MSc in Ecological Management and Conservation Biology
Queen's University Belfast
Key Information
Campus location
Belfast, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 23,150
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
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Introduction
We’re in the middle of a biodiversity crisis; the sixth mass extinction event on Earth driven by man. Wildlife populations have declined by 68% since 1970 while climate breakdown is pushing the Earth beyond safe ecological limits.
There is unprecedented pressure on the environment from overexploitation, habitat degradation and destruction, climate change, invasive species, pollution and emerging diseases. However, you can be part of global and local solutions.
Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.
Please note a deposit will be required to guarantee a place on the course. Due to high demand, applications may not be considered if the course has reached its maximum class size and will be placed on a waiting list. Please see deposit terms and conditions for more details.
Ecological Management And Conservation Biology Highlights
The course blends taught conservation biology with practical field-based ecological management practice with a combination of physical and virtual field trips weekly during Semester 1.
Industry Links
- Internationally renowned ecologists in the School of Biological Sciences maintain close links with Government departments and conservation sector organisations responsible for the maintenance of biodiversity. Field trips include input from conservation charities, environmental consultants, zoological gardens, museums, nature reserve managers and independent research institutes.
Career Development
- Many graduates enter the conservation sector internationally working across the globe at the local level to affect positive change. But you don’t have to necessarily work in a conservation-orientated career - previous students have gone to places as unusual as art galleries where they have created scientifically inspired artwork as an alternative method for environmental outreach.
World Class Facilities
- The recently built, £38M, School of Biological Sciences has state-of-the-art teaching and laboratory facilities whilst you will have access to field facilities including the Queen’s Marine Laboratory (QML) at Portaferry, Strangford Lough: one of only three working marine laboratories in Europe.
Internationally Renowned Experts
- You will taught by staff with research profiles of international standing, with a wide range of interests in ecological management and conservation biology covering taxa from algae to mammals and environments from marine to terrestrial.
Student Experience
- You'll take part in a class conservation biology group project (an Ecological Impact Assessment) before being given the option to undertake either a professional work placement project (embedded in business and industry) or a research project (embedded in academia). Dr Neil Reid is Senior Lecturer in Conservation Biology and Programme Director: “We need to enrich the student experience beyond sitting in dry academic lectures to give them experience of the real world, both physically and virtually, to acquire the practical skills they'll need for a job in conservation.”
Admissions
Curriculum
Course Structure
Course Details
The MSc may have up to around 50 students. The programme has a backbone of taught academic lectures covering the full spectrum of subjects contained within conservation biology including:
- Animal Behaviour
- Biodiversity
- Conservation genomics
- Climate change
- Emerging diseases
- Environmental economics
- Environmental impact assessment
- Grassland management
- Invasion biology
- Marine conservation
- Soil biology
- Wildfire ecology
Semester 1 Modules
- Ecological Management and Conservation Biology (40 CATS)
- Foundations for Research in the Biosciences (20 CATS)
- Conservation Biology Group Project (10 CATS)
Semester 2 Modules
- Skills in Ecological Management (30 CATS)
- Literature Review (20 CATS)
Semester 3 Modules
- Option 1: Work Placement Research Project (60 CATS)
- Option 2: Academic Research Project (60 CATS)
What Else Will You Do?
- Each week there is either a physical or virtual field trip to experience the practicalities of what you’ve learned in class and to see ecological management application in-the-field. These include captive breeding facilities for endangered species, river corridors along which invasive species are managed, ground-nesting bird conservation programmes, national nature reserves including sand dunes, bogs and species-rich grasslands, commercial industry, Belfast Zoo and the Mourne Mountains.
Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
- You’ll get to know your classmates and your lecturers well during field trips.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
The course has a mix of students from Ireland, Great Britain and international students (previously from, for example, but not limited to: China, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, the USA etc.)
If you undertake a Work Placement Project this MSc will equip you with the knowledge and skills required for a successful career in conservation or ecological consultancy. If you undertake a Research project this MSc will qualify you for entering further research e.g. a PhD programme.
Employment after the Course
Graduates have been employed by a range of international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Government departments and environmental consultancies with some progressing annually into research at other Universities. International students frequently return to their home country to work on local conservation.
- Principal Town & Country Planning Consultant at TC Town Planning
- Psychologist, DOE Marine Division
- Conservation Officer, The Irish Wildlife Trust
- Managing Quantity Surveyor, Faithful & Gold
- Survey Team Leader & Wildlife Guide at ORCA
- Ecologist at Roughan & O'Donovan
- Ecologist at Neo Environmental Ltd
- MCO Spatial NI at Ordnance Survey
- Outreach Officer Bumblebee Conservation Trust
- HSEQ Coordinator & Advisor Remondis Australia
- Scientific Officer at AFBI
- Scientific Officer at Northern Ireland Environment Agency
- Principal Environmental Consultant at Ayre Environmental Consulting
- Assistant Ecologist WYG
- Consultant Ecologist at AECOM
- Network Development Manager (NE) Sustrans
- Ecologist at Blackstaff Ecology Ltd
- Project Manager for ESGE, Munich
- Lab Analyst at Fibertec Environmental Services, Michigan
- Freelance Seasonal Ecologist/ Bat Surveyor
- Environmental Educator, UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere
- Conservation Advisor at RSPB
- Application Specialist, Exploristics Ltd
- Raptor Monitoring Officer at Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group
- Environmental Assistant at Northstone (NI) Limited
- AES Biodiversity Intern at Ulster Wildlife
- Graduate Assistant Ecologist at Ecological Survey & Assessment (ECOSA) Limited
- Ecologist at RPS Group
- Ecologist at Focus Ecology
- Compliance Officer at Norbrook Laboratories ltd
- Assistant Ecologist Wild Frontier Ecology Ltd
- Graduate Land Consultant at Mouchel
- Regulatory Affairs Associate at Genpact Pharmalink
- Engineering Technician at McCloy Consulting Limited
- Volunteer at Belfast Hills Partnership Trust
- Natural Resources Specialist at Equinox Environmental
- Consultation and Design, Inc. Ashville
Employment Links
Employers who are interested in people like you:
Environmental consultancies including international organisations like AECOM Ltd., global conservation charities like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) or Conservation International, government, for example, the Departments of Environment, Agriculture or Fisheries or local conservation groups such as those into fisheries management, stock assessment, habitat or species restoration.
English Language Requirements
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