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Studies & Degrees in Conservation

Conservation, as a field of study, is the science and practice of protecting species, habitats and natural resources. It draws on ecology, zoology, botany, forestry and environmental science, and adds the policy, law and management needed to turn knowledge into decisions about land, water and wildlife. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes conservation scientists as people who manage, improve and protect natural resources, working with private landowners and governments to find ways to use the land while safeguarding the environment.

Students learn how organisms interact with their environment, how human activity changes ecosystems, and how to measure both. Fieldwork is central. The BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation of the University of Stirling, for example, gives practical training in field, laboratory and analytical techniques, and its optional residential trips include a 10-day field course in South Africa. Most programmes also teach statistics and mapping: the BLS notes that conservation scientists typically have a background in Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, remote sensing and computer modelling.

The conservation and restoration of artworks and cultural heritage is a different subject, taught at art schools and heritage institutes. This page is about the conservation of nature.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. In England a BSc usually takes three years: the BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation Biology of The University of York lasts three years full time and has 360 credits, with module options across conservation, practical field ecology, environmental management, population biology and ecosystem dynamics. In Scotland the honours degree is longer; the Stirling BSc (Hons) has a duration of 48 months. In the United States conservation is usually a four-year major or a concentration within biology, wildlife, forestry or environmental science, and community colleges teach two-year programmes in related fields.
  • Master's degrees and doctorates. Specialisation normally comes at postgraduate level. The Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation of the University of Florida, for instance, runs an online graduate programme in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation. According to the BLS, wildlife biologists may need a master's degree for higher-level jobs and typically need a PhD to lead research projects.
  • Spain. Official university degrees follow a fixed structure of bachelor's degrees (grados) of 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits; conservation is normally studied within Biology or Environmental Sciences and then in a specialised master's degree. In vocational training (FP) the nearest qualification is Técnico Superior en Gestión Forestal y del Medio Natural, a higher-level cycle of 2,000 hours.
  • Short courses and field programmes. Field stations and study abroad providers offer summer and semester courses. ASU Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) lists summer courses and fall and spring semester programmes in marine biology that it describes as open to all.

Admission and costs

Science subjects at school are the usual requirement for a bachelor's degree. The University of York gives AAB at A-level as its typical offer for 2027-28 entry. Fees differ sharply by residence status: for the same York course, the listed fee for 2027-28 is £10,050 for UK (home) students and £33,500 for international and EU students. Field courses abroad can carry extra costs, so check what the programme fee includes.

Where to study conservation

SpainExchange lists 19 active schools for conservation. Eleven are in the United States and three in the United Kingdom; Spain, Canada, Germany, Sweden and Bermuda have one each. The US list ranges from community colleges such as Laramie County Community College and Ellsworth Community College to research universities such as the University of Florida, the University of California, Davis and the University of California at Berkeley, and it includes Unity Environmental University in Maine. In the United Kingdom the list includes The University of York and the University of Stirling. In continental Europe it includes the Universitat de Barcelona, Uppsala Universitet and the Technische Universität München (TUM).

Programmes in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada are taught in English. Elsewhere the language depends on the level and the programme, so check it before applying.

Careers

Graduates work for government agencies, protected areas, conservation charities, environmental consultancies and research institutes. BLS figures show how much of the work is public: in the United States, conservation scientists held about 27,700 jobs in 2025, of which 27 percent were in the federal government, 21 percent in local government, 20 percent in social advocacy organisations and 19 percent in state government. The BLS projects employment of conservation scientists and foresters to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, and gives the same projection for zoologists and wildlife biologists. These figures describe the United States only.

Frequently asked questions

What degree do I need to work in conservation?

According to the BLS, conservation scientists typically need a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources or a related field. Wildlife biologists may need a master's degree for higher-level jobs and a PhD to lead research.

How long does a conservation degree take?

Three years full time for a BSc in England, as at The University of York, and four years for an honours degree in Scotland, as at the University of Stirling. A bachelor's degree in Spain has 240 ECTS credits.

Is there fieldwork?

Yes, in most programmes. The University of Stirling, for example, trains students in field, laboratory and analytical techniques and offers optional residential field courses abroad.

Is nature conservation the same as art conservation?

No. Art conservation deals with the care and restoration of artworks and cultural heritage and is taught in separate programmes.