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Sports Fisheries and Aquaculture at University Centre Sparsholt - UCAS

Course options

2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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Open days

1Mar
University Centre Sparsholt - Open Event
Undergraduate
30Apr
University Centre Sparsholt - Open Event
Undergraduate
12Jun
University Centre Sparsholt - Open Event
Undergraduate

Course summary

Why choose this degree?

  • Focus on vocational learning and gain skills in subjects such as water quality, fish anatomy and physiology, aquaculture and fish health and nutrition
  • Be taught by leading industry experts in unrivalled on-site facilities, including the 650m² purpose-built Aquatic Research and Conservation Centre (ARCC), the Salmonid Rearing and Trials Centre and our own mixed coarse fishery lake.
  • Benefit from work placements in areas such as salmon farming, specimen carp fisheries, river keeping or even Jamaican tilapia farming
  • Experience the industry through visits to fish farms and fisheries and research and collaborative projects
  • Progress to final year of relevant BSc (Hons) programme after successful completion
What makes UCS special? University Centre Sparsholt is recognised worldwide for its expertise in providing education in fishery, aquaculture and marine studies. Our lecturing staff are known to be the experts in the industry and can often be found at conferences and industry forums discussing the latest techniques and their supporting research. Students gain real industry experience on and off-site that is underpinned by the high level of technical lecture content to prepare them for a range of careers or progression to courses at Master’s level. Our industry contacts enable great employment prospects. Typically over 50% of our 3rd year students return from work placements to sit their final exams with jobs already secured for graduation. What will I learn? The programme is designed to develop the practical, scientific and specialist skills needed by the fishery management and aquaculture industry. Subjects studied include water quality, fish anatomy and physiology, fishery management and ecology, aquaculture and fish health and nutrition. You will also gain work experience in various industry sectors. Previous placements range from Scottish salmon farms, specimen carp fisheries in England, France and Spain and a tilapia farm in Jamaica to river keeping on local chalk streams, the London Aquarium, the Fish Disease Laboratory at Weymouth and bait manufacturers. Study tours are embedded into the course at Level 4 (Scotland) and Level 5 (Malta). They are a great opportunity to experience different vocational opportunities and other facilities. How will I be assessed? Assessment includes coursework (such as practical portfolios, laboratory reports, case studies and essay style assignments) in combination with formal examinations and group research projects. Where can I go from here? You can progress to the BSc (Hons) in Aquaculture and Fishery Management Top-up at University Centre Sparsholt; alternatively there are BSc programmes available at other universities. Sparsholt students have also gained employment as sports fishery managers, fish farmers and fishery officers in the Environment Agency.

Modules

LEVEL FOUR Principles in Aquatic Science, Fishery Science, Industrial Experience, Water Quality, Introductory Fishery Management, Salmonid Aquaculture, Academic Skills. LEVEL FIVE Tropical Aquaculture, Fish Health and Nutrition, Marine Fish Farming (Optional), Aquarium Design and Husbandry (optional), Fishery Appraisal, Financial Studies, Applied Industrial Research, Industrial Development.

Assessment method

Assessment includes coursework (such as practical portfolios, laboratory reports, case studies and essay style assignments) in combination with formal examinations and group research projects.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
D439
Institution code:
S34
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

Successful completion of a NQF level 4 (Cert HE or HNC) or NQF level 5 (Dip HE, HND or FdSc) in a relevant subject. Please email [email protected].

International applicants

We welcome applications from international students. For further details on the English language requirements, visa requirements and student life, please see our website https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/international/.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Minimum requirement is 64 UCAS tariff points. Students who successfully complete the FdSc may apply to 'top-up' to the BSc. We welcome applications from people with non-standard or international qualifications.

Additional entry requirements

Other

GCSE Maths and English @ Grade C/4 or above (or level 2 equivalents)

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6Overall score of 6.0 with minimum scores of 5.5 in any of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.ielts.org/about-ielts/ielts-for-migration/united-kingdom
Trinity ISEPassPass in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/SELT/UKVI
PTE Academic60Minimum score of 60 or higher in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.pearsonpte.com/selt-tests/pte-academic-ukvi

We will also accept the following qualification: LanguageCert International ESOL SELT - minimum score of 33/50 in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) https://www.languagecert.org/en/uk-visa-exams/study-in-the-uk

Please email [email protected] for details

https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements/

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Channel Islands £9000 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9000 Year 1
EU £13000 Year 1
England £9000 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9000 Year 1
Scotland £9000 Year 1
Wales £9000 Year 1
International £13000 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

www.sparsholt.ac.uk/university-centre/additional-costs/ Students from EU member states will be eligible for an EU scholarship. Please contact [email protected]

Sponsorship information

If your household income is under £32,960 you could receive a bursary of up to £750 per annum. This can be used to help towards travel costs, books and equipment or anything else that will help you during your course. Depending on the financial information disclosed in your Student Loan application, UCS may make an automatic bursary award based on specific criteria as set out in our Access and Participation Plan. If this is not the case you may still be able to apply for financial support to the UCS HE Hardship fund by completing a Bursary Application Form (available from end of |Term 1). For more information please [email protected].

Sports Fisheries and Aquaculture at University Centre Sparsholt - UCAS