MSc in Biological Sciences

Course description

Our MSc trains you for a career in research or management around the world. You can specialise in one of our three pathways: Ornithology, Plant and Crop Science, or Biodiversity and Conservation, or you can choose to explore the breadth of organismal biological sciences.

Throughout your course, you’ll learn about fundamental concepts and key skills required within the discipline before applying what you’ve learnt in your literature review and Independent Research Project.

Ornithology: You’ll be equipped with the tools to sample avian diversity from cellular to population levels, learning about techniques including specimen handling and curation, DNA extraction and analysis, and geographic range mapping. You’ll also develop an understanding of the evolutionary and ecological processes that shape bird behaviour, beauty, and community composition, and of the large-scale conservation challenges that threaten the world’s birds.

Plant and crop science: Training is led by the experts behind the Institute for Sustainable Food. You’ll understand the key issues in global food security and explore how plants can truly influence global change.

Biodiversity and conservation: You’ll develop fundamental knowledge about today’s major conservation issues and the human and environmental drivers including marine plastics, urbanisation, tropical logging and the balance between sustainable food production and biodiversity.

Whichever path you choose, you’ll be learning about the latest research in the field, from experts who are making the discoveries first-hand.

You’ll conduct your own fieldwork in a location such as the Peak District and receive training in experimental design and data collection, giving you the key skills to plan and manage your own projects.

The biggest part of the course is the Individual Research Project. Here you’ll spend three months researching an area within the biological sciences that matches your future career aspirations, under the supervision of one of our world-leading researchers.

You could be field-based, lab-based or complete a computational data driven project which will give you an opportunity to apply the subject-specific knowledge and analytical skills that you’ve developed throughout your degree as well as developing new skills in the use of cutting-edge research methods.

Example research projects include:

• How is call type or structure related to site level factors in an endangered parrot?
• The grass family (Poaceae): a study system in phylogenomics
• Genomics in ecology and evolution
• The Peak District: a study system for biodiversity and management
• The Heliconius butterfly (Heliconius sara): a model study system in biological sciences
• Parasitic plants as agro-ecosystem engineers
• The soil system

Modules

Duration

1 year full-time

Assessment

Most assessment is through coursework with some written examinations. Your assessment includes, but is not limited to, essays, extended project reports, policy briefing notes, online statistics exams, oral presentations and written grant proposals.

Your career

Graduates will develop the specialist knowledge and transferable skills to pursue careers working around the world or further study to PhD level.

Possible career paths include: working in biotechnology, agri-tech, or conservation and sustainability programmes within government science, NGOs including environmental bodies or wildlife trusts, or in industry. Inspiring the next generation as a university teacher, or solving pressing problems through research.

If you choose to continue your research training, graduates will be well equipped to pursue PhDs in ecology, evolution and conservation and beyond. Doctoral Training Programmes like Adapting to the Challenges of Changing Environment (ACCE) train PhD students in these areas.