We have developed our degree accreditation scheme to recognise those undergraduate and postgraduate degrees that offer students the knowledge and practical skills most valued by employers. The need for such a scheme was identified by research published in 2011 into the ecological skills gap and skills shortages in the UK and Ireland.

The purpose of our degree accreditation is:

• To support higher education institutes in developing graduates that can help the profession address the skills gap and skills shortage issue.
• To promote the importance of mandatory practical fieldwork as part of taught degree courses.
• To help students make informed choices about what different courses are available and the skills that they provide, to help them with their future career prospects.

Our degree accreditation scheme is focused on core ecological and environmental theory and significant practical experience, much of which should be in the form of fieldwork. We firmly believe that experience ‘in the field’ is essential to gaining skills that are crucially important to employers seeking to recruit graduates. These include:

• the application of theoretical knowledge in ‘real world’ situations;
• the teaching of some skills (e.g. species identification) that can only be taught, or can best be taught, in the field;
• exposure to uncontrolled, unpredictable field situations; and
• the development of scientific interpretation, analytical and report writing skills.

Benefits of Accreditation

Studying a CIEEM accredited degree or degree pathway has many significant benefits:

• Our accreditation is underpinned by feedback directly from employers – we have designed the scheme around what we know they are looking for in candidates.
• The course content and achievement of key learning outcomes has been rigorously assessed for quality and relevance.
• Students studying on accredited degrees or degree pathways are eligible for FREE student membership, for the duration that the course is accredited.
• During their course, students will have the opportunity to attend relevant CIEEM events, meet practising ecologists and environmental managers, and access careers advice from employers within the sector.

Here is what accredited students have to say:

“Choosing a CIEEM accredited degree assured me of the quality of education that I would receive and that future employers would recognise this as well”. – Matthew, Nottingham Trent University, BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Ecology and Environmental Management)

Accredited Degrees

 

Institution	Course	Valid from	Valid until
	BSc (Hons) Countryside and Environmental Management	July 2013	2020
	BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation and Environmental Management	March 2017	2020
	MSc Biodiversity Conservation	January 2014	2020
	BSc (Hons) Natural History	February 2017	2020
	MSc Wildlife and Conservation Management	February 2017	2020
	BSc (Hons) Global Ecosystems Management	January 2017	June 2020
	MSc Ecology and Environmental Management	October 2016	2021
	BSc Environmental Science	October 2016	2021
	MSc Biodiversity Conservation	May 2018	2023
	MSc Wildlife Biology and Conservation	January 2018	2023
	BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Ecology and Environmental Management)	July 2013	2023
	MSc Conservation Management	March 2019	2024
	MSc Conservation Ecology	January 2014	2024
	BSc (Hons) Animal Biology and Conservation	January 2014	2024

Accredited Degree Pathways

 

Institution	Course	Valid from	Valid until
	BSc (Hons) Biology	July 2016	2021
	BSc (Hons) Zoology	July 2016	2021
	BSc (Hons) Environmental Science	January 2014	2024
	BSc (Hons) Environmental Science	May 2019	2024

If a degree or degree pathway becomes accredited by CIEEM before or during your time on that course, you are entitled to apply for FREE CIEEM Student Membership (CIEEM Accredited Degree), until the accreditation ceases.