Field courses
Some of the units that prove most popular with our students are the field courses. If you enjoy ecology, evolution or behaviour, or are doing a degree course in Plant Sciences, Zoology, Neuroscience, Biology or Life Sciences with an organismal flavour, these units offer an opportunity to travel and study organisms in a wide variety of habitats.
You will learn modern field techniques and analysis and, especially in your second year, become involved in ongoing research projects. The close collaboration between staff and students on these courses offers a rare chance for immersion in a specialist area of field study.
First year | Second year
First year
Animal Behaviour - South Africa
With the African savannah as a setting, this unit introduces adaptive animal behaviour in the natural environment. You will conduct simple behavioural experiments on a wide variety of animals, from mammals and birds, to invertebrates and vertebrates, to address the causes and functions of animal behaviour. You will design and carry out simple behavioural experiments and learn to present and analyse statistical and behavioural data. You will develop an understanding of the distinction between proximate and ultimate mechanisms, understand the role of behaviour in social organisations and develop an idea of the relationship between observable behaviours, brain mechanisms and the adaptive outcomes.
A student's perspective
“The South Africa animal behaviour Easter field course has been my favourite experience so far. The students and staff were always fun to work with and my project was so interesting to research and write up. Not to mention the stunning scenery and exquisite food.”
Max Drakeley
Marine Biology - UK
On rocky and sandy shores in Scotland, you will examine a variety of marine animals and plants, including planktonic organisms and shallow benthic organisms. You will learn to recognise shore organisms at species, phylum and class level and understand the distribution of organisms in both rocky and sandy environments. You will produce a portfolio of drawings of planktonic organisms, and conduct a teamwork project.
A student's perspective
“One of my most memorable times at University was the field trip to Scotland in the first year. We got to ride around an island to different rock pools and battle with sea urchins, starfish and squat lobsters - field courses are great!”
Liz Vango
Freshwater Biology - Greece
This springtime course will develop your understanding of the structure and function of standing (ponds and lakes) and running (brooks and rivers) freshwater communities. You will develop the skills necessary to examine freshwater community interactions and analyse the effects of human activity – eg pollution – on these communities. You will be able to distinguish between the dominant groups of aquatics plants and animals within each freshwater environment, and analyse the importance of physical and chemical factors in contributing to the structure and function of freshwater communities. Working in a team, you will design and execute a freshwater project.
Comparative and Adaptive Biology - Majorca
With the Mediterranean in spring as the setting, you will explore the functional significance of animal and plant adaptations in a wide range of habitats. You will use techniques of field surveying and estimation of abundance, and discover some important differences between terrestrial and marine habitats in Britain and the Mediterranean. You will plan and conduct a teamwork project, which might involve experimental procedures, such as estimating tree density in woodlands, measuring photosynthesis in the field, or examining insects and their roles in pollination.
A student's perspective
“The field course to Mallorca in the Easter holidays was a fantastic experience. Incorporating parts of other units from the first year and seeing them in the field was great, I enjoyed the focus on plants and was a great alternative to a semester of lectures. I have applied for the 2nd year field course to Ecuador as I enjoyed my experience so much.”
Max Harriman
Second year
Behaviour and Ecology – France
This course is held in the Estéron Valley in the foothills of the French Alps during the summer break. The residential format provides a unique opportunity for you to immerse yourself in research. The course, is very different from traditional field courses which emphasise collection and identification of specimens. You will work in groups on a biodiversity survey of the region, learning how to use taxonomic keys and contributing to the database of biodiversity in the region which we are creating. Your survey will help you decide on a research project which you will undertake in small groups.
Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity – Belize
This course is held during the summer break in Belize, Central America. The course is designed to develop your experimental design and practical skills, as well as traditional fieldwork skills such as sampling and identification of organisms. The first five days consist of group biodiversity studies on Glover’s Reef a coral reef. The remainder of the course takes place in Las Cuevas research centre in the Mayan rainforest. Here you will design and carry out your own research project on a topic such as biodiversity or physiological ecology.
Tropical Biology - Ecuador
The course is designed to develop your experimental design and practical skills, as well as traditional fieldwork skills such as sampling and identification of organisms. The course begins with hikes into the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve where you will undertake group projects on biodiversity and behaviour of plants, amphibians or insects. The remainder of the course takes place in unexploited areas of the rainforest in Amazonian Ecuador. Here you will stay in a remote research stations designing and carry out your own research project on a topic such as biodiversity or physiological ecology. You will work alongside researchers collecting valuable data that will be used by indigenous communities and Ecuadorian national parks.