It can seem daunting trying to choose your future study pathway but whether you are interested in animals, agriculture, conservation, forestry or something else, there are a wide variety of options in and near Cumbria.
For 16+ College is an option - you don't necessarily need to stay on at school, you could go to a college and do alternatives to A Levels such as T Levels, or even start an apprenticeship. If you don't yet have your Maths and English you can study these alongside any college course.
For some land and nature courses you may have to travel out of the county, but those colleges (Barony, Kirkley Hall and Myerscough) have on-site accommodation options for 16+. Colleges tend to chunk taught sessions together so that you only need to stay at college for part of the week. Likewise work placements can often be arranged in Cumbria to keep you nearer to home.
For 18+ University becomes an option. The apprenticeship route also remains an option, either through college, through an employer, or even a degree apprenticeship through a university.
See below for the full range of college and university options within reach of Cumbria.
Carlisle College (CA1 1HS) offer an extensive range of higher and further education, professional qualifications, and community programmes to those 16+ Their course offer includes Business, Construction, Engineering and Science, all of which can be a good starting point for working in land and…
Furness College (LA14 2PJ) offer a range of vocational, technical, and professional courses as well as apprenticeships and A Levels for 16+. Their course offer includes Business, Construction, Engineering and Science, all of which can be a good starting point for working in land and nature.
Kendal College (LA9 5AY) cater for students 16+ and offer a range of levels of qualification including including T Levels, A Levels, apprenticeships, degrees and more. Their course offer includes in Agriculture, Animal Care and Outdoor Adventure. They run their Agriculture course from Wigton…
Lakes College (CA14 4JN) is open to 16+ and offer a range of study levels from T Levels to apprenticeships to higher education. Their course offer includes Business, Construction, Engineering and Science, all of which can be a good starting point for working in land and nature.
Myerscough College (PR3 0RY) is a land based college with amazing facilities at their campus near Preston where accommodation is available for 16+. Courses include Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Land and Wildlife Management, Animal Studies, Arboriculture and Forestry, Equine Studies,…
The University of Cumbria offer courses in Ecology & Wildlife Conservation, Forest Management, Woodland Ecology & Conservation, Zoology, Geography, Environmental Science, Outdoor Leadership from their Ambleside (LA1 2TY) and Carlisle (CA1 2HH) campuses to those 18+. These range from short CPD…
Lancaster & Morecambe College (LA1 2TY) offer various courses to those 16+, including Animal Care, Management & Studies at Levels 1-3 and also have a Level 1 Land Based Studies course which acts as an introduction to land based industries. You can also study Engineering, Science, Business and…
The Kirkley Hall Campus of Northumberland College (NE20 0AQ) is a land based college with amazing facilities. You can study Equine Care, Equine Studies, Equine Management, Equine Training & Coaching, Animal Nursing Assistant, Veterinary Science & Zoology, Veterinary Nursing, Animal Welfare, Animal…
SRUC Barony Campus (DG1 3NE) near Dumfries is a land based college with amazing facilities with various study levels on offer from 16+ and accommodation on site. Courses include Agriculture, Animal Care, Arboriculture, Forestry, Land-based Engineering, Rural Business Management, Trees & Timber,…
Lancaster University (LA1 4YW) offers wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate study options to those 18+. Degree options include Biology, Geography, Earth & Environmental Science, Ecology & Conservation, all of which could be relevant to a career in land and nature. The campus is easily…
The University of Lancashire (PR1 2HE) offers degrees in Archaeology, Biology, Civil Engineering, Leadership through Outdoor Adventure, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Engineering, Veterinary Medicine & Surgery to those 18+. Their Preston campus is easily accessible by public transport from Cumbria.
