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Postgraduate
Courses / Postgraduate / Biodiversity and Conservation (MSc)

Biodiversity and Conservation (MSc)

Award
Master of Science
Duration
1 year
Course Type
Full-time
Campus
Highfield
Next course starts
September 2023

About this course

This course is now closed to new applications for 2023 entry.  

Each year we get many high-quality applications and places for many of our courses are very competitive.  

Search similar degrees for 2024 entry by browsing our course finder.

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.

Flexible study

If you prefer, you can apply to study this course as:

  • a part-time master's - study the same course content over 2 or more years

Your modules and fees may vary if you choose a different study option.

Course lead

Your course leader is a data scientist and spatial analyst with research interests in how patterns in environmental factors affect human wellbeing and biodiversity. Visit Dr Patrick Osborne’s staff profile to learn more about his work.

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Download the Course Description Document

The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.

Changes due to COVID-19

Although the COVID-19 situation is improving, any future restrictions could mean we might have to change the way parts of our teaching and learning take place in 2022 to 2023. This means that some of the information on this course page may be subject to change.

Find out more on our COVID advice page.

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