Program Overview

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MSc Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainability

The MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainability programme aims to equip its students with key knowledge and capabilities in order to:

1. Develop strategic approaches and solutions to current and emergent real-world conservation and climate change problems.
2. Think analytically and develop strong practical and leadership competencies.
3. Learn key quantitative and technical skills
   • Data analysis
   • Genetic analysis
   • Mathematical biology
   • Remote sensing and geographic information systems
   • Ecological field techniques
4. Develop key management and communication skills
   • Conservation and sustainability leadership
   • Science communication, writing and oral skills
   • Conservation and sustainability project solving
   • Conservation and sustainability enterprising

Target Audience

1. Early to mid-career conservation or environment industry and public sector professionals seeking:
   • Specialised (depth) and/or additional (breadth) knowledge and skills
   • Additional qualifications and management skills for career or professional advancement
2. Fresh graduates seeking to:
   • Explore the conservation and sustainability interface
   • Pursue post-graduate degrees

Programme Structure

The MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainability is a 40 units programme. The programme can be completed full-time over one year (two semesters + special semesters) or part-time over two years (four semesters) with a maximum candidature of two years for full-time students and four years for part-time students.

Students need to complete courses comprising two essential core courses (8 units) and elective courses amounting up to 20 units, and either one research project or internship course (12 units).

Course Information

Core Courses

• BL5301 – Conservation Problems and Practice (4 units): A broad introduction to global conservation issues (marine, terrestrial and freshwater) focusing on threats underlying the loss of species and habitats globally.
• BL5302 – Climate Change Solutions (4 units): Climate change has become the defining issue of the 21st century, with far-reaching implications for both natural and human systems.
• BL5199 – Research Project in Conservation and Nature-based Climate Solutions (12 units): This is a project-based course for students taking the MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and Nature-based Climate Solutions.
• BL5299 – Internship in Conservation and Nature-based Climate Solutions (12 units): This is a project-based course for students taking the MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and Nature-based Climate Solutions.

Elective Courses

• BL5210 – Biogeography and Global Change (4 units): Biogeography, the study of where organisms live and why, is a multidisciplinary science central to evolutionary biology, conservation, and global change biology.
• BL5217 – Population Genomics and Phylogenomics (4 units): The course will examine how genome-wide datasets can be applied to questions relating to the evolutionary history of animal and plant lineages.
• BL5218 – Directed Studies in Behavioural Ecology (4 units): Behavioural ecology combines ideas from evolution, ecology and behaviour.
• BL5233 – Data Analysis for Conservation Biology with R (4 units): Analysis and modeling of environmental biology data are essential skills in environmental biology in general and ecological research in particular.
• BL5234 – Quantitative Methods and Critical Thinking in Biology (4 units): Quantitative methods are increasingly used in biology.
• BL5238 – Infectious Disease Modelling (4 units): Infectious disease modelling has a distinguished history going back to the 1700s and is becoming ever more relevant to human society.
• BL5311 – Freshwater Conservation (4 units): Freshwater ecosystems are extremely important habitats, housing vast species diversity and providing potable water, energy (hydro-electric dams) and revenue (fisheries) for the global population.
• BL5312 – Natural History Collections and Conservation (4 units): Can the dead save the Earth? Natural history collections, being crucial repositories of biological specimens, are indispensable for scientific research and public education.
• BL5313 – Food Security and Sustainability (4 units): The growing local and global population is increasing world food demand.
• BL5314 – CITES and the Illegal Wildlife Trade (4 units): This course delves into the intricate interplay between CITES, illegal wildlife trade, and sustainable resource utilization.
• BL5315 – Field Methods for Urban Wildlife (4 units): Singapore displays incredible biodiversity for being a densely populated city.
• BL5322 – Field Techniques in Biological Conservation (4 units): Studies on biological systems encompasses biotic and abiotic components.
• BL5323 – Spatial Modelling for Environmental Sustainability (4 units): Spatial and social data management and analysis are essential to support environmental sustainability interventions.
• BL5324 – Ecological Perspectives on Global Change (4 units): The ways that humans have shaped the biodiversity of this planet are complex, multi-faceted and heterogeneous.
• BL5325 – Molecular Approaches to Biodiversity Monitoring (4 units): Advances in DNA sequencing technology have revolutionised the way we describe, monitor and document biodiversity.
• BL5331 – Sustainability Science (4 units): This course will introduce environmental governance and policy frameworks relevant to the global context of biodiversity conservation.
• LSM4262 – Tropical Conservation Biology (4 units): Conservation and the loss of biodiversity and natural ecosystems are currently regarded as one of the most pressing problems facing mankind.
• BL5102 – Environmental Science (4 units): The course introduces the scientific basis for environmental management.
• GE5227 – Internet GIS (4 units): This course provides state‐of‐the‐art training in Internet GIS technologies and spatial theories for mapping and comprehending activities in virtual space, real space, and the intersections of the two spaces.

Candidature and Intake

The programme only has 1 intake per academic year in August.

The programme can be completed full-time over one year (two semesters) or part-time over two years (four semesters) with a maximum candidature of two years for full-time students and four years for part-time students.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to this programme must possess one of the following qualifications:

1. A Bachelor’s (with Honours) degree or 4-year Bachelor’s degree in relevant disciplines; or
2. A Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years of relevant work experience.

Applicants from countries whose native language is not English and whose medium of university instruction is not completely in English are required to provide one of the following:

• Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL): Minimum score of 85 (internet-based test); or
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Minimum score of 6

Programme Fees and Fee Payment

Full programme fees of S$52,320 (inclusive of 9% GST) will be effective from AY2025/2026, Semester 1 intake.

Full-time students will pay the tuition fees over the first two semesters and part-time students will pay the tuition fees over the first four semesters, following the payment plan:

Semester	Full Time (inclusive of GST)	Part Time (inclusive of GST)
Acceptance Fee	5,450	5,450
1	20,710	7,630
2	26,160	13,080
3	–	13,080
4	–	13,080

Scholarship Opportunities

The NUS ASEAN Master’s Scholarship is a continuation of the DiscoverNUS scheme. It is an exclusive bond-free scholarship that covers full tuition fees for the normal candidature period of a Master’s degree programme at NUS.

Continuation Requirements

For continuation of candidature, a student must obtain satisfactory progress during their candidature.

• Academic warnings will be issued to students if their GPA falls below 3.00 (but ≥2.50); and
• Dismissal and/or refusal of readmission will be issued to students if their GPA falls below 2.50 for two consecutive semesters of study; or GPA below 3.00 (but ≥2.50) for three consecutive semesters of study.

Graduation Requirements

To be awarded the MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and Nature-based Climate Solutions, the student must successfully complete a programme of study consisting of at least 40 units with a minimum GPA of 3.00, which consist of:

1. Two core courses (8 units)
2. Any five elective courses (20 units)
3. Any one research project or internship course (12 units)