Rosie
Barley

Why did you choose to study your course at NTU?

I chose to study my course at NTU as the modules really stood out to me. They cover a wide range of topics that seemed interesting to me, and they teach topics and skills that are relevant to the environmental sector. From reading the prospectus, Brackenhurst Campus also seemed beautiful. I thought it would be excellent to be learning about ecology whilst being in nature. Having the ability to visit Nottingham from campus relatively easily also really appealed to me, as I am from a small village, so I wanted to be able to experience a busier city, whilst still enjoying the countryside.

What do you enjoy most about your course?

I have really enjoyed meeting everyone on my course. It is exciting to hear about everyone’s areas of interest within ecology and conservation. There is also element of group work for some modules; I find this to be very rewarding as you all learn from each other. I find the course content fascinating too.

How do you find your modules and what have you most enjoyed studying?

I like how the modules teach knowledge and skills that are transferrable to the industry. I have particularly enjoyed the modules Ecological Census Techniques, and Introduction to Ecological Consultancy. They have a focus on methodologies for field surveys, Ecological Impact Assessments and mitigation measures. I hope to have a career in Ecological Consultancy so gaining a basis of knowledge and understanding here is fantastic. I also was lucky enough to go on the South African field course. This was incredibly enjoyable; it was amazing to learn about the wildlife there.

What do you think about the facilities available on your course and what do you use the most?

I find that the facilities available are everything we need. I use the library the most – there are always plenty of computers available to work on your assignments. There are extensive lab facilities on campus too. We have spent a few days in the lab for one of our modules, Marine and Freshwater ecology. Here we used water quality machines to test for a potential pollutant, and microscopes to identify macroinvertebrates.

What do you think about Brackenhurst Campus? What do you get up to in your spare time?

Brackenhurst is a lovely place to live and study. It is great to go on walks around the fields and spot the wildlife here. There are plenty of things to get involved with on campus. I am part of a few societies on campus. The conservation society and the botany society are nature-based societies that are great for building up your plant and animal identification skills and for meeting new people. I am also in the Brackenhurst Netball club. We practice once a week down at the leisure centre, which is a 10-minute walk from campus. The team also travels into the city most weeks for a match. The leisure centre offers many fitness classes and has a gym which are great to get movement in when you have had a long day studying. I also am a part of the climbing society which is based on city campus. Some of my friends and I will take the bus or drive to the climbing centres in Nottingham once or twice a week. It is nice to meet students from NTU’s other campuses through this. My flatmates and I also enjoy doing a pub quiz in Southwell.

What is your top tip for someone considering studying/living at Brackenhurst Campus?

My top tip would be don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and make new friends. Joining societies is a great way to do this. Particularly in welcome week, there is lots of events on for the freshers. I recommend you do everything on offer. It is also great to make an effort with your flatmates. From a practical perspective I would say bring your car to campus if you can. It makes running errands such as your food shopping a bit easier.

Have you been involved in any placements, work experience or volunteering as part of your course? If so, what company did you do it for, what was your role/responsibilities and what did you achieve?

I did a placement year in industry as part of my course. I worked for RammSanderson Ecology as a Placement Ecologist. I found the opportunity through NTU’s employability website. Here I assisted on a variety of species and habitat surveys. I also conducted some office-based work such as kit-prep, writing up reports and undertaking bat sonogram and trail camera analysis. It was fantastic to gain lots of experience. I feel I built my confidence in this role, as I gained more survey skills and ecological knowledge. It was great to learn more about reports that contribute to planning applications too. I really enjoyed working with my colleagues and the working environment was good. As a result of this I was able to also build upon my interpersonal skills.

If you completed a placement, would you recommend completing one and why?

I would encourage everyone to complete a placement if possible. They are great for improving your employability as you are gaining professional experience. They are also brilliant for networking within the industry. You may also get further opportunities because of your placement. For example, I am currently working part-time at RammSanderson, now as a Student Ecologist, alongside my third-year studies.

Why would you recommend your course to someone considering studying it?

The Ecology and Conservation course has interesting teaching that is relevant to current ecology and conservation topics and issues. The lecturers are also very helpful and encouraging. Brackenhurst Campus is a beautiful and unique place to study. We have had plenty of lectures based outdoors; it is great to learn from the environment directly around us.

What are your plans for after the course and how do you feel your course has/will help you to achieve that goal?

After graduation I am planning to do some marine conservation volunteering in Wales to learn more about the marine environment. After this I plan to return to RammSanderson Ecology as a graduate. My course has really helped me in gaining the connections to the industry and in gaining relevant knowledge.