Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health (Online Learning) PgCert, PgDip, MSc, PgCert (ICL), PgDip (ICL), PgProfDev

By the end of this programme, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to make informed, ethical, and sustainable decisions in biodiversity and ecosystem management. 

Year 1 (Postgraduate Certificate)

During Year 1, you will develop a critical understanding of biodiversity and the evolutionary processes that shape it, gain insight into sustainability and the role of ecosystem services in supporting human wellbeing, and examine global environmental governance frameworks and consider how they succeed or fail. 

You will study three compulsory courses:

• Evolution and Biodiversity
• Ecosystem Health and Sustainability
• Environmental Ethics and Governance

Year 2 (Postgraduate Diploma)

You will choose from a wide range of option courses in Year 2, providing you with a chance to follow subject specialist or generalist pathways, as well as further develop your professional competencies.

You will choose six option courses from the following:

• Behavioural Flexibility
• Climate Change: Policy and Practice
• Connecting Environment and Society
• Conservation and Conflict
• Conservation Finance
• Conservation Genetics
• Conservation Psychology
• Ecosystem Resilience and Extreme Events
• Innovative Approaches to Health Challenges Across Disciplines
• Introduction to Transboundary Diseases and their impact on trade and wildlife populations
• Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Data Analysis
• Introduction to Wildlife Forensics
• Invasive Non-native Species
• Land Use and Food Security
• Led by Locals: power and participation in conservation
• Managing and Leading Conservation Projects
• Species Translocations
• The Marine Environment
• The Modern Zoo
• The Use of Artificial Reproduction Technology (ARTs) in Threatened Species
• Water and Sanitation
• Wildlife, Animal Health and the Environment
• Wildlife Trade
• Zoonotic Disease

Option course availability will be subject to student demand, and low demand may mean a course will not run. Course availability and allocations will be finalised in consultation with students during Year 1 of the programme.

Year 3 (Master of Science)

The MSc year provides an opportunity to develop your research skills either through the traditional dissertation project of 10,000 to 15,000 words, or with an alternative route of an applied interdisciplinary project. 

If you opt for the dissertation, you will be supported by your supervisor to develop a detailed proposal around a research topic that aligns with your interests.

If you follow the alternative route, you will take 30 additional credits of option courses and complete 30 credits working on an applied research project, supported by a tutor, where the output is intended to be a resource developed for a real-world application. 

Regardless of the option taken, you often choose to work on topics relevant to your workplace, your community, local conservation organisations, and gain independent research skills.