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Countryside Management
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Why Study Countryside Management ?
The countryside is under more pressure than ever with the demands of agriculture, industry, housing, wind farms and recreation. The Countryside Management course is designed to introduce you to how the countryside works and how it can be sustainably managed to safeguard its biodiversity and to encourage the informal enjoyment of its natural heritage.
A course leaflet can be downloaded from the right of this page.
About The Course
The Countryside Management course is delivered via a mixture of lectures and field visits. The latter are an integral part of the course and enable students to see the actual management of the countryside in practice and to discuss its impacts with rangers, wardens other managers. Each year has a residential study tour where a more in depth look at particular issues can be explored.
The field and residential trips also allow students to develop their own skills in plant and animal identification, conservation techniques, working with school and other groups and writing and delivering interpretation. The acquisition of these skills is a crucial element in the course and students are encouraged to develop them further through vacational work or through volunteering and the staff are able to provide advice on where such opportunities exist. Being able to demonstrate a willingness to gain more experience is also vital when seeking employment.
Many potential students are not able to commit to a full-time course because of family or work commitments and it is possible to study the course part-time with staff helping to work out a suitable timetable. In addition, for students who cannot attend a campus-based course the HNC is offered as a distance learning course. By using on-line learning materials and residential study weekends students have studied from as far away as Alaska and Brunei.
Awards Available
Click on a course title for further details
BSc/BSc (Hons) Countryside Management
Study In Aberdeen: SAC SO1 F750 X BSc/CM
Study In Ayr: SAC SO1 F750 Y BSc/CM
Length Of Course
The BSc general degree takes 3 years full-time. The BSc Honours degree takes 4 years full-time. Both can be studied part-time.Validating University
This degree is awarded by the University of Glasgow.Minimum Entry Requirements
3 Highers (BCC) or 2 A Levels (CC). English and Mathematics required at Standard Grade/GCSE Pass level or equivalent. Applicants are expected to have experience of countryside management and/or conservation management.Progression Routes
A related HNC, HND or partially completed degree programme can apply to join Year 2 or 3 of the degree.HND Countryside Management
Study In Aberdeen: SAC SO1 157F X HND/CMgt
Study In Ayr: SAC SO1 157F Y HND/CMgt
Length Of Course
The HND takes 2 years full-time, or can be studied part-time.Minimum Entry Requirements
2 Highers (CC) or 1 A Level pass. Practical experience or a strong interest in conservation or countryside recreation is desirable. Applications from those returning to learning with relevant experience are welcome.Progression Routes
Those completing the HND can progress seamlessly into Year 3 of the BSc/BSc (Hons) Countryside Management. Applicants may also be eligible to join Year 3 of the BSc/BSc (Hons) Sustainable Environmental Management.HNC Countryside and Environmental Management by Flexible Learning
UCAS Codes
Study In Aberdeen: Apply direct to SAC
Study In Ayr: Apply direct to SAC
Study In Edinburgh: Apply direct to SAC
Length Of Course
The HNC takes 2 years to study by flexible learning. Study is mainly at home, and there's a weekend study school once a term.
The HNC Countryside and Environmental Management runs with a choice of two specialist streams - Countryside Management or Environmental Management.
Minimum Entry Requirements
2 Highers (CC) or 1 A Level pass. Entry also with an Access to Science qualification. Relevant experience will also be considered.Progression Routes
Those completing the HNC can progress into Year 2 of the following courses:
From the Countryside Management stream: BSc/HND Countryside Management, BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management
From the Environmental Management stream: BSc/HND Rural Resource Management, BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management, HND Environmental Management and Sustainability.
HNC Countryside and Environmental Management
UCAS Codes
Study In Aberdeen: SAC SO1 057F X HNC/CEM
Study In Ayr: SAC SO1 057F Y HNC/CEM
Study In Edinburgh: SAC SO1 057F Z HNC/CEM
Length Of Course
The HNC takes 1 year full-time. Part-time study is possible. The HNC can be studied part-time on campus or by flexible learning.
The HNC Countryside and Environmental Management runs with a choice of two specialist streams - Countryside Management or Environmental Management. The Environmental Management stream runs at all campuses, the Countryside Management stream runs at the Ayr and Aberdeen campuses.
Minimum Entry Requirements
2 Highers (CC) or 1 A Level pass. Entry also with an Access to Science qualification. Relevant experience will also be considered.Progression Routes
Those completing the HNC can progress into Year 2 of the following courses:
From the Countryside Management stream: BSc/HND Countryside Management, BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management
From the Environmental Management stream: BSc/HND Rural Resource Management, BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management, HND Environmental Management and Sustainability.
Course Content
Further information is available in SAC's undergraduate prospectus, and in our course leaflet which can be downloaded from this page. Please contact us for further information.
To understand how the countryside works it is important to have a broad overview of how it has developed. To this end the Countryside Management course includes a range of modules that help to set the scene and provide a context for its management. These modules include geology, history and archaeology, land use, landscape development and town and country planning.
Using the knowledge gained in these underpinning modules and more specialist knowledge from, for example, ecology modules, the two main strands of the course are developed. These are biodiversity management and people management.
Biodiversity is now a commonly used word although there is frequently some confusion over exactly what it means and how it should be managed. The course gives a comprehensive introduction to the subject and follows this up with more detail of management techniques, habitat surveying, the management of habitats and species and of the aquatic environment, management planning, the restoration of degraded land and woodland management.
It is impossible to separate people and their impacts from the management of the countryside and students must be aware of both the positive and potentially negative role that the public can play. Consequently the behaviour and management of people is extensively covered as is environmental education, environmental interpretation, rural sociology, wildlife tourism and the management of community projects. This gives students an understanding of how people behave and how their behaviour can be managed to enhance the countryside.
Career Opportunities
There is a wide range of potential job destinations for Countryside Management students and the course is well recognised as being the market leader in Scotland. However it is crucial that students maximise their opportunities to gain more experience through paid work and volunteering, and staff will help with advice and suggestions.
Listed below are some of the career options available to graduates.
- HNC – seasonal countryside ranger, footpath worker, trainer, forestry worker, campaigner, field officer.
- HND – countryside ranger, footpath/access officer, project officer, wildlife tourism guide
- Degree – area officer (eg Scottish Natural Heritage), warden, biodiversity officer, consultant, recycling officer
Course Contacts
Aberdeen Course Contact
Dr Pat WightmanResearch Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Ferguson Building, SAC Aberdeen Campus
Aberdeen
AB21 9YA
TelWork 01224 711074
Fax 01224 711293
Send Email
Aberdeen Campus General Contact
Mrs Suzanne StockwellStudent Recruitment Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn
Aberdeen
AB21 9YA
TelWork 01224 711189
Send Email
Ayr Course Contact
Mr Kev TheakerLecturer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work John Hannah Building, SAC Ayr Campus
Ayr
KA6 5HW
TelWork 01292 525298
Send Email
Ayr Campus General Contact
Mrs Jill ThomsonStudent Recruitment Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Auchincruive Estate,
Ayr
KA6 5HW
TelWork 01292 525343
Send Email
Student Experiences
“This course has been so beneficial to me. Indeed it has been the foundation of my career since I graduated – in essence – a very ‘usable’ degree.”
“My time at SAC was great and the surroundings and facilities for learning were fantastic. The teaching is of university standard but in a friendly college atmosphere with field trips and study tours to get out and physically see what various organisations are doing.”
“I enjoyed my time at SAC. The staff were always friendly and helpful and the facilities and location were great. The course undoubtedly contributed significantly to achieving my goal of a career in countryside related work.”
“We all benefited from the endless support and encouragement from all the lecturers and library staff. You really build up a working relationship with them.”