M.Sc. / P.Grad.Dip. - Biodiversity and Conservation

Biodiversity is the diversity of all life on earth and is currently being lost at an increasing rate. Biodiversity provides us with food, clothing, fuels, construction materials, medicines, and a range of ecosystem services. We ourselves are part of the biodiversity of this planet: we must understand and conserve biodiversity to secure a sustainable future for humanity.
The course will be taught through a variety of methods: lectures, practicals, field-based learning, guided reading and discussion groups and web-based methods. A variety of assessment procedures will also be adopted essay writing, oral presentations, web-based tests, examinations and assessment of dissertations. The approach will be to develop, progressively, a high degree of independent thinking and academic excellence in students completing the course, providing a smooth transition for those entering both directly from undergraduate degrees, and for those entering the course from industry.

Students will undertake individual research projects, both desk-based and experimental. A highlight of the course will be the residential spring field course based in South Africa, focusing on practical aspects of biodiversity conservation (the cost of this course is not included in the course fees).

Students may omit the individual research project to be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma, those wishing to obtain the the degree of Masters in Science must complete a four-month individual research project.

Applicants should hold at least an upper second class honours degree in a science subject that includes significant components of botany, zoology or a relevant life science. Non-EU applicants will be required to hold an equivalent qualification. Candidates with relevant, and significant, experience as professional practitioners in biodiversity management or policy may be accepted with lower qualifications.

• IELTS: Grade 6.5 overall
• TOEFL: 88 internet-based, 570 paper-based, 230 computer-based
• University of Cambridge: Proficiency Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2), Advanced Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2)
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE Academic: a minimum score of 63 to be eligible (with no section score below 59)