Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology MSc

Program Overview

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The University of Exeter's MSc in Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology offers cutting-edge training in these fields, focusing on their application to global challenges. Students gain practical experience through a field course, extensive skills training, and a major independent research project. The program's key strengths include a focus on social evolution, social interactions, and microbial evolutionary ecology, preparing graduates for careers in research and ecology.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This MSc program offers cutting-edge training in Evolution and Animal Behaviour, focusing on their application to tackling global challenges. It is delivered by the Centre for Ecology & Conservation, a globally recognized center of excellence in research and teaching in evolutionary biology, animal behaviour, and conservation biology. The program is based on the University's Penryn campus in stunning Cornwall.

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Key Features:

• Field Course: The program includes a two-week field course, offering a choice between studying animal behaviour in the wild in Africa or focusing on the challenges of rewilding in the UK.
• Skills Training: Extensive skills training is provided, designed to fast-track research and ecology careers.
• Research Experience: Students gain first-hand experience conducting a major research project in their chosen area.
• Research Facilities: The program boasts outstanding research facilities and opportunities to study the wild biodiversity on the Cornish coastline.
• Flexibility: Students can tailor their study to their needs with one-year full-time and two-year part-time options.

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Objectives:

The program aims to provide students with:

• An advanced understanding of frontier topics in evolutionary biology and animal behaviour.
• Practical experience in diverse modern research methods used in these fields.
• High-level training in analytical and transferable skills needed for a career in research and the wider ecology sector.
• The opportunity to conduct a major independent research project embedded within one of the world-class research groups at Exeter's Centre for Ecology & Conservation.

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Outline:

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Taught Modules (with International Field Course):

• BIOM4009 Research Project (90 credits): This module allows students to deepen their technical knowledge, career-facing skills, and research experience in their chosen area.
• BIOM4046 Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology: Frontiers and Approaches (30 credits): This module provides an advanced understanding of frontier topics in evolutionary biology and animal behaviour.
• BIOM4025 Statistical Modelling (15 credits): This module provides practical experience in diverse modern research methods used in these fields.
• LESM006 The Art of Science (15 credits): This module focuses on developing transferable skills needed for a career in research and the wider ecology sector.
• BIOM4019 African Behavioural Ecology Field Course (30 credits): This module provides first-hand experience studying animal behaviour in the wild in Kenya.

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Taught Modules (with UK Field Course):

• BIOM4009 Research Project (90 credits): This module allows students to deepen their technical knowledge, career-facing skills, and research experience in their chosen area.
• BIOM4046 Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology: Frontiers and Approaches (30 credits): This module provides an advanced understanding of frontier topics in evolutionary biology and animal behaviour.
• BIOM4025 Statistical Modelling (15 credits): This module provides practical experience in diverse modern research methods used in these fields.
• LESM006 The Art of Science (15 credits): This module focuses on developing transferable skills needed for a career in research and the wider ecology sector.
• BIOM4043 Rewilding the United Kingdom (30 credits): This module provides a low-carbon field course alternative, focusing on the challenges of rewilding developed landscapes in the UK.

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Research Project:

A key strength of the program is the opportunity to conduct a major independent research project embedded within one of the world-class research groups at Exeter's Centre for Ecology & Conservation. This allows students to deepen their technical knowledge, career-facing skills, and research experience in the area that excites them most.

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Assessment:

• Taught Modules: Assessed through a variety of methods including oral and poster presentations, written research reports, and literature reviews.
• Research Project: Assessed through a research paper.

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Teaching:

• Interactive Seminars and Discussions: Led by experts in each area, providing an advanced understanding of frontier topics in evolutionary biology and animal behaviour.
• Practical Activities: Providing practical experience in diverse modern research methods used in these fields.
• High-Level Training: In analytical and transferable skills needed for a career in research and the wider ecology sector.
• Field Courses: Providing first-hand experience studying animal behaviour in the wild in Africa or the UK.

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Careers:

The program is designed to prepare candidates for research and ecology-facing careers, whether within academia or the wider ecology and conservation sectors.

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Potential Career Paths:

• PhD Researcher
• Ecologist
• Conservation Scientist
• Field Researcher
• Data Analyst
• Environmental Consultant
• Research Technician
• Research Assistant
• Science Media Officer
• Natural History Film Maker

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Other:

• Social Evolution: A key focus of teaching and research, with opportunities for research projects in this area.
• Social Interactions: Another key focus, with attention to their implications for information transfer, social learning, cognition, culture, and the spread of disease.
• Microbial Evolutionary Ecology: A major focus, with research groups focused on microbial cooperation, community ecology, host-pathogen coevolution, and the evolution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Individual Differences: Understanding the origins of individual differences in animal life-histories and behaviour (so-called ‘personalities’).
• Evolution of Infectious Disease: Focus on coevolutionary interactions between hosts and pathogens and the evolutionary significance of the microbiome.
• Evolutionary and Quantitative Genetics: Understanding and predicting evolutionary responses to environmental change.

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Field Courses:

• African Behavioural Ecology Field Course: Provides an opportunity to study animal behaviour in the wild in Kenya, observing a wide variety of behaviour in action and discussing how selection has favoured these adaptations.
• Rewilding the UK Field Course: Focuses on the challenges of rewilding developed landscapes in the UK, considering the meaning of the word "wild" and learning about the political, regulatory, economic, scientific, ecological, and social opportunities and constraints that affect biodiversity conservation.

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Research Experience:

• Research Groups: The Centre for Ecology & Conservation hosts globally significant expertise in Evolutionary biology, Animal Behaviour, Ecology, and Conservation Biology across an array of leading international research groups.
• Research Project: Students conduct an independent research project embedded within one of the 60+ world-class research groups at the Centre for Ecology & Conservation.
• Research Funding: All MSc research projects are supported by a research budget of up to £1000 towards research costs.
• Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability: Students become part of a vibrant and supportive postgraduate community based on the Penryn campus.

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2024/25 entry (with Africa Behavioural Ecology field course) UK fees per year: £15,700 full-time; £7,850 part-time International fees per year: £29,500 full-time; £14,750 part-time 2024/25 entry (with UK Rewilding field course) UK fees per year: £14,500 full-time; £7,250 part-time International fees per year: £28,300 full-time; £14,150 part-time