I returned to university to gain skills and knowledge for a new career

Why did you choose to study the Biodiversity and Conservation MSc?

I have always had a passion for all kinds of different environmental issues, from living with natural hazards, to restoring degraded ecosystems, to solving the climate crisis!  After my undergraduate degree, I chose to complete a PGCE in Geography in order to teach other students about all these topics, and I enjoyed working as a subject teacher in secondary schools for a number of years.  After a time however, I began to feel more drawn towards working directly within the environmental sector, especially given that issues such as the biodiversity crisis, climate change and land degradation are becoming increasingly urgent.  After doing some research and chatting with family and friends, I decided to go back to university as a mature student to complete my masters in Biodiversity and Conservation so that I could learn all about the latest developments in this area and hopefully pursue a career in this sector.

What made you decide to study at the University of Sheffield?

I had already completed my PGCE at the University of Sheffield which had been a really positive experience and so I had no doubts about the quality of the teaching and support from the staff that I would receive here.  I was also looking specifically for a course that focussed on the conservation aspect of biodiversity, not just pure ecology or environmental science, as I was interested in having applied knowledge that I could relate to a future career.  I was also drawn to the elements of fieldwork on the course, particularly the module on avian biodiversity and conservation, as I thought this would help me to develop specialised ecology skills.  I was also aware of the university’s excellent reputation for its academic research and the range of opportunities that it provides for students both in their learning and wider uni life, and so I knew it was going to be a great place to study. 

The lectures and seminars were always really well-informed and thought-provoking, but I also particularly enjoyed the inclusion of guest speakers as this offered unique insight into our discussions and the opportunity to gain career advice for getting into different environmental sectors which has been invaluable."

Elizabeth Hudson

MSc Biodiversity and Conservation

What have you enjoyed most about your course so far?

All the modules on the course have been fantastic and have covered a wide range of issues, from using nature-based solutions to fight climate change to the debate around deep sea mining of rare minerals for electric vehicles.  The lectures and seminars given by university staff were always really well-informed and thought-provoking, but I also particularly enjoyed the inclusion of guest speakers as this offered unique insight into our discussions and the opportunity to gain career advice for getting into different environmental sectors which has been invaluable.  I also really enjoyed the fieldwork elements as it was great to get out into the Peak District a bit more, and also the week away in Norfolk as a cohort was brilliant fun.  It was great to have the opportunity to work with my coursemates more closely and get to know everyone better as they are all such lovely people.

What skills have you developed during your course?

The course helped me to develop my writing skills, both through specially designed scientific writing seminars, but also through the requirement to write in different styles including government POSTnotes, briefing reports, and extended abstracts. We were also given the opportunity to develop specialist avian skills such as bird colour imaging, acoustic and soundscape analysis and beak morphometrics, including doing some hands-on 3D scanning which was really interesting!  The course also offers a thorough introduction to using R Studio for creating graphs and doing statistical analysis (something that was quite new to me!). This catered for all levels and provided thorough tutorials to work through each week with drop-in sessions for extra support. 

What are you planning to do next?

I am planning to use some of the connections I made on the course to improve my skills further through volunteering with organisations such as Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust.  I am also linking up with some local schools and community gardens to see how we can improve biodiversity and people’s connections to nature within their local neighbourhood as this is a particular interest of mine. 

What would you say to a student thinking about studying this course at Sheffield?

Sheffield is a brilliant place to study and the Biosciences staff team work really hard to make everyone feel welcome and supported throughout their studies.  There is a lot of contact time (which I prefer) and so you feel like you are constantly learning and covering lots of content.  There are plenty of opportunities to get to know the lecturers and ask questions which I found reassuring, and lots of time in uni meant that I got to know my coursemates well and form some long-lasting friendships and connections.  There was also a real focus on employability and careers, which I found especially useful this year as I was making a career change and so it allowed me to think about my next steps.