After pursuing an acting career straight out of school but feeling her purpose was unfulfilled, Alexandra took a leap of faith to retry education. Growing up with a love of nature and all things wildlife, she decided to follow her heart and join our Wildlife Conservation course. Alex’s story proves that self-belief and hard work will get you everywhere. Read more about her journey from self-doubt to self-belief below.
Why did you choose to study at Salford?
My entire application process was rather unusual. Historically, I had not enjoyed my experience in education, as at the time I suffered from depression, anxiety and PTSD. Although I secured a place at a university in Wales studying Wildlife Biology, I didn’t feel like I could continue a path in education at that time. I had been working as an actress since I was 16, and I decided to pursue that career instead. I signed with an agent and spent 7 years working in the industry. However, I never felt fulfilled. I enjoyed my work, but it felt self orientated and something was missing.
Then the man who inspired my love for nature, my grandfather, unexpectedly passed away. That was when I decided I needed to return to my roots and carry on his legacy. I came across the University of Salford, and thought, this is perfect. I applied, but unfortunately, due to my A-level performance, I didn’t meet the UCAS requirements. I was devastated, and then a couple of weeks later. I got a phone call. It was Denise Thomasson, she’d seen my application and wanted to talk about it further. After about 30 minutes on the phone, she told me I needed to be on this course and it was clear I was capable. Denise got me a place on the course, and I will forever be thankful for her and that phone call.
My life has changed for the better because of it and it cemented my decision to study at Salford. I hadn’t even set foot on campus, yet I already had someone fighting my corner and doing the best they could to help me.
“I am finally somewhere I am understood and supported.”
Alexandra Dobson
What made you want to study your course? How did you come to study your subject?
I have grown up with a natural history mad family. My Grandfather and Father’s knowledge and passion for the natural world surrounded my childhood. Family holidays weren’t to resorts, they were hiring a car and driving to and from different science research stations in the rainforest. I always felt a responsibility to protect the very thing we all got so much enjoyment and love from. Even through my acting career, the goal was always to make enough money to invest in conservation and protecting our wildlife.
I realised that in order to protect the world I love so deeply to the best of my ability, I need to arm myself with as much knowledge about it as I possibly can to do so, and who better to learn from than the best in the field!
Tell us a bit about your course. How would you explain your course to someone who knows nothing about it?
The Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology course is a perfect mix of practical work and scientific learning. I have just completed my first year, which is designed to put all students on the same level regarding practical skills and scientific understanding. I can confidently say, I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
You are taught everything from the intricate details of genetics and embryology, to the broader spectrum of the tree off life and phylogeny, and even to the history of animal welfare and zoo legislation.
Whether you want to work in ecology, research, conservation or within a Zoo, the course covers it all! You’ll even find yourself discovering pathways into wildlife related work you didn’t know existed!
How do you learn on the course?
I’ve found the course is a perfect mix for different types of learners.
We have plenty of fantastic field trips each term, to Zoo’s, Museums and to beautiful natural ecosystems, all of which have been a great way to get hands on with the subject you love.
All the lectures are optionally interactive, so whether you prefer just to sit and listen whilst writing, or actively debate and ask questions, you’ll feel right at home either way.
I’m not exaggerating when I say every single one of our lecturers are more than happy to give their time to help you, so if you don’t feel comfortable speaking up in front of your peers in a lecture hall then that is absolutely fine. They all have their offices open for drop ins and are happy for you to pop them an email. The staff on this course are one of the best things about it!
Have you done or will you do a placement?
I haven’t done my placement yet but I plan to! I have just finished my first year, therefore I haven’t delved into the different avenues properly, but I have already been given so much advice on how to do so. As a lot of the staff have connections through their own work and research, the best thing you can do is talk to them! I have already spoken about of a lot of exciting places, including a tropical research facility in Costa Rica!
What support is available for you throughout your studies? What are the teaching/school like?
Being completely transparent, I was absolutely terrified of jumping back into education with my previous experience and taking 8 years out. Salford have been nothing short of amazing.
I came to my tutor in my first term with concerns about historically being labelled with a possible learning difficulty. She reassured me completely and put me in touch with the schools disability team, and since then I have been professionally diagnosed with dyslexia and I am in the process of an ADHD diagnosis.
This has changed my life, not just in my studies, but in my everyday. I have gone from the kid who was always getting in to trouble and heard the term “wasted potential” daily, to a student who hasn’t missed a deadline and has achieved a “first” grade on all her assignments. This is because I am finally somewhere I am understood and supported. My academic confidence had been completely extinguished before I started at Salford, and now, for the first time in over ten years, I actually believe in myself.
“My best advice is to treat the working week like a job. Do that every day you have lectures and you will be comfortably on top of your work, with your weekends left completely free!”
Alexandra Dobson
What advice would you give to someone thinking of studying here?
Jump into it. You are surrounded by incredible and passionate people. Take every opportunity you have, you’re only here once. You open one door, and five more open behind it!
If you’re nervous, or worried, talk to your lecturers. I did, and it turned my life around. Communication is key and everyone on your course wants you to succeed.
Believe in yourself, you can do it.
What does a typical day in your life look like?
My life is absolutely hectic, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. When I am not in lectures I am volunteering, either in conservation or in behavioural research!
I also run, and I am currently running the 496km challenge to raise money for a research expedition I am embarking on this July in Mexico with Opwal!
How many days a week are you on campus for teaching? How do you split your time between campus and your own learning/preparing for assessments?
For the first year, we had lectures 3 days a week, but we usually had a 4th day of some sort of field trip!
My best advice is to treat the working week like a job. If you only have one lecture from 9-11am one day, have lunch then head to the library until 3/4pm! Do that every day you have lectures and you will be comfortably on top of your work, with your weekends left completely free!
What do you think of the facilities and equipment? Is there anything you particularly enjoy using?
The first floor of the library is a fantastic place to sit and work with your friends, or if you prefer working alone quietly, head to the second floor for silent study!
What is your favourite thing about being a University of Salford student?
The people! I have met so many absolutely fascinating and incredible people in just nine months of being here.
Also, the staff are geniunenly invested in you and want you to succeed. They themselves also have so much incredible experience, it’s great just to sit and listen to all the wonderful work they have done. If I can achieve half as much as they have in their careers, I’ll be immensely happy.
Where do you want your degree to take you? What is your dream job and how do you think your degree will help you get there?
I want to protect the beautiful world we live in, and to do that we need more people invested in it! I want to research, educate and spread the joy of conservation.
How exactly that will pan out is yet to be seen, but it’s safe to say I am very excited for what the future holds. My degree at Salford is giving me all the connections, knowledge and support to do that to the best of my ability!
Find out more about Wildlife Conservation at Salford
If you want to know more about following in Alexandra’s footsteps and studying Wildlife Conservation at the University of Salford, you can have a look at the course page to find out more – BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation.
You can also find out more about our course in BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology on our website.
Loved Alexandra’s story?
If you loved hearing about Alexandra’s journey to studying Wildlife Conservation, there’s more where that came from!
Hear from other Wildlife students about their journeys, and all the different ways they’ve succeeded throughout their time at the University of Salford.
- Read Charlotte’s story – studying Wildlife Conservation and won NEON’s Student of the Year Award 2024.
- Read Harmeet’s story – studying a Foundation Year in Wildlife Conservation.
- Read about Lois’ trip to Uganda – studying Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology and undertaking a 16-day trip to Uganda as part of her course.
- Read Georgia’s story – studying Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology with a placement year.