The 10 Best Universities for Wildlife Conservation in 2027
By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Direct answer
The University of Oxford is the best university for wildlife conservation, ranked #1 in the ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2026 for Ecology and home to the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, founded in 1986. Wageningen University & Research (#2) and the University of Exeter (#3) follow.
#10 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
Conservation biology from bachelor’s to PhD with Great Barrier Reef field teaching
Pick by what you want
Best overall
University of Oxford
Best wildlife department in the US
University of Florida
Best field course in Africa
University of Exeter
Best undergraduate wildlife degree
University of California, Davis
Best Great Barrier Reef field station
University of Queensland
The ranking
1
University of Oxford
Photo: Julian Herzog (Website) / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe top ecology university, home to Europe’s first university conservation unit.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank: #1 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic SubjectsLocation: Oxford, EnglandWildlife and conservation program: Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of BiologyWildCRU founded: 1986, the first university-based conservation research unit in Europe
The University of Oxford is #1 for Ecology in the 2026 ShanghaiRanking. Its Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) sits in the Department of Biology, was founded in 1986 and was the first university-based conservation research unit in Europe.
Go ifResearch-led wildlife conservation at the #1 university for Ecology
Skip ifYou want a degree program page to compare, since WildCRU is a research unit
Why #1 over #2: Its #1 Ecology rank beats Wageningen’s #2.
2
Wageningen University & Research
Photo: Van Gooien / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictWildlife ecology research inside a conservation master’s.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank: #2 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic SubjectsLocation: Wageningen, the NetherlandsWildlife and conservation program: MSc Forest and Nature Conservation, with a Wildlife Ecology and Conservation chair groupMaster’s length: Two years, full-time, taught in English
Wageningen University & Research is #2 for Ecology. Its two-year English-taught MSc Forest and Nature Conservation includes a thesis in the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation chair group.
Go ifA two-year English-taught master’s with a wildlife research group
Skip ifYou want an undergraduate-only program
Why #2 over #3: Its #2 Ecology rank beats Exeter’s #3.
3
University of Exeter
Photo: Simon Cobb / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictField-heavy conservation master’s in Cornwall.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank: #3 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic SubjectsLocation: Penryn Campus, near Falmouth, Cornwall, EnglandWildlife and conservation program: MSc Conservation and Biodiversity, taught by the Centre for Ecology and ConservationField courses: A 14-day African course, usually in Kenya, or Rewilding the United Kingdom in the Scottish Highlands and Islands
The University of Exeter is #3 for Ecology. Its MSc Conservation and Biodiversity on the Penryn Campus near Falmouth offers a 14-day African field course, usually in Kenya, or a Rewilding the United Kingdom course in Scotland.
Go ifA one-year master’s with a field course in Kenya or Scotland
Skip ifYou want a multi-year degree
Why #3 over #4: Its #3 Ecology rank beats Berkeley’s #4.
4
University of California, Berkeley
Photo: Coolcaesar / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictBig research university with its own Sierra field station.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank: #4 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic SubjectsLocation: Berkeley, CaliforniaWildlife and conservation program: Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, with an M.S. in Rangeland and Wildlife ManagementField station: Sagehen Creek Field Station, established 1951, mailing address Truckee, California
UC Berkeley is #4 for Ecology. Its Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management offers an M.S. in Rangeland and Wildlife Management, and the university runs the Sagehen Creek Field Station, established in 1951.
Go ifA wildlife-focused master’s plus Sierra Nevada field station access
Skip ifYou want a stand-alone wildlife department
Why #4 over #5: Its #4 Ecology rank beats UBC’s #5.
5
University of British Columbia
Photo: Leoboudv / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictConservation major backed by two research forests.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank: #5 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic SubjectsLocation: Point Grey campus; research forests in Maple Ridge and Williams LakeWildlife and conservation program: Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources, Conservation major, in the Faculty of ForestryResearch forest: Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge
The University of British Columbia is #5 for Ecology. Its Faculty of Forestry offers a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources with a Conservation major and works in research forests in Maple Ridge and Williams Lake.
Go ifAn undergraduate Conservation major with research-forest access
Skip ifYou want a degree titled wildlife
Why #5 over #6: Its #5 Ecology rank beats Florida’s #6.
6
University of Florida
Photo: Michael Rivera / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe most direct wildlife department on this list.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank: #6 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic SubjectsLocation: Gainesville, Florida (110 Newins-Ziegler Hall)Wildlife and conservation program: Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation: majors, a minor, MS and PhD tracksAffiliated unit: Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
The University of Florida is #6 for Ecology. Its Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation in Gainesville offers majors, a minor, MS and PhD tracks, and is affiliated with the Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.
Go ifA department named for wildlife ecology and conservation, from undergrad to PhD
Skip ifYou want a campus outside the US
Why #6 over #7: Its #6 Ecology rank beats UC Davis’s #7.
7
University of California, Davis
Photo: KMashian / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA dedicated wildlife B.S. with required field work.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank: #7 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic SubjectsLocation: Davis, CaliforniaWildlife and conservation program: Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology: B.S. and minorField course: Field Research in Wildlife Ecology (WFC 101L)
UC Davis is #7 for Ecology. Its Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology offers a B.S. and a minor, with field courses such as Field Research in Wildlife Ecology (WFC 101L).
Go ifA B.S. in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology
Skip ifYou want a graduate-only program
Why #7 over #8: Its #7 Ecology rank beats SLU’s #8.
8
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictWildlife-only department with an animal tracking centre.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank: #8 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic SubjectsLocation: Umeå, SwedenWildlife and conservation program: Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies: international master’s in conservation and management of fish and wildlifeAnimal data platform: SLU WRAM (Wireless Remote Animal Monitoring), a national knowledge centre
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is #8 for Ecology. Its Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies in Umeå offers an international master’s in conservation and management of fish and wildlife and hosts SLU WRAM.
Go ifAn international master’s in fish and wildlife management in northern Sweden
Skip ifYou want a big-city campus
Why #8 over #9: Its #8 Ecology rank beats Montpellier’s #9.
9
University of Montpellier
Answrs VerdictConservation research hub in southern France.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank: #9 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic SubjectsLocation: Montpellier, France (CEFE, 1919 route de Mende)Wildlife and conservation program: Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, with a Dynamics and Conservation of Biodiversity departmentCEFE created: 1961
The University of Montpellier is #9 for Ecology. The Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), created in 1961, has a Dynamics and Conservation of Biodiversity department with groups on human-animal interactions and vertebrate biogeography.
Go ifResearch on human-animal interactions and conservation at a large ecology lab
Skip ifYou want a degree-program page, since CEFE is a research centre
Why #9 over #10: Its #9 Ecology rank beats Queensland’s #10.
10
University of Queensland
Photo: UQwiki / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe only pick with a Great Barrier Reef station.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank: #10 in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic SubjectsLocation: Queensland, AustraliaWildlife and conservation program: Bachelor of Science with an Ecology and Conservation Biology major; Master of Conservation BiologyField stations: Heron Island (southern Great Barrier Reef, established 1951) and Moreton Bay research stations
The University of Queensland is #10 for Ecology. Its School of the Environment offers a Bachelor of Science with an Ecology and Conservation Biology major and a Master of Conservation Biology, with field teaching at Heron Island and Moreton Bay research stations.
Go ifConservation biology from bachelor’s to PhD with Great Barrier Reef field teaching
Skip ifYou want a cold-climate campus
How we ranked these
No global ranking measures wildlife conservation alone, so we used the closest published one: the ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2026 for Ecology. The ten picks are the top ten universities on that list, in order. For each we cite the university’s own page for its wildlife or conservation program. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
Which university is best for wildlife conservation?
The University of Oxford ranks #1 in the ShanghaiRanking 2026 Ecology ranking and hosts the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, founded in 1986.
Is there an official ranking for wildlife conservation?
No single global ranking covers wildlife conservation alone. We used the ShanghaiRanking Ecology subject ranking, which is the closest published measure.
Which university has a department named for wildlife?
The University of Florida (Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation), UC Davis (Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology) and SLU (Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies) all do.
Which pick has a field course in Africa?
The University of Exeter MSc Conservation and Biodiversity offers a 14-day African Biodiversity and Conservation field course, usually in Kenya.
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank (2026, lower is better) at a glance
University of Oxford1 rank
Wageningen University & Research2 rank
University of Exeter3 rank
University of California, Berkeley4 rank
University of British Columbia5 rank
University of Florida6 rank
University of California, Davis7 rank
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences8 rank
University of Montpellier9 rank
University of Queensland10 rank
ShanghaiRanking Ecology rank (2026, lower is better), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
