Category: Field trip

students walking down mossy cliff to sandy beach and blue skies

Field trips that shape your future: Why geography and environment students at Brighton learn beyond the classroom

Studying Geography and Environment at the University of Brighton isn’t just about lectures and textbooks; it’s about experiencing real-world challenges and solutions first-hand. Our field trips are designed to immerse students in diverse environments, helping them develop practical skills and insights that employers value in careers across sustainability, urban planning, environmental consultancy, and beyond.

In this blog post, we explore just some of the fantastic trips our geography and environment students have already been on since the start of the academic year!

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Christina CammLeave a comment
Shropshire landscape at the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve, England, UK

First steps into the wild: Year one ecology field trip to Preston Montford

Starting university is a big moment and at the University of Brighton, students on our Ecology and Conservation BSc(Hons) course, kick off their journey with boots on the ground and binoculars in hand.

The first-year field trip to FSC Preston Montford is more than just an introduction to ecological fieldwork, it’s a chance to build friendships, explore nature, and begin developing the skills that will shape your future career.

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Group shot of students in safari holding samples

From field to future: How Brighton’s South Africa trip boosts careers in Ecology

“I have learnt so much so quickly in a short period of time, it has made everything I have learnt far more clear.” – second year student

If you’re considering a career in ecology, conservation, or environmental science, the Ecology and Conservation BSc (Hons) at the University of Brighton offers more than just academic excellence – it offers real-world experience that sets you apart in the job market.

One of the most impactful opportunities is the second-year field trip to South Africa, where students spend 12 days at Mankwe Wildlife Reserve applying ecological theory in a dynamic, international setting.

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Image of Jess Strong in Sicily

Geography student experience: Sicily Fieldtrip 2025

“Being able to conduct research and assessments that incorporate every aspect of life will be a key part of my future career, this experience in the field has truly supported me in knowing what is important and why.”

We recently caught up with Jess Strong, a second-year student currently studying Geography BA(Hons), to hear more about her recent experience attending a field trip to Sicily.

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group shot of geography and enviromental students on fieldtrip in Siciliy

From the classroom to Sicily: How Brighton geography and enviroment students experience the real world

“Field trips are the best way of learning what the world’s really like in practice, not just in theory. They also boost students’ confidence for future studies and for jobs – they’ve seen the challenges the field throws up, and they’ve learned that they can deal with them!” – Dr Nick McGlynn, Senior Lecturer in Geography.

Second-year students studying our Geography and Environmental Sciences degrees recently took an unforgettable field trip to Sicily! The annual visit is a vital part of our courses, allowing students to put theory into practice in dynamic, real-world environments.

Accredited by the Royal Geographical Society and the Institution of Environmental Sciences, our degrees ensure students graduate with genuine field experience — a vital asset for their future careers.

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Christina CammLeave a comment
Sustainable campus in Falmer

Brighton jumps into top 30 in new university sustainability league table

The University of Brighton has climbed an impressive 16 places to secure a spot in the top 30 of the latest People & Planet University League, a prestigious ranking of 165 UK universities based on their environmental and ethical performance.

Brighton’s achievement also places it as the fourth most sustainable university in the South East, showcasing its leadership in sustainability within the region.

Recognized for Excellence in Sustainability

The People & Planet League evaluates universities across 14 categories, including environmental policy and strategy, water use, waste and recycling, carbon management and reduction, as well as education on sustainable development.

Brighton was awarded:

  • 100% for its sustainability strategy and policies.
  • 90% for staff and student engagement.
  • 85% for education on sustainable development.
  • 83% for carbon management.

The improvement on last year’s league table position means Brighton has risen by 41 places in the last two years having placed 71st in 2022 and 46th in 2023.

University of Brighton People and Planet award

A Mission-Aligned Approach

Ollie Swan, Head of Sustainability at the University of Brighton, emphasized the institution’s dual focus on academic and operational excellence:
“Our academic mission is deeply connected to addressing today’s environmental and ethical challenges. By aligning our teaching and research with real-world issues, we prepare students to contribute to a sustainable society. At the same time, we’re committed to ‘walking the talk’ through our own environmental performance. While these results are encouraging, we remain focused on consistent improvements within our emerging university strategy.”

A Track Record of Sustainable Action

The latest performance in the national sustainability league table comes after the university was awarded platinum status through the EcoCampus university sector environmental management certification (EMS) scheme.

This is a result of implementing strategic policies to cut carbon emissions, move towards cleaner energy, protect biodiversity, and reduce waste.

So far, the University of Brighton has:

  • Generated 630,000 kWh of solar power in 2023/24—equivalent to powering 230 homes for a year.
  • Diverted 4.7 tonnes of waste from landfills through a reuse campaign, which collected 592 bags of unwanted items from student halls and raised £8,880 for charity in 2024.
Commitment to a Sustainable Future

This recognition reflects Brighton’s dedication to fostering a culture of sustainability. The university’s staff and students play an active role in driving positive environmental change, setting a strong example for the wider community.

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Three students on a beach walking across rockpools

Student experience: My journey studying biological sciences at the University of Brighton

“I do plan on doing a placement year, and currently getting an idea of what positions might be available, but I know I want to get some laboratory experience; as I know it will be useful for the field I’m interested in going into, which is research.”

Starting a Biological Sciences BSc at the University of Brighton isn’t just about studying life, it’s about building a future career in a rapidly evolving field. In this blog post Jade, a first-year student, shares why Brighton is the right choice for those looking to turn thir passion for biology into professional success.

Why biological sciences at Brighton

“Hi I’m Jade and I’m a first year studying Biological Sciences BSc(Hons) and here’s what I think of the course so far…

“I chose this course as I’ve been interested in biology for many years, and I like that this course specifically allows you to cater it more specifically to yourself with how many option modules there are for later years. I chose Brighton as I’ve lived rather locally my whole life, and I’m enjoying being able to study whilst also still getting to live at home.”

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Group of students walking on fallen tree trunk in wintery woods at Devils Dyke

Nature walk and social at Devil’s Dyke

To take a break from studies this February, 40 students and staff from Geography, Environment and Ecology courses decided to get out of the city for a casual social event. The chosen location was Devil’s Dyke. With its deep ice-cut valley, its wildlife, its folk legends and its panoramic views across the South Downs, this was the perfect place to roam around on a Saturday afternoon! And being just 20 minutes from the city by bus, it’s easy to travel to any time.

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Group of students in the woods on a bat hunt

Third year bat surveys at Woods Mill

As part of the Ecological Impact Assessment module, students met Ryan Greaves, from the Bat Conservation Trust and we had the fantastic opportunity to take part in bat box checks.

The mild weather in late September meant that bats were still active and around! After an in-depth lecture on bat species and their ecology, an intro to bat boxes and the different survey tools at hand, we were ready to go an check some boxes. This year was a really good one and we found some common pipistrelle in a couple of boxes.

As part of the standard bat survey, measurements were taken, we had our smallest male with 4.5g. Pipistrelle weigh the same as a £1 coin! We concluded our training day with a bat walk, using bat detectors and listening to the clapping of the bats feeding above our heads!

This was a great start of term!

Hand held technology for monitoring on the bat hunt
Group of students in the woods on a bat hunt
Close up of hands in glove looks at a leaf
Find out more about biology and ecology at Brighton

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Group of students on the seafront at Bexhill on Sea

A study visit to Bexhill’s urban greenspaces

Geography and environmental sciences students taking the specialist urban geography module Cities & Social Change recently travelled to Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex to learn about coastal towns in transition.

The group visited key sites of green infrastructure around the town which had received substantial regeneration monies over the last decade. And they were joined by local experts Adrian Gaylon, sports development officer, and Frank Rallings, former head of planning, at Rother District Council.

Students observed the innovative seafront planting scheme on Bexhill’s West Promenade. Beautiful herbaceous perennials provide year-round colour and structure that thrives with minimal maintenance in an aggressive coastal micro-climate.

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Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment