Field Course: Uganda 2024

The Learning Environment at Kibale

The course will be based at the Makerere University Biological Field Station in the north of Kibale Forest. The field station hosts field trips as well as researchers working in the forest throughout the year. It lies 20 km from the provincial capital Fort Portal, our nearest town with market, post office, bank, etc. You will sleep in a four-bed dormitory and share common washing facilities. The station has a communal eating area and veranda, a library, and a laboratory.

Kibale Forest National Park covers nearly 800 km² and lies in western Uganda. The habitat has been classified as a moist evergreen forest which has strong affinities with both montane forest and mixed tropical deciduous forest. Kibale Forest has the highest density of primates anywhere in the world (11 species, including chimpanzees, Uganda red colobus, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, red-tail monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, grey-cheeked mangabeys and three species of prosimian), and over 300 birds have been recorded. The insect life has not been described adequately — yet. An estimated 229 tree species are found in the Park, and reach over 55 m in height forming a semi-closed canopy.

The first week of the course introduces Kibale’s flora and fauna during identification workshops and field exercises. Evening lectures and seminars cover selected topics in tropical ecology, focusing on the expertise of the teaching staff present. There will also be short excursions to nearby projects and different habitat types. The remainder of the course is devoted to independent research projects carried out in pairs. Projects are written up in full and presented to the class as short research papers. Evening lectures and research talks continue throughout.

The course includes an excursion to a different habitat.

Course costs

Participants from TBA member organisations pay a reduced rate of £1000. This covers internal transport to and from the field site, accommodation, subsistence and course fees. It does not include airfares, insurance and visa costs.

The course fee for participants from non-members is £1400. If your institution is not currently a member, why not ask them to join? Applicants from member organisations also receive priority for course places.

All successful European and UK applicants can apply for a British Ecology Society scholarship (approximately £400).

African applicants may apply for a limited number of full or partial scholarships. These contribute to course costs which include course fees or tuition, national travel, accommodation and subsistence costs as well as the costs of international travel to and from the rendezvous location.

Priority for places will be given to outstanding applicants but we will also take into consideration those who can raise full or part of their participation costs (i.e. course fees and travel costs). We would strongly encourage you to look for funding from grants, foundations or your organisation, and we will be willing to provide letter of support towards your applications.