SRUC Student life | Study overseas

Expand your learning and your horizons

Our annual study trips are designed to complement SRUC’s practical, hands-on approach to learning, allowing you to engage directly with agricultural, environmental, and rural industries in diverse global contexts.

Aligned with SRUC’s course programmes but open to all, these study trips offer the opportunity to enhance your subject knowledge, insight, and skills while fostering important skills that go beyond the classroom. You'll make incredible memories, learn valuable skills, and instantly become more connected to the international community at SRUC. Plus by studying abroad, you'll boost your employability after graduation with the international experience, fresh perspectives, and transferable skills that are highly valued by employers across sectors.

Current trips available:

Wildlife and Conservation Management – Honduras

Trip dates: 23 June - 6 July 2027 (+ 2 days either side)
Cost: £3,618 payable in instalments

You will begin your expedition in the spectacular cloud forests of Cusuco National Park, Honduras, which is ranked in the top 50 most irreplaceable biodiversity sites in the world and is therefore a major conservation priority. You will spend time in both our main base camp, but also our more remote forest camps where you will get a real jungle experience! As well as learning about the ecology of the cloud forests and their conservation importance, you will work alongside a large team of scientists on projects including forest structure and carbon storage capacity, butterfly trapping, amphibian and reptile transect surveys, bird point count and mist net surveys, fungi surveying, large mammal surveys from camera trapping and bat surveys from mist netting and soundscaping. This is the most published team of forest researchers from all the Opwall sites, so a great place to learn a range of forest survey techniques and how to analyse these data sets.

For more information please see: Honduras Conservation Research Expeditions | Operation Wallacea.

Turing funding may be available. Please contact lorna.howe@sruc.ac.uk with any questions

Full trip details

Past trips

Explore some of the incredible study abroad trips SRUC students have done before.

: In the first week of this trip, students lived at the Pacuare Turtle Conservation Project, a remote area only accessible by boat. The students patrolled the beach for sea turtles laying their eggs, helped establish hatcheries, and assisted with beach clearing and maintenance of the site.

In the second week they visited some of the larger national parks, where they learnt about the native species and conservation of their habitat.
: In this trip, students spent their first week in the Nambiti Game reserve where they were taught and worked alongside field guides on a hands-on conservation project. The second week of this trip was spent at the Zingela Nature Reserve where students had the opportunity to be involved with the research that takes place there as well as participate in adventurous activities.
: In the first week of this trip, students lived at a wildlife rescue sanctuary, engaging in structured training, learning about the animals of the Amazon, the challenges faced by habitat destruction and human interference, and techniques used by conservationists in the rehabilitation and release of captive animals. Ecuadorian veterinarians, biologists, and zoologists provided instruction on animal nutrition, behaviour, and monitoring techniques and students applied their newfound knowledge to develop behavioural enrichment structures, carry out monitoring activities, and help feed the animals.

In the second week, students moved to a nearby ecological reserve where researchers trained students in habitat conservation, ecology, and techniques used to monitor and gather data in conservation initiatives.
: The Greater Kruger area is renowned for its wildlife reserves and the iconic Big 5 animals. It also boasts the 3rd largest canyon in the world called the Blyde River Canyon.   

On this trip in the 2023/24 academic year, students learned about the issues facing South African wildlife reserves. They closely monitored the terrain to ensure the optimal environment for endangered animals and helped with removing alien plant species to encourage natural grasses and trees to thrive. They also had the opportunity to learn about rhino poaching, the current situation and the solutions. Students were also taught how to collect data on native species and shown how this is used in conservation efforts.

"This trip was the best experience of my life!"

"I enjoyed how much we were trusted with the animals. We wouldn’t get that opportunity in the UK!"

"I know exactly what field of work I want to go into now!"

International students

Are you coming to study at SRUC from outside the UK? You'll find all the information you need as an international student here.

Global impact

Together and alongside industry and policymakers, we're designing, developing, and delivering real-world change to tackle the world's most pressing issues and bring important, beneficial, and lasting improvements to our global natural economy.