Hartpury University is to become an assessment centre for the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland’s (BSBI) Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC).
The FISC is an evaluation and standard tool for assessing botanical survey skills within the ecological and botanical industry. Many ecological consultancies and statutory agencies such as Natural England recognise the FISC as an empirical assessment of the skill and employability of botanists and ecologists.
Students studying Hartpury University’s MSc Biodiversity Conservation will be offered the chance to take the assessment at Hartpury first, before any remaining spaces are opened to external applicants.
There are three separate elements to the test. The first two are laboratory based, the first of which comprises ten specimens that should be identified without using any books or keys. The second of twenty specimens may be identified using any books or keys, but without access to reference collections or online resources. The third test is in the field - candidates will spend approximately two hours surveying a small site and recording the vascular plant species. Botanical proficiency is assessed on a scale from level 1 (beginner) to level 5 (professional), with a level 6 awarded in exceptional cases. Levels are described in the Botanical Skills Ladder.
Results are confidential, but individuals can choose to share them with potential employers and colleagues. With no pass or fail, the FISC is open to everyone, regardless of skill level. Upon completion, ecologists receive an electronic certificate from the BSBI indicating their skill level, along with advice on activities they are competent to undertake.
Lucy Garrett, Lecturer in Zoology and Conservation Biology at Hartpury University said: “We’re excited to become an FISC assessment centre and believe it will provide a great opportunity for our students to test their real-life botanical skills and demonstrate their knowledge. These kinds of industry-recognised assessments are vital for personal development and can be used as a benchmark to help botanists understand their current knowledge level and skill set. Future learning and development can then be better informed to address skills gaps and result in well-rounded ecologists.”
Further details including dates will be announced in due course.
Explore Hartpury University’s Animal degrees
It has never been more important to understand biodiversity and how we can protect it. Students studying Hartpury’s postgraduate MSc Biodiversity Conservation explore mechanisms for maintaining and enhancing biodiversity in the face of the unprecedented declines caused by human activity and climate change. Similar undergraduate degrees including BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and BSc (Hons) Zoology provide the knowledge and skills to understand and protect biodiversity.
Hartpury University was recently ranked 6th in the UK for teaching quality, in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
