Conservation and Sustainability Education PGCert

Apply as Home Student Apply as International Student
Request a Prospectus Visit Us
A person wearing a Chester Zoo shirt looks through glass at an animal exhibit

The PGCert in Conservation and Sustainability Education offers an innovative collaboration between the University of Chester and Chester Zoo. Designed for educators, conservation professionals, and sustainability leaders, the course explores how learning can inspire meaningful environmental action and deepen understanding of our connection with the natural world.

Whether you’re an education professional or leading sustainability and conservation initiatives within a business or organisation, this course supports you to design, deliver, and lead impactful learning for change. You’ll explore how to develop conservation and sustainability education across a range of settings from classrooms and community organisations to zoos, museums, and nature-based programmes and beyond.

Study Options

You can choose to:

  • Enrol for the full PGCert (three modules, 60 credits) gaining a postgraduate qualification in Conservation and Sustainability Education

or

  • Register for individual standalone modules ideal if you wish to develop specialist knowledge in a specific area before committing to the full programme.

If you later decide to complete the full PGCert, any credits achieved through standalone modules can be transferred (subject to time limits and module availability).

Postgraduate Certificate in Conservation and Sustainability Education

Postgraduate Certificate in Conservation and Sustainability Education

What You'll Study

You may take the following modules individually or as part of the full PGCert.

Each module is normally completed within 12 months, with up to four years allowed for completion of the full PGCert.

Modules

This module focuses on equipping students with the theoretical and practical tools necessary to design, develop, and implement conservation, climate, and sustainability education strategies and or programmes. It examines the intersection of educational curricula with global conservation goals and sustainability measures, enabling students to create impactful and contextually relevant initiatives.

This module provides an in-depth exploration of the history, context, and evolution of climate, conservation, and sustainability education. It examines the development of global strategies and local actions, as well as the barriers and benefits of fostering learning across diverse settings, including online, on-site, and community-based environments. Students will critically engage with the drivers of engagement in sustainability and conservation activities from both individual and organisational perspectives.

The module encourages practitioners to reflect on their own assumptions and biases that may influence their approach to education. It places a strong emphasis on understanding and addressing considerations of inclusion, diversity, equality, cultural relevance, and accessibility in the delivery of conservation and sustainability education.

Through the use of global, national, and local case studies, students will gain a strategic understanding of how conservation programmes and initiatives are adapted to suit different cultural and environmental contexts. The module also includes an analysis of participation models, focusing on co-creation and community-building to drive impactful educational outcomes.

By the end of this module, students will have a deeper appreciation of the complexities of climate, conservation, and sustainability education, along with the tools and perspectives needed to deliver effective and inclusive programmes across varied contexts.

This module delves into the pedagogical and andragogical approaches used to foster connectedness to nature, raise climate change awareness, and promote conservation and sustainability. It provides students with the tools to critically evaluate and apply innovative educational methods and technologies across a variety of settings and audiences as future leaders within the field of conservation and sustainability education.

Through a combination of theoretical analysis and practical application, the module explores how exhibitions, talks, tours, workshops, campaigns, play, and gaming can be used to inspire action and drive learning. Students will also engage with the concepts of future-proofing, free-choice learning, and the integration of technology in educational contexts, assessing their effectiveness in delivering impactful conservation and sustainability programmes.

The module encourages a critical approach to sourcing, selecting, and evaluating educational content, emphasising the importance of using robust, evidence-based materials supported by scientific research. Students will also critique and apply a range of evaluation tools, both qualitative and quantitative, to assess and enhance the development and delivery of impactful programmes.

By the end of the module, students will have developed the skills to design, critique, and improve conservation education initiatives, ensuring they are effective, engaging, and grounded in scientific rigour. This module equips students to lead innovative and impactful conservation education efforts in diverse sectors and settings.

Module availability and delivery format (e.g. online, in-person, or blended) may vary by year. While we aim to offer flexibility, we cannot guarantee that all modules will run annually.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

How You'll Learn

Online sessions delivered over two weekends per term

Coursework assignment that encourages reflection and links to professional practice

This course does not involve in-person study

This course is taught online

An aerial photograph of Exton Park with the text 'How we teach at the University of Chester'

How we teach at the University of Chester

Flexible, Interactive Learning

The PGCert is delivered fully online through live, interactive seminars and collaborative group sessions, allowing us to bring together like-minded professionals regardless of location. The structure is designed to support those working or volunteering, while still creating a rich, engaging learning community.

You'll take part in three compulsory modules delivered across the academic year, with teaching organised over two weekends per term. Each term includes:

  • Two mid-week evening seminars
  • Two all-day Saturday sessions
  • Access to online learning resources, guided study tasks, and discussion forums

All assessment is coursework-based and rooted in your own professional context, allowing you to apply what you learn directly to your role whether in education, conservation, outreach, or community engagement. This structure ensures you develop both theoretical knowledge and real-world insight throughout your studies.

Your Future Career

Job Prospects 

Conservation and Sustainability Education happens in a vast and diverse range of settings, including zoos, national trust, wildlife trust, forestry commission, as well as schools in both formal and informal manners.

This Postgraduate Certificate in Conservation and Sustainability in Education has been designed to meet the training and development needs outlined within the WAZA conservation education strategy (PDF).

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Entry Requirements

2:2honours degree

A 2:2 honours degree in any subject, and be engaged in, or aspire to work in, teaching and learning or public engagement with conservation and/or sustainability. Applicants with other degree classes and significant experience may be considered through interview and if they can demonstrate, on application, their ability to work at Level 7.

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of proficiency to IELTS 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in each band or equivalent.

This is a practical course that could be undertaken as part of full-time employment to develop the professional skills of those currently working in a related field including zoo/aquarium/conservation and sustainability and/or education.

Ability to access the internet to study remotely is essential.

2:2honours degree

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also take into account appropriate work experience.

See below for your country specific requirements. Please note, some programmes have special entry requirements and if applicable, these are listed below.

English Language Requirements

For more information on our English Language requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

Fees and Funding

£2,925 for full-time course (2025/26)

Guides to the fees for students who wish to commence postgraduate courses are available to view on our Postgraduate Taught Programmes Fees page. Here you will also find information about part-time fees and project/placement year fees.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. 

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. 

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Who You'll Learn From

Una Meehan

Deputy Director
Uná Meehan

Enquire about a course