Prepare for a career as an ecological consultant or conservation manager with our MSc Biodiversity and Conservation master’s degree. This programme draws on our world-class reputation for environmental research and offers an industry-relevant education for highly-skilled environmental scientists. 

This programme will teach you to accurately monitor species diversity, change, population abundance and distribution. You’ll learn how to apply these skills to protect the world’s ecosystems and habitats.

On completing the course, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the importance of environmental concepts, terms, principles and methods
• the value using techniques and ideas in different subject disciplines
• the socioeconomic context of environmental issues and the legal framework through which environmental regulation is facilitated
• current issues, paradigms and approaches within a specialist subject area of the environmental sciences
• the contribution of science, engineering or communication to the identification, understanding of environmental issues and concerns
• the human causes and consequences of environmental impacts, and responses to such impacts
• general environmental concerns, which may include: biodiversity; environmental limits to economic or population growth; demand for, and consequences of, water resource utilisation; energy and material production and use, including alternatives; air, land and water pollution; climate change; environmental change

You’ll have the chance to apply geographical information systems, modelling and spatial analysis and acquire the interdisciplinary skills required for effective research project management.

With this degree you'll have great career potential in local government, the private sector, national and international organisations, as well as research institutions (public and private).

Our graduates have the skills to manage complex problems, work with diverse stakeholders, and understand the challenges of interdisciplinary working. They are sought after for roles in:

• environmental monitoring
• pollution control
• sustainable waste management
• wildlife conservation
• ecological management

As well as broader sectors such as the food, buildings, energy, telecoms and water industries.

All of these sectors need to think about biodiversity conservation either through choice or through legislation. Employers look for graduates with interdisciplinary cross-cutting skills in communication, problem- solving, leadership, and team working, which is why they form a core part of our assessment process.

If you’re interested in PhD study, our master’s programmes will prepare you for continued postgraduate studies in environmental or sustainability topics.