on our Facebook page.

If you have Instagram, follow our Faculty Instagram for regular updates.

We can’t wait to see you all when the academic year starts!

Your course takes an interdisciplinary approach allowing you to explore important aspects of ecology, population genetics, animal behaviour and other biological disciplines while also learning how they relate to geology and landscape. You will also learn about the human dimensions of conservation, helping you to maximise the effective application of your developing ecological knowledge.

We pride ourselves in Section of Natural and Applied Sciences (NAS) being a friendly place to study, where you feel engaged and well supported throughout your studies. We also focus on giving you practical experience and employability opportunities to make sure you get the most out of your time with us, so that when you leave us you will have the tools you need to tackle some of the world’s greatest scientific challenges.

In your first week

You will have a practical week where we will introduce you to our new lab facilities and get you started with developing your practical skills.

After that, we aim to structure the timetable so that you will only have to be in for one or two days a week for some weeks, three or four days in others, with one additional lab week later in the semester (these will appear in your timetable).

As part of your practical sessions, you will complete competencies that will enhance your employability and evidence your hands-on experience.

Attendance at these sessions is particularly important and we will support you in attending as much as you can.

The university year is made up of two semesters, one running from September - January, and the other from February - May. You will complete 3 modules in each semester during your first year.

The university year is made up of two semesters, one running from September to January and the other from February to May. You will complete 3 modules in each semester during your first year.

Year 1 Core Modules:

Semester 1

• Statistics and Introduction to R Software
• Natural Environments
• Human Environments

Semester 2

• Chemistry for Life and Environmental Science
• Diversity, Evolution and Ecology
• GIS and Remote Sensing

Get to know us better by taking part in the following Wildlife Ecology based activities:

• Learn some classic identification skills here
• See what happens when a Chemical ecologist escapes into the countryside here
• Join in an experiment to unearth predatory worms in your back garden
• See the sort of career you could have after studying as an ecologist

Whilst you are waiting to start your degree, why not familiarise yourself with the latest findings and events in the ecology community at:

• British Ecological Society

Explore the exciting careers you could have in front of you and read about how you could get involved in ecology conferences across the world. Currently, you can even join BES for free for your first year as a student, so why not sign up!

Community

On the social side, the Student Union (CCSU) has a huge range of clubs and societies – all of which have unique social calendars of their own and offer endless opportunities to make lifelong friends and discover new hobbies. And you can always create your own society and cultivate your own community!

CCSU will be hosting their Welcome Fayre on Wednesday 18th September 2024. Make sure you keep checking the CCSU website for further details and how to get involved.

We understand that you may be nervous about your first few weeks on campus but rest assured - you'll be joining a nurturing and supportive environment where diversity, equality and individuality are part of everything we do.

You can find out more about our welcoming community and making friends here at CCCU.

If you are an International Student joining us then please see our International Student Support pages for further information and guidance.

For your own interest, you may wish to read one of the recommended general science books:

• The Royal Society

If you do wish to do some summer reading, have a look at this book you will use throughout your studies:

• Life: The Science of Biology Editions 11th or 12th Section on Ecology

It is useful to note that the University Bookshop offers a 10% discount on most titles in print and have some price-beating book bundles. They also price match Amazon on core texts, recommended in the module handbooks that you will receive when you start in September.

We also advise you to look at the second-hand book market.