Wildlife and Heritage Guides

Presentation

The degree in Wildlife and Heritage Guides is the only one in the country that grants a degree in this area, providing qualifications to work as a Tourist Information Professional (Order no. 154/2025 of January 22, 2025) or to perform various higher-level positions (see «Professional Exits»). Promotes multidisciplinary training, in Natural Environments and Wildlife, Environmental Protection, Tourism, Arts, History and Earth Sciences. The Course consists of 6 academic semesters and a total of 180 ECTS credits, granting the degree of Bachelor in Wildlife and Heritage Guides. This degree promotes training not only on the natural environment, but also on the human environment. Regarding the natural environment, there is a strong component of curricular units (CUs) in the area of ​​Ecology (e.g. Ecology and Nature Conservation; Forest and Forest Resources; Marine Resources). With regard to the human environment, the UCs in the area of ​​Tourism and Leisure, Art and History stand out (e.g. Coastal navigation; Tourism and Heritage Values; Health, Environment and Leisure, History of the Atlantic; History of Art and Built Heritage I and II). Includes theoretical and practical classes, and a Project UC in the last semester. The practical component accounts for more than 50% of contact hours. Most UCs have both components (theoretical and practical), but some are essentially practical (e.g. First Aid and Survival Techniques, Caving and Mountaineering, Diving and Underwater Heritage).

Objectives

a) Promote multidisciplinary and integrated knowledge of the various components of natural and human environments; b) Qualify students for roles in the areas of tourism, environmental monitoring, surveillance and environmental inspection; c) Enable you to continue training in postgraduate courses and second cycle courses (e.g. Postgraduate in Ecotourism and Nature Guides; Postgraduate in Environmental Management; Master's in Nature Management and Conservation); d) Training for work in the private sector and in public or private institutions.

Admission Requirements

Depending on your situation, you may apply to this degree through the calls open by the General Direction for Higher Education (DGES): a. National call for Access and Admission to Public Higher Education; b. Special regimes; or directly at the University of the Azores to: a. Special calls for students over 23, for holders of Technological Specialization Diploma, for holders of Higher Professional Technical Diploma, or holders of other higher education diplomas; b. Special call for international students; c. Regimes of re-entry and change of institution/degree. Applications follow the conditions applicable to each situation. Learn more on the national calls and access conditions at www.dges.gov.pt; for information on our special calls read the regulations available on our website or contact study@uac.pt.

Professional Opportunities

Tourist guide (with special emphasis on Ecotourism, Rural Tourism and Cultural Tourism); Manager of tourist entertainment company; Nature Watcher; Senior Technician in Regional Secretariats (e.g. Regional Directorate for the Environment; Natural Parks; Environmental Inspection; Regional Directorate for Tourism) or Municipal Chambers; Senior technician or scholarship holder in research/consultancy teams in nature management and conservation and environmental monitoring; Senior Technician in environmental education teams. Graduates in Nature and Heritage Guides are qualified to exercise the activity of Tourist Information Professional, with the Professional Interpreter Guide Card (under the terms of paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 6 of Regional Legislative Decree no. 19/2011/A, of 16 June; Order no. 154/2025 of 22 January 2025 of the Regional Directorate of Professional Qualification and Employment).