MSc Biodiversity Conservation

• Conservation in Practice: Field trips, discussion groups and guest speakers combine to cover the scientific knowledge and principles relating to the structure and function of ecosystems, and how these can be applied to the management, conservation and restoration of biodiversity.
• Field Ecology Skills: Develop field observation, species identification and survey techniques that will equip you with skills that are relevant to professional biodiversity conservation, monitoring and research. Partly based around a field course, you will develop your skills in a variety of terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, supported by seminars and demonstrations.
• Frontiers in Biodiversity: Explore the latest theories and concepts in conservation science, develop in-depth subject specialism as well as advanced literature-based research and reporting skills.
• Quantitative & Spatial Analysis: Core skills for environmental scientists in data handling, processing, statistical techniques and spatial analysis (GIS) are taught on this unit. You will learn these techniques through industry standard programmes including  the statistical environment of R.
• Research Project: Develop your expertise in research methods, data collection, analysis, interpretation and synthesis and explore in detail core aspects of your subject area, with a view to generating new practical or theoretical insights. Previous research projects have included reindeer grazing and forest restoration, and habitat use by dolphins around Hong Kong.

• Advanced Quantitative Methods: Giving you advanced data analysis skills, we will ensure you have an understanding of advanced contemporary statistical methods that will allow you to select and apply appropriate techniques when working with complex data sets. A tool kit of analytical methods that may be used in a broad spectrum of research projects will be demonstrated and illustrated using real-world examples.
• Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services: This unit will examine the scientific principles relating to the provision of ecosystem services, their linkage with ecosystem function, and the relationships with biodiversity. We will examine how the production of ecosystem services and natural capital can be measured and mapped; the distribution of beneficiaries; different approaches to valuation; and potential links with the green economy.
• Conservation Genetics: This unit covers the genetic principles behind the management of small populations and how to use molecular techniques to conserve populations and/or species. You will have practical sessions on DNA extraction, PCR and Bioinformatics.
• International Law of the Environment: This unit will examine the particular sectors of environmental policy that are the subject of international legal regulation and obligations. In particular, it will consider various relatively recent developments in international environmental law that have served to broaden participation beyond the level of the nation state.
• Behavioural Ecology and Conservation: You will gain an understanding of how the behaviour of humans, primates and other animal species can be interpreted from an evolutionary viewpoint, and how their behavioural strategies are adapted to the environment (social and ecological) in which they live.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may change from year to year.

You are required to undertake 30 days of placement during the course, providing an opportunity to apply your acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace. You are required to find your own placement; however, our Careers & Employability Service and your faculty placements office are on hand to support you.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

You may take advantage of our wide network of professional contacts to find placements in the UK and abroad with a range of organisations to suit your individual career development needs. Previous placements have been with wildlife trusts, ecological consultancies, biodiversity research projects and governmental bodies.

Please note: students generally do their placement in the early summer after the taught units are finished. However, your placement may be completed in any format that is equivalent to six weeks (30 days), for example by working one day a week for 30 weeks.  ​

For Biodiversity Conservation we are looking for applicants who:

• Are keen to acquire advanced knowledge across the broad range of disciplines relevant to the conservation of biodiversity
• Wish to build on their skills base through seminar style learning and field experience, whether they are new graduates, experienced practitioners, or people seeking to change career direction
• Are keen to apply the advanced skills to real working environments in the practise, policy and communication of the conservation of biodiversity
• Can demonstrate a high level of academic interest and aptitude in sciences relevant to ecology, either through evidence of good degree level qualifications or through equivalent experience
• Have the capacity for creative thinking to conduct a research project with the guidance of experts.

We particularly encourage applications from people who are keen to develop skills in the rigorous planning of conservation management and the interpretation and dissemination of information to the many different relevant target audiences. These are skills widely sought by employers in all sectors including the non-government, government and consultancy areas.

We’ll be selecting applicants by looking at their application forms - formal interviews are not generally required, although applicants that do not meet the standard academic requirements, but have additional relevant experience, may be called for interview as part of the selection process.

For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. For more information, take a look at our postgraduate how to apply pages.

Please see our website for the application deadlines. You should apply as early as possible to be considered for your course of choice. If you require a student visa, apply for the visa as soon as you have an unconditional offer and receive your CAS. There may be delays in visa processing in your country and you need to be in Bournemouth ready to study for the start of term.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

These courses have compulsory elements involving working with dangerous substances in laboratory conditions and/or undertaking field trips in less accessible environments.  Students must complete a health and safety risk assessment taking part in these activities, for their safety and that of others.  As part of that assessment students provide information about any conditions or disabilities that might affect their ability to undertake these activities fully or safely. 

If you have such a condition or disability, please let us know as soon as possible.  You can contact our Additional Learning Support (ALS) service about this before or after making an application.  We will then work with you to identify any support or adjustments you would need.  Our ALS team works with the Faculty to seek to put in place reasonable adjustments and health and safety plans. 

Exceptionally, it may not be possible to arrange for a student to access these courses without either over-riding their core standards or competencies or creating unacceptable risks to health and safety.  If that is the case we will help you explore alternative course choices.

The normal requirements for embarking upon this course are:

• A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in a required subject.
• Required subjects include: Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Earth & Geographical Sciences, Conservation Biology, Zoology, Ecology & Wildlife Conservation, Marine Biology.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow. Some of these are based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

• India: Bachelor’s degree (4 years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55% 
• Nigeria:  Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:2 
• China:  Chinese Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with 65% or above 
• Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0 
• Vietnam:  Bachelor's degree/Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with an average score of 6.5/10, or 2.25/4, or a Master’s degree/Thac si. 

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with minimum of 5.5 in writing and 5.5 in speaking, listening and reading, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level. 

As a Biodiversity Conservation graduate, you will be prepared to undertake roles such as:

• Ecological consultant
• Environmental consultant
• Environmental conservation manager
• Academic researcher.

• Government agencies
• Non-governmental organisations
• District and county councils
• Regional and district planning authorities (including areas of outstanding natural beauty and national parks)
• Academic research.

If you want to continue your studies after achieving your Master’s, you can look into our range of doctoral programmes.

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course, including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team
• Field trip transport and entry costs
• Guest lecturer expenses

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.
• Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during the course of your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full time fee.

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. For September 2024 and January 2025 entry, a £5,000 deposit is required. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

• You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
• You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

We offer a range of scholarships to students who are beginning their studies at BU. Our fees and funding pages also provide details on living costs, budgeting and paying your tuition fees.

Prof Stillman is an applied ecologist with an interest in predicting how environmental change and management influence animal populations. His research aims to advise policy makers, conservationists and industry on the best ways of reconciling the interests of wildlife with those of humans. 

Dr Roger Herbert has always been passionate about the sea and its exploration and had a career in outdoor education prior to joining Bournemouth University. Much of his current research and teaching is focussed on the impact of environmental change on inshore marine ecosystems and marine conservation.

Dr Emilie Hardouin is an associate lecturer in conservation genetics. Her research focuses on the distribution and mechanisms of rapid adaptation of invasive species. The aim is to understand the invasive potential of species using phylogeography, to identify how genetic processes and plasticity drive invasion patterns and to understand rapid adaptation to a new habitat.