Introduction:

What you’ll study

This course combines research and academic skills with field surveying skills, ready for practical application within your future role as an ecologist. It’s designed to meet a rising need for highly skilled conservationists.

Through practical experience, taught sessions and interaction with experienced field ecologists, you’ll gain taxonomic expertise. This will enable you to accurately identify a wide range of species and communities; use the appropriate field skills and techniques to carry out biodiversity surveys across different habitat types; and produce reports and assessments to professional standards. You’ll also have an additional and distinctive opportunity to be trained in the use of geographical information systems (GIS) – a vital tool in the surveying and management of the environment.

The skills you learn will be underpinned by a thorough knowledge of why some species and communities are conservation priorities in law or policy. You’ll be given the chance to become a critical thinker, capable of evaluating what you do, and adept at reporting your findings to the key audiences.

Careers and employability

This course has been developed with representatives from the ecological consultancy and environmental management sector, and is designed to be vocationally relevant, cultivating expertise and transferable skills to maximise your career potential.

Graduates of the Masters in Science degree have the knowledge and skills required to carry out biodiversity surveying, recording and reporting in the private, public, charity, education or research sectors. Skills development include project management, critical evaluation and communicating to a variety of audiences.

The diverse and expanding range of job roles include:

• Environmental or ecological consultant
• Biological surveyor
• Species officer
• Reserve warden
• Education officer
• Expedition leader
• PhD researcher.

Re:search Re:imagined

To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From conservation management to sustainable farming, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.

Entry requirements

What are we looking for?

MRes

• A minimum of a 2:1 or equivalent honours biological sciences degree.

MSc

• A minimum of a 2:2 or equivalent honors biological sciences degree.

We specify these minimum entry requirements, but we will assess you individually on your ability to benefit from the course. We sometimes offer places on the basis of non-standard entry qualifications, and industrial or professional experience.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for September 2022

Mode of study	International tuition fee
Full-time	£15,850

Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your postgraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

If you choose to study the two-year route of an eligible course, which incorporates a work placement, the fee for Year Two will be £1,385.

If you’re starting a postgraduate course in January 2023 you’ll pay the 2022 fee.

Late Applications

If you missed the UCAS January deadline, it’s not too late to apply to join us in September 2022.

Applying to university after the January deadline isn’t anything to worry about – we accept applications for most of our undergraduate courses until Thursday 30 June 2022.