Field courses

All of our Biological Sciences and Zoology students have the opportunity to do a 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.

But you won't have to wait until then to get out in the field - there's also lots of field work built into the rest of your degree. You can spend time in 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.

Since Sheffield is pretty much in the centre of England, it’s a great base for visiting scientific spots around the UK. We’ve run trips to:

• Twycross Zoo, Warwickshire
• The Deep aquarium, Hull
• Old Moor RSPB reserve, Barnsley
• Potteric Carr, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve, Doncaster
• Marine rock pools at Filey, North Yorkshire

As you progress through your course, students will also get the opportunity to go on an optional field course in either second or 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:

• Tropical Forest Ecology and Conservation Field Course - Borneo
• Population and Community Ecology Field Course - Peak District
• Behavioural Ecology Field Course - Portugal
• Arctic Ecosystems Field Course - Sweden
• Coastal and Marine Ecology Field Course - Anglesey
• Urban Ecology Field Course - Sheffield
• Ecosystems and Environment Field Course - Peak District (Environmental Science students only)

The field courses are a fantastic opportunity for you to carry out your own research and develop an understanding of the ecology and biodiversity of different habitats across the globe.

You'll also get to improve your analysis and presentation skills, and interact with our expert academic staff alongside other students on your course.

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Tropical Forest Ecology and Conservation Field Course - Borneo

Location: Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

The Danum Valley Field Centre is at the edge of 400km² of rainforest, where you can often see orangutans, elephants, gibbons, clouded leopards and many species of bird. You’ll learn about how the rainforest is structured, the threats it faces from the palm oil trade and ecotourism, and how scientists are working to conserve it.

It was an opportunity to experience a totally different environment and see lots of different animals and plants that I would otherwise not have been able to see. The highlight was definitely seeing a wild male orangutan crossing the bridge right in front of us.

Andrew Jones

MBiolsci Biology

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Population and Community Ecology Field Course - Peak District

Location: Across the Peak District National Park

We make the most of the fact that our campus is only 20 minutes' drive from the Peak District National Park. Once there, you can assemble your own insect collection when you take this field course which focuses on insect diversity. As a group, you’ll learn about effective research methods and look at the many conflicting pressures that affect the management of biodiversity in the Peak District.

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Behavioural Ecology Field Course - Portugal

Location: Quinta de Sao Pedro Field Centre, near Lisbon

The area around the Quinta de Sao Pedro Field Centre is full of insects that you can study – ants, aphids, territorial beetles and many more. The chief aim is to look at how different species behave, interact and evolve. Your research project will help you develop skills in asking scientific questions, observing natural systems, designing experiments, and working with and presenting the results.

One of the best aspects of the trip was having the help and expertise of four experienced academics for a whole week, meaning that everyone’s presenting and field work skills improved beyond recognition.

Luke Turner

BSc Biology

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Arctic Ecosystems Field Course - Sweden

Location: Abisko Research Station in sub-arctic Sweden

You'll go to the Abisko Research Station in mid-summer, during a period of 24-hour daylight. Based on the shore of the Torneträsk Lake, 200km north of the Arctic Circle, you'll study a range of organisms - from carnivorous plants to grazing reindeer. Climate change is having a huge impact on this area, so understanding the local ecosystem and ecological processes is a key aim of this course.

It was great: I made new friends and the work wasn't as intense as I'd imagined but still hard work... I feel like I really developed my scientific skills. Having the chance either side of the course to travel was also great.

Meryl Varty

MBiolSci Zoology

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Coastal and Marine Ecology Field Course - Anglesey

Location: A campsite by the shore in Anglesey

This is a chance to look at marine intertidal and coastal ecosystems. You’ll be based at an adventure field station right by the sea, and will visit seabird colonies and the coastal habitats Anglesey is famous for. From learning sampling techniques, you’ll go on to develop your own research project – possible topics include ecological processes, biodiversity, distribution and intertidal zonation.

The Anglesey marine ecology field course offered the chance to work with and study an ecosystem unlike anything we have here in Sheffield. It was very hands-on from the beginning, the entire group enjoying the childlike charm of rock pooling with the added rigour of scientific observation and study, as we developed our project ideas.

Richard Bourton

BSc Zoology

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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.

Indicative costs for the 2021/22 academic year are:

• Tropical Forest Ecology and Conservation Field Course - Borneo: £850
• Behavioural Ecology Field Course - Portugal: £395
• Arctic Ecosystems Field Course - Sweden: £650
• Coastal and Marine Ecology Field Course - Anglesey: £280

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.