Daisy

Student Story

I started studying ecology at a larger, city-based university but quickly realised that the course wasn’t best suited for me - I needed a course that had a strong focus on practical skills and British wildlife. I hadn’t realised how extensive University Centre Sparsholt is - I was so impressed by the facilities and the range of modules on offer. Immediately, I could see that the course was structured not only in a way that helps you to reach your academic potential, but also improves key skills needed for employment.

A massive advantage of Sparsholt is the small class sizes, which allow students to get to know their classmates and lecturers really well, helping academic and personal progression. The practical element of the course gives graduates a massive advantage as well as helping to build confidence. The lecturers were also so helpful, knowledgeable, and perhaps most importantly – friendly!

The facilities are fantastic. Having such a large, rural campus meant that I could develop practical skills such as making a boardwalk, hedge laying and coppicing. It was also ideal to be able to step outside the lecture room and be in the heart of the stunning Hampshire countryside to undertake surveys as well as visit so many local sites (including farms, woodlands, and heathland) and put our skills to good use.

One of the biggest advantages of being a Sparsholt graduate is that I was given the chance to really nurture my passions and develop specific knowledge about the species in the UK. This played a big role in helping me to land a job working for my dream organisation, Dorset Wildlife Trust. It’s fantastic to be working for an organisation whose goals and ambitions align so closely with content taught on the course and I’m learning new things every day.