Ecologist
Ecologists study the relationship between plants, animals and the environment.
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
University
You’ll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in a subject like:
- ecology
- conservation biology
- zoology
- marine biology
- environmental science
- ecology and environmental sustainability
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You may be able to do a postgraduate ecologist degree apprenticeship.
You’ll need a qualification and experience in an ecological science to apply.
Entry Requirements
You’ll usually need:
- a degree in a relevant subject for a degree apprenticeship
You’ll need the following skills:
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- the ability to read English
- thinking and reasoning skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- ambition and a desire to succeed
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Volunteering is a great way to get experience and may improve your chances of finding work.
You can also build up contacts within conservation, which will be useful when looking for jobs.
Your day-to-day duties could include:
- carrying out fieldwork – surveying and recording information on plants, animals, environmental conditions and biodiversity
- researching the impact of human activity, like housing and intensive agriculture, on the environment
- building computer models to predict the effects of development or climate change monitoring pollution
- managing wildlife conservation areas, woodland and meadows
The following salaries are a guide only:
- Starter: £19,000
- Experienced: £45,000
Working Conditions
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You could work in the countryside, at a university, in an office or in a laboratory.
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Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.