You'll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in a subject like:

• ecology
• ecology and environmental sustainability
• conservation, marine or plant biology
• environmental science
• zoology

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

You might be able to start by applying for an Ecologist Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship.

This usually takes around 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• a degree in a relevant subject

Volunteering is a great way to get practical experience and skills, meet new people and develop useful contacts. This might improve your chances of finding work.

You can find volunteering opportunities with:

• The Conservation Volunteers
• National Trust
• The Wildlife Trusts
• The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)

You'll need:

• science skills
• maths knowledge for surveying and reporting
• analytical thinking skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• excellent written communication skills
• knowledge of wildlife and habitat regulations
• persistence and determination
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

You may need a driving licence to visit fieldwork sites.

As an ecologist you might:

• analyse data on plants, animals and environmental conditions
• research the impact of activities like house building and farming on land and waterways
• create and manage wildlife conservation areas and restoration projects
• advise landowners and local authorities on ecological legal matters
• study the effects of changing insect populations on agriculture
• raise awareness of ecological issues in local communities and promote involvement in schemes

We've identified this as a green job

As an ecologist, you can restore woodlands and peatlands to help tackle climate change. This can have a positive impact on the environment.

Find out more about green careers

You could work in the countryside, at a university, in an office or in a laboratory.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.