Home
	Courses
	News
	Contact
	Links

NATIONAL DIPLOMA COUNTRYSIDE MANAGEMENT (GAME MANAGEMENT)
Two Years Full Time (including up to 3 months ‘Work Experience’)

The full title of this diploma is a clue to its purpose. With this course, the Northern School of Game and Wildlife aims to give you a thorough grounding in both the background theory as well as the practical skills involved in the modern management of game and quarry species and particularly their associated habitats.

The unique resources at the Penrith Campus make this course the premier full time game management training course in the North of the UK and the reputation of Newton Rigg gamekeeping students is nationally recognised.

Consisting of a testing two-year full-time programme that also includes a minimum of 10 weeks practical work experience, the course is a balanced combination of broad-based academic study and hands-on practical skills training. Due to this broad approach the course offers students the opportunity to develop a career plan in a wide variety of possible wildlife management areas.

The course, in many cases, has proven to be an appropriate way of gaining the required experience and skills required to enter into full time game management employment – possibly on a Northern School of Game and Wildlife work based Gamekeeping Apprenticeship programme.

Where appropriate, fully successful National Diploma students are also encouraged to utilise this diploma as an alternative to the A levels (or equivalent UCAS requirements) needed for entry on to Higher Education (Foundation or full Degree) level courses.

COURSE CONTENT

The programme of ‘Units’ or subject areas first covers some key ‘foundation’ subjects and skills – particularly to do with habitat management - that will enable a student to achieve a modern, detailed and ‘scientific’ approach to the more specialist subjects covered in Year 2.

There are also possible ‘subject specific’ Diploma options available in Year 2: - in ‘Deer Management’ and ‘Woodland Management’ (see separate information about these)

CMND Year 1
' Foundation' Units:

Estate Skills
Tree Establishment and Protection
Plant and Soil Science
Principles of Ecology
Sustainable Development
Investigative Project
plus
Work Experience
Pest and Predator Control
Use of Firearms

Year 2
Game Management Option:

Game Management
Gamebird Production
Shoot Management
Deer Management
Sporting Woodlands
Farm Habitat Management
Upland Habitat Management
Freshwater and Wetland Management
Tree Felling and Chainsaw Use

Additional Vocational Qualifications

Wherever possible we will also provide you with opportunities to get extra qualifications relating to this subject area – such as the Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1, Use of ATVs (Quad Bikes), Basic Chainsaws etc.

Key Skills

In addition to your ND you will also take important nationally recognised qualifications in Application of Number, Communication, and Information Technology (Use of Computers), which will add even more value to your portfolio of qualifications when you finish studying or possibly apply to a Higher Education course.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

4 GCSE passes at Grade C or above or equivalents;

or A BTEC First Diploma qualification in a related vocational area;

or an Intermediate GNVQ in an appropriate vocational area.

For mature students an accredited access qualification and/or valid work experience may be accepted as an equivalent.

At interview you should be able to demonstrate a capacity to maintain effort on what is a very testing full time programme of study and also show an ability to be able to complete both practical and ‘academic’ elements of the course.

You must also, of course, show interest, enthusiasm and motivation towards the game and wildlife management and countryside ‘industries’.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

The course programme is delivered via a mixture of lectures and demonstrations, along with group work and discussions, oral presentations and self-directed study. In addition the programme also places emphasis on the development of ‘hands on’ practical skills, through site visits, placements and practical projects. Due to the inclusion of a generous period of ‘Industry Experience’ in Year 1 – the first two terms are particularly challenging!

Each Unit is assessed in its own way; through written and practical assignment course work as well some written tests. The development of the ability to operate in the modern world of work is also assessed.

Most importantly we try to give you as broad an education in all aspects of modern ‘wise use’ of rural resources as possible. This course is definitely not just a ‘gamekeeper’ training programme based only on vocational skills. This is training for the future of countryside and wildlife management.

EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

The game and wildlife industry is becoming increasingly sophisticated and now looks for basic training as a minimum requirement. Therefore the Diploma is vital in giving holders a route into such careers as low ground or upland gamekeeper, deer manager, wildlife ranger or park warden.

A National Diploma is also a widely recognised academic qualification, allowing progression on to Higher Education courses both at the University of Cumbria, and elsewhere.

Back to other Game and Wildlife courses

Contact us for an informal chat about this course at:
The Northern School of Game and Wildlife, Newton Rigg, Penrith , Cumbria CA11 0AH

Direct Telephone 01768 893613
Email: malcolm.riding@cumbria.ac.uk

Click here for an Application form

For all other general course enquiries at Newton Rigg and to request an application pack contact Sharon Blaylock in Student Recruitment on 01768 893627