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This is a third-year optional module available to students on the following courses:

• BSc (Hons) Geography
• BSc (Hons) Environmental Science

Southern Spain is a region at the forefront of the contemporary climate crisis. It experiences a range of climate related hazards including drought, desertification, heatwaves, floods, and soil erosion.

These risks combine with the impacts of mass tourism, migration and other socio-economic changes to create a complex set of interconnected social and environmental challenges for local communities.

As Spain is the world’s leading producer of olive oil, Europe’s largest supplier of fruit and vegetables, and one of the world’s largest exporters of wine, the impacts of climate change on agriculture in Southern Spain also extend to communities across Europe and beyond.

This field course provides students with an opportunity to engage directly with contemporary global challenges and to understand their impacts on local communities.

Our Field Course in Climate Change, Water Resources and Sustainable Communities visits the regions of Valencia and Murcia in South-Eastern Spain to undertake fieldwork at sites in and around the cities of Elche, Alicante and Murcia. 

Fieldtrip themes may include:

• Drought, desertification and soil erosion
• Community resistance to mass tourism
• Sustainable cities and urban planning
• Historical water management and Islamic histories of Spain
• Sustainable and regenerative agriculture
• Urban green space and public health.

The Wildlife Conservation Field Course is a third-year optional module available to students on the following courses:

• BSc (Hons) Wildlife conservation
• BSc (Hons) Environmental Science
• BSc (Hons) Biology*

*Subject to prerequisite module selection at L5.

The Cévennes region is one of France's least populated areas and, at the same time, one of its richest in terms of biodiversity. Situated on the south-eastern edge of the Massif Central, the Cévennes encompasses a remarkable variety of landscapes, each shaped by its unique geology. From the rugged peaks, ridges, and valleys of the schist Cévennes, with their historic chestnut groves, to the granite highlands and windswept moorlands of Mont Lozère and Mont Aigoual, and the awe-inspiring limestone plateaus and dramatic gorges of the Grands Causses, this is a region with an extraordinary amount to discover.

In 2026, our students visited the region as part of the Wildlife Conservation Field Course. Based at the Mediterranean Ecology Research Observatory for Practical Skills (), they spent their time exploring the diverse habitats of the schist Cévennes while developing their wildlife identification and field skills.

The area around our château base provided endless opportunities for wildlife encounters. During our stay, we observed genets, otters, stone martens, wild boar, and coypu (an invasive rodent), alongside several species of bats and a wide variety of birds. Countless pollinating insects could be found among the fragrant lavender bushes, and every day brought new species and memorable sightings.

The course also included visits to some of southern France's most important conservation sites. In the Camargue wetlands, students explored an internationally significant breeding and feeding area for migratory birds. A trip to the Causse Méjean allowed us to witness one of Europe's great conservation success stories: the reintroduction of vultures to the region. We were fortunate to observe three of the four vulture species found there, along with two species of eagle and a wealth of other birdlife.

The Causse landscape also provided another unforgettable highlight: sightings of wild Przewalski's horses. These horses are bred in this unique environment, whose open grasslands closely resemble the Mongolian steppe, before being released to strengthen populations in their ancestral homeland.

From the comfort of our accommodation and the delicious locally sourced regional cuisine to the wealth of wildlife encounters and the field equipment and techniques students learned to use, the trip was an overwhelming success. It was universally praised by students, and staff are already looking forward to welcoming the next group to experience this exceptionally beautiful part of the world.

Fieldtrip themes may include:

• Evidence-based conservation management strategies, including
  
  • Wildlife education and community outreach
  • Conservation breeding and translocation
  • Species re-introduction and management
  • Wildlife population monitoring and survey techniques
• Local geomorphology, ecology and species adaptations
• Human-wildlife conflict and coexistence
• Impacts of wildlife tourism on people, animals and environments
• Climate change and other anthropogenic impacts on all of the above.

This is a second-year optional module available to students on the following courses:

• BSc (Hons) Geography
• BSc (Hons) Environmental Science

The Po Valley in Northern Italy is one of the wealthiest and most developed regions in Europe, yet it is faced with significant challenges including pollution, multi-hazard disasters, mass tourism, and climate change.

The fieldtrip for our Geographical Fieldwork: Hazards, disasters and sustainable development module is based in Bologna, a vibrant city with a rich cultural life and home to the University of Bologna, the oldest university in continuous operation in the world. While in Bologna students develop their field research skills by undertaking projects on topics such as air quality and pollution, food tourism and gentrification, and urban heat islands.

We also visit other locations across Northern Italy to learn about issues ranging from post-earthquake reconstruction to long term environmental change and sustainable development in delta lagoon environments. Fieldwork locations vary from year to year but on past trips we have visited Venice, Comacchio, Crevalcore, Milan, Finale-Emilia, Forlì, Florence and Pisa.

This field course provides students with an opportunity to engage directly with a wide range of contemporary Geographical issues and to develop field research skills, while at the same time experiencing the rich culture and history of Northern Italy.

Fieldtrip themes may include:

• Earthquakes and post disaster reconstruction
• Air quality monitoring and pollution
• Food tourism and gentrification
• Urban heat islands and heatwave hazards
• Long term human environment interactions in delta environments
• Sustainable development pathways
• Urban geographies.

This is a third-year optional module available to students on the following courses:

• BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation
• BSc (Hons) Environmental Science
• BSc (Hons) Biology

Dale Fort is a historic coastal fortification located near the village of Dale in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is now used as an education centre offering residential fieldwork opportunities for schools, colleges, and universities. It has an ideal location within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which provides students with access to coastal habitats such as rocky shores and salt marshes.

Our residential trip to the field centre each spring is part of our Marine Biology and Conservation module. It provides students with the opportunity to explore the concept of rocky shore biotopes, which are distinct ecological zones shaped by tidal movement and wave exposure.

Students venture out during low tide to survey marine life in both sheltered and exposed shores, where they can observe how species such as barnacles, limpets, seaweeds, and anemones dominate specific tidal zones.

These hands-on practical sessions help bring theory learned in the classroom to life and reinforces marine biology and conservation concepts. In addition, the students can also take part in bird watching sessions along the coast, where they can search for seabirds and other wildlife, and they may also be lucky enough to spot marine mammals. Additionally, they can take part in a photograph competition, where they compete for prizes for the best wildlife photos.

Back at the field centre, students can relax in the comfortable accommodation and make use of the labs and classrooms to analyse their data. The experience helps them develop scientific skills, teamwork, critical thinking, and a stronger connection to the natural world.

Ultimately, we have found that students bond with their peers on the trip and leave Dale Fort with lasting memories.

Fieldtrip themes may include:

• Marine biology
• Rocky shore ecology
• Marine and coastal conservation
• Coastal processes
• Wildlife watching
• Practical science skills
• Ecological survey techniques
• Climate change impacts.