Rural or coastal uni for animal behaviour?

[BonnesVacances]

DD is adamant she wants a uni in the middle of nowhere or by the sea to study Animal Behaviour but the options are limited.

So far I have found Aberystwyth and Exeter (Penryn) which are both perfect, apart from being hours from home by car and train. Harper Adams is a better location but the animal options are very focussed on farm animals and companion and DD is more interested in wild animals. Plymouth looks like a contender but their links are with captive animals and she's more interested in natural habitat. I've also looked at Hartpury but she's not sporty at all and is put off by all the rugby lads. They also focus on farm animals.

Are there any good ones I've missed? Apparently this year they had to put a minimum of 5 choices but she doesn't have 5! She really doesn't want to be in a city and isn't into nightlife or anything like that. She just likes nature.

Thanks all. DD does want a traditional uni experience, rather than a college with a university centre, as she's been housebound for 6/7 years and wants what her friends had. She's not worried about employment or how niche the degree is as she has several chronic health conditions that prevent her from full time work anyway, so it will always just be a hobby of sorts.

NTU looks good too, and it was a good suggestion to look at wildlife courses too. So there are now 3 solid choices on the list.

@BonnesVacances was just wondering how you have got on?
I'm in the midst of sorting Open Days with DD1, she seems quite set on Aber or Bangor, which look amazing but I am so worried about the distance. She is autistic and has struggled with her mental health, was out of school completely for 2 years and barely attended the year before that.
She has done amazingly since being at college and I am so proud of her but would so much rather she went somewhere where I could reach her in a couple of hours rather than 6! But obviously want her to be happy and to go where she wants to.

We only have Aberystwyth, NTU and Exeter (Penryn). I haven't found anything else that fits the criteria for fairly rural campus with access to wild animals in their natural habitat and does the course she wants. Bangor doesn't do the right course.

I know what you mean about Aberystwyth (& Bangor) and we're in the same situation re ASD and mental health, plus she has ME. It's 6 hrs away by car and train which is too far to be comfortable in an emergency. As is Penryn for us. I'd prefer for her to go to NTU based on distance alone. But then I look at Aberystwyth again and read how much people love it, and it's back at the top of the list.

I personally know of someone with ASD who went to Aber, absolutely thrived and came out with a first. Their parents couldn't imagine for a second they'd cope at uni and so far from home. But they were extremely well supported and loved it there. Even took the train home by themselves for holidays etc.

We haven't made it to any open days though so they're blind choices on paper and based on what research I've managed to do.

Where are you based? Uni of Sussex has been suggested to me. The campus is on the edge of the South Downs but they don't do any courses for DD. But if Bangor is an option, they might do something suitable there for your DD.

I did an HND in Animal Management at Sparsholt - it is a lovely rural campus and Winchester is lovely and not too city like, more like a large town. It was a good foundation and you could specialise in either zoo, wildlife or animal health for your second year, and the opportunity to top up to degree (which obviously could be done elsewhere if preferred). They had close links with Marwell Zoo, which is fantastic.

HNDs are more practical, so you have to prove your animal handling skills, which I think can be lacking in straight degree courses (and if I'm honest, sometimes laughed at in the industry because of this). I believe Plumpton then followed suit. It was some time ago now admittedly, so things might be different, but I wouldn't put off thinking about an HND, working with animals really does require good handling skills to be taken seriously, unless you have a clear direction. Uni of Sussex doesn't have any animals on campus, but is based in the Downs and does have links to the Knepp Estate, which is one of the leading rewilding sites in the UK. Hope that helps a bit!

Thanks to you both.

We are not far from Sussex Uni, though prob too near if that makes sense in that she would prob live at home if she went there and I think she's keen to live out of the home.

And yes I am more than happy for her to do a HND, they offer one at her current college which she can then top up with a further years course to turn it into a BSC. This is definitely an option. I flip between wanting to keep her safe and close, to wanting her to stretch her wings and live an adventurous life.

My DD2 is currently in her second year at Bangor studying Zoology with Animal Behaviour and she's loving it. They have great facilities, including an aquarium (marine and freshwater), reptiles and a natural history museum.

The surrounding scenery is breathtaking - DD2 goes for frequent hikes, and loves the fact that it's on the coast. Also, the railway station is close to the university, and DD says that student support is really good.

What about Newcastle or Northumbria?

I was going to suggest Zoology.
DD is considering it and we visited Lancaster at the weekend. She really liked it. Everyone was so helpful and the campus is great.
Its quite rural and not far from the coast

Oh, and DD is currently undergoing ADHD assessment

Does Cardiff have a suitable course? I can recommend their mental and physical disability support, have been very good with dd

@BonnesVacances What did your DD decide in the end? My DD applied for Bangor, Aberystwyth, Kent and Exeter Penryn with Bangor as her first choice. 🤞

@tattychicken DD hasn’t been able to apply anywhere this year for the same reasons your DD has been struggling. Ill health has got in the way. Again. And she’s had to drop out of the Access to HE course she was trying to do. She’s been out of school for 7 years due to having ME so doesn’t have any A levels or a full suite of GCSES.

Aber has always been a favourite and where she sees herself, but although they do a foundation year, she’s not well enough to do that either. Unless something else comes up in the meantime, it’s still Aber and NTU for now. We’re moving even further away from Exeter Penryn so that’s probably off the cards now. But closer to Aber which is a small blessing.

Good luck to your DD and hope she gets Bangor.

@BonnesVacances I'm so sorry to hear your DD has not been well enough to continue her studies. That must be so tough for her, and for you in supporting her. I know exhausting and all consuming it can be.
I really hope her health improves and she is able to get back into education at some point. And thank you for your kind words for my DD.