Field courses
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All of our students get the opportunity to go on an optional field course between second and third year. We give you a choice of fascinating habitats to explore, from dramatic landscapes in remote corners of the globe, to complex ecosystems operating right under our noses. The field courses are a fantastic opportunity for you to carry out your own research and develop an understanding of the ecology and biodiversity different habitats across the globe. You will also get to improve your analysis and presentation skills, and interact with our expert academic staff alongside other students on your course. There's also lots of field work built into the rest of your degree. All of our students spend the first week of first year on a field trip exploring Sheffield's green spaces, and there are regular visits to zoos, aquariums and nature reserves. |
Environmental ScienceStudents on the Environmental Science courses led by the Department of Geography will also do a freshwater ecology field course across Sheffield's waterways between first and second year, and an environmental science field course at Petersberg Outdoor Education Centre in County Mayo, Ireland, in their second year. Costs for additional field coursesThe cost of all core fieldwork is included in your tuition fees, this includes both one day field trips and compulsory field courses. All optional field courses (except for non-residential UK field courses) incur additional costs. |
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The Danum Valley Field Centre is at the edge of 400km2 of rainforest, where you can often see orang-utans, elephants, gibbons, clouded leopards and many species of bird. Students learn about threats the rainforest faces, and efforts to save it.
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Arctic ecosystems and climate: Sweden Students go to the Abisko Research Station during a period of 24-hour daylight. Based on the shore of the Torneträsk lake, 200km north of the Arctic Circle, you'll be able to study a range of organisms, from carnivorous plants to grazing reindeer.
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The area around the Quinta de Sao Pedro Field Centre is full of insects that students can study. The setting offers a unique opportunity to study how different species behave, interact and evolve.
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This course is a chance to look at marine intertidal and coastal ecosystems. Students are based at an adventure field station right by the sea, and visit seabird colonies and coastal habitats.
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Animal ecology and Behaviour: Peak District This course focuses on insect diversity, so students are tasked with assembling their own insect collection. You'll learn about the many conflicting pressures that affect the management of biodiversity in the Peak District.
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Costs for additional field courses
The cost of all core fieldwork is included in your tuition fees, this includes both one day field trips and compulsory field courses.
All optional field courses (except for non-residential UK field courses) incur additional costs which vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to destination and the number of students participating.
Costs for the 2018/19 academic year were:
- Tropical Rainforest Biology Field Course - Borneo: £850
- Behavioural Ecology Field Course - Portugal: £380
- Arctic Ecosystems Field Course - Sweden: £780
- Marine Ecology Field Course - Anglesey: £269
Future years may fluctuate because of accommodation and internal transport costs. Students are responsible for the cost of their own flights.
We try to keep the costs as low as possible, and to inform students as early as possible of the cost of any optional field trips that they have planned to take.