Jessica Maxwell – MSc Conservation Management

The Edge Hill course was very field-based. I could put into practice what I’d studied in the classroom, which is how I learn best. I was looking for a Masters degree that offered me a theoretical background combined with practical experience. A lot of courses I considered didn’t offer much hands-on activity or field trips. As well as this, I liked the feel of the campus as it is open and welcoming with lots of great learning facilities on site.

I really enjoyed the field trips. We got to go out and study many species in their natural environment and learn different surveying methods, for example small mammal trapping and newt habitat surveys.

I did a 20-day placement with Atkins, quite a large consultancy firm, as an assistant ecologist. I helped with habitat, plant, bat and newt surveys, which was brilliant. I gained lots of experience in report writing, which was a real insight, as it’s not something I’d done before.

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