Program Overview

MSci (Hons) Ecology and Conservation Biology

The MSci (Hons) Ecology and Conservation Biology program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and concepts of ecology and conservation biology. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to address the complex challenges facing the natural world.

Overview

The program is a four-year undergraduate degree that combines theoretical and practical approaches to ecology and conservation biology. Students will have the opportunity to explore topics such as climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainable food production, and the ecological and environmental impact of human activities.

Course Content

The program consists of four years of study, with each year comprising a combination of core and optional modules. The core modules provide a foundation in ecology and conservation biology, while the optional modules allow students to specialize in specific areas of interest.

• Year 1: Six core modules, including Becoming a Bioscientist: Core Skills, Ecological Principles, Genetics, Becoming a Bioscientist: Grand Challenges, Earth: Past, Present and Future, and Life on Earth.
• Year 2: Two core modules and four optional modules, including Becoming a Bioscientist: Experimental Design and Communication, Becoming a Bioscientist: Research in Action, Ecological Solutions for Global Challenges, Enhancing Biodiversity, Population Genetics and Evolution, Practical Ecology, and Behavioural Ecology.
• Year 3: One core module and four optional modules, including Bioscience Capstone Project, Conserving Biodiversity in the Anthropocene, Evolution, Ecology (field course - Biology), Tackling Britain's Environmental Challenges (field course - Environment and Geography), Biodiversity and Society, Current Research in Ecology, and Urban Ecology.
• Year 4: Two core modules and one or two optional modules, including Research Skills, Research Proposal, Research Project (Biology), Environmental Management in Practice (Environment and Geography), Dissertation, and Dissertation with Placement.

Accreditation

The program has received accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology, with all long-standing undergraduate courses in the Department of Biology receiving accreditation (BSc) or advanced accreditation (integrated Masters).

Fees and Funding

The annual tuition fees for the program are:

• UK (home): £9,535
• International and EU: £32,350

Teaching and Assessment

The program is taught by academic scientists who are active researchers in their field. The teaching format includes small-group teaching, lectures, practicals, workshops, and field courses. Assessment is via a mixture of closed exams, online open exams, and continuous assessment.

Careers and Skills

The program provides an excellent platform for a wide range of career choices and destinations, including science or health-related sectors. Graduates can pursue careers in biological and biomedical research and development, science communication and public engagement, the national health service, forensic science, environmental health, and wildlife conservation.

Entry Requirements

The typical offer for the program is:

• A levels: AAA including Biology or Human Biology and a second science
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: 39 credits at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit or higher
• BTEC National Extended Diploma: DDD
• European Baccalaureate: 85% overall including 8.5 in Biology and a second science or mathematics subject
• International Baccalaureate: 36 points including 5 in Higher Level Biology plus either 5 in another Higher Level science or mathematics subject, or 5 in two Standard Level science or mathematics subjects

English Language Requirements

If English is not the first language, students may need to provide evidence of their English language ability, such as IELTS (Academic) with a minimum score of 6.5, or IB English with a score of 4 in English A or 5 in English B (Higher Level or Standard Level).