Amy from United Kingdom
Environmental Resource Assessment MSc
Choosing Newcastle
I chose Newcastle because of the vibrant night life, good people, flexible and quite general course that I could do a lot with after graduation.
Best things about the degree programme
My project, the GIS (Geographical Information Systems), field and ecological survey skills - all have been very useful since!
Career path so far
I'm with several ecological consultancies (one of which guarantees me 2 days a week) where I do anything from report writing and desk searches to great crested newt and bat surveys. I have regular temporary short term contracts with another consultancy where I am helping with invertebrate surveys, and writing reports/management plans etc. I am essentially full time between these 3 or 4, but I’m not permanent - yet!
I am mainly pursuing the Total Ecology Job. They guarantee me 2 days a week minimum, and I have the title of Assistant Ecologist. I'm essentially pursuing a career in ecological consultancy with a local company.
Everyone wants you to have GIS expertise, so that came in very handy - I also would like to specialise in reptiles, so doing my dissertation on grass snakes and spending the summer surveying and handling them has got me a few interviews due to the experience I've had. Ecological survey skills, and field ID skills were very helpful too, especially as consultancies need you to have practical experience. I also took the Wildlife Conservation: Policy and Practice module - I got the notes out for that only the other day, as one thing that has come out in every interview and job I’ve had so far, is legislation and the law concerning the animals you're surveying.
Best thing about being a student at Newcastle
Every field trip was good fun, and there were a few. Soils field trips were usually good - messy - but fun, although the write-ups afterwards made up for it!