Biodiversity and Conservation with African Field

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with 2:1 (hons) in a relevant subject.

Documents and information you’ll need

• completed online application form (for Taught Postgraduate Study)
• completed supporting statement
• full CV
• transcript of degree examination marks achieved to date
• copy of final degree certificate (if completed)
• evidence of English language qualification (non-native English speakers only)
• copy of passport (if you’re an overseas student).

Find out more about how to apply

Applications to start this course in September 2021 are now closed.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Are you ready to make your impact on biodiversity?

The University of Leeds has twice been recognised by the European Union as a "centre of excellence" for biodiversity and conservation training.

We believe biodiversity can only be managed and conserved when it can be measured and interpreted properly. Our leading researchers are making an impact through their dedicated research within the field of Ecology and Conservation. Your learning will be heavily influenced by their world-class research, which drives national and international policy agendas around environmental change and global sustainability.

This distinctive course concentrates on the biological principles underlying biodiversity, its assessment and management. You’ll learn to identify plants and animals, understand the ecological factors underlying biodiversity and conservation and gain key analytical and practical skills for a range of academic and professional careers. You’ll also gain valuable experience in biodiversity and conservation-related research.

You’ll also undertake the African field course is based at Mpala Research Centre, Laikipia, Kenya. You’ll gain a first-hand appreciation of the ecology and conservation concerns of anAfrican savannah community, both for the wildlife and the people who live in the area. As well as learning about the local environment, flora and fauna, you’ll spend most of the time designing and carrying out group research projects.

This course is designed to prepare you for a career in conservation, or for further research at PhD level. If you’re already an established conservation professional, our modules provide additional skills to support you to progress in your employment.

This flexible course will offer you a wide variety of options, allowing you to personalise your study in preparation for further academic research or professional development in the field.

Our mixture of academic and practical subjects will equip you with the diverse set of skills needed for ecological careers and further research. This course combines theory-based topics on the principles of ecology and conservation with a wide range of practical skills-based areas of study. These include survey, management and identification skills, where the emphasis is on spending time in the field and analytical skills such as statistics and GIS.

The independent research project is one of the most important and potentially fulfilling parts of the degree. Projects cover a wide range of topics and usually include around six to eight weeks of practical work. A number of our students have been based overseas for their project.

If you study part time, the course will last for two years and you’ll study around half of the total number of modules each year.

Your learning will be heavily influenced by the University’s world-class research as well as our strong links with highly qualified professionals from industry, non-governmental organisations and charities. Thanks to these links, potential employers including Natural England, the National Trust, conservation bodies and commercial ecological consultancies, both local and national, contribute directly to teaching on a number of our modules, providing key practical training and invaluable networking opportunities such as the five-day residential trip to the Yorkshire Dales with the National Trust.

You’ll experience a wide range of teaching methods including formal lectures, interactive workshops, problem-solving, practical classes and demonstrations.

Through your research project and biodiversity and conservation topics, you’ll receive substantial subject-specific training. Our teaching and assessment methods are designed to develop you into a professional who is able to think independently, solve problems, communicate effectively and demonstrate a high level of practical ability.

As an MSc student, you’ll carry out one research project designed to equip you with key field work skills and with an emphasis on practical leaning. The range of project topics is large and diverse, covering applied, empirical and theoretical subjects. Projects can be carried out in the UK or overseas: projects have been carried out in over twenty countries so far, and this year alone we have projects in Mexico, Thailand, Kenya, Egypt, Spain and Cyprus.

There are many opportunities to develop valuable practical skills through areas of study such as Conservation Skills, Insect Identification, Plant Identification, and the African field courses and research project work. You can also build your analytical skills, with topics in GIS and statistics.

Leeds is one of the best locations geographically to study Biodiversity and Conservation. You’ll be within easy reach of three areas of great natural beauty and dramatic scenery; Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire Moors and the Peak District – providing you with a wide range of project and fieldwork opportunities.

Information for international students

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks).

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

Fees and funding

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.