Program Overview

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

Conservation biology is concerned with the protection and management of nature and the Earth’s biodiversity. It involves an evaluation of human and other factors that affect all living organisms with the aim of protecting and conserving species, their habitats and ecosystems. It is an interdisciplinary subject that draws on natural sciences to devise satisfactory processes and approaches by which to sustain and protect plant and animal biodiversity in the UK and abroad.

This course mainly focuses on conservation in terrestrial environments. It develops knowledge of key areas such as the principles and practices of ecology, habitat management, nature conservation and the functioning of natural systems, particularly with regard to different points of view including scientific, ethical and philosophical perspectives. Opportunities are provided to apply knowledge and understanding of conservation biology during field courses within the UK and abroad giving first-hand experience of a range of ecosystems.

A Placement Year option is available for this course. Undertaking a placement year as part of your degree programme offers you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience alongside your studies.

SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE

Studying Sport and Exercise is a gateway to understanding how to maximise sports performance, how we learn skills and the importance of regular exercise to health and longevity.  You will study from a multidisciplinary perspective, focusing on psychology, physiology, biomechanics, performance analysis, nutrition and strength & conditioning.  By the end of your studies you will confidently and independently develop training programmes and interventions that will promote peak performance, the learning of new skills and reduce the burden of disease.

Study with us in our multi-million pound, state-of-the-art Health Science Building and Sports Complex, incorporating dedicated teaching laboratories and research space. This facility houses ultra-modern equipment where you will learn to conduct complete physiological, psychological and biomechanical profiles of human sports performance using breath-by-breath expired gas analysis, blood analysis, vascular and cardiac screening, body composition analysis, eye-tracking, electromyography and motion capture to name but a few.

You will leave with the skills to become a sports scientist working with elite performers or clinical populations, the basis to become a sports coach, or enter the teaching profession and train the next generation of sport scientists. You will be taught by tutors who are active researchers at the cutting edge of Sport & Exercise Science, and whom regularly publish their work to international audiences.