MSc Aquatic Science

Overview

Environmental issues such as pollution, habitat degradation and climate change threaten the sustainability and quality of our aquatic resources. Responding to these threats the MSc in Aquatic Science at UCL equips students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the structure and functioning of aquatic environments from upland catchments to the coastal zone, encompassing lakes, ponds, rivers, floodplains, wetlands, groundwaters, estuaries and shallow seas.

Distinctive features of the programme include the integration of aquatic ecology with hydrological and geomorphological processes, the reconstruction of past aquatic environmental change using sediment core studies and the design and application of aquatic monitoring and modelling approaches for understanding current and predicting future aquatic system dynamics. The course provides students with ‘cutting edge’ knowledge of key issues in aquatic conservation and the legislative background that underpins them. Graduating students will thus have an insight into the challenges that face managers and conservationists when it comes to protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems.

The MSc Aquatic Science provides an ideal foundation for PhD research, or for employment within environmental protection and conservation agencies, the water industry and environmental consultancies.

The MSc Aquatic Science seeks to:

• develop a strong interdisciplinary understanding of the structure and functioning of aquatic environments.
• provide structured training and practical skills in practical field sampling, study design, numerical analysis, monitoring and modelling.
• provide training in the identification (in the field and laboratory) of a range of aquatic organisms including aquatic macrophytes, wetland plants, algae, fishes, amphibians and invertebrates.
• inform students of the institutional, legislative and decision making background to key issues in aquatic conservation.

Structure

All students take four core Aquatic Science modules in the first term and choose a further four modules from a range of options in the second term. Additionally, students undertake a piece of original research leading to a dissertation (60 credits) of up to 15,000 words with the support of an academic supervisor.

Term one will include two residential fieldcourses.

For more information on the modules and course structure, please click here.

Staff

MSc Aquatic Science is taught by members of Departmental research groups specialising in Environmental Change, Environmental Modelling and Environment Landscape and Society. The course also has specialist input from the UCL Thames Estuary Partnership, and from Environmental Scientific Services Ltd (an in-house consultancy).

Staff contributing to the course come from a diversity of scientific backgrounds and include both freshwater and coastal specialists in subjects ranging from aquatic biology and ecology, limnology and palaeolimnology, aquatic pollution, biogeochemistry, groundwater and wetland hydrology, estuarine and coastal geomorphology, water policy, aquatic conservation and the social science of aquatic environmental management.

Speakers from other universities and environmental protection, research and conservation organisations such as the UK Environment Agency, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Natural England, the UK Wildlife Trusts, the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences (CEFAS) and the Broads Authority are invited to lecture on the course and take part in fieldwork. Furthermore, student dissertations are often undertaken in collaboration with these organisations. By bringing students continuously into contact with active researchers and practitioners in aquatic system management and by linking closely with other UCL MSc programmes such as the MSc in Conservation, we aim to create a vibrant and informal academic environment involving mutual discovery and on-going debate.

Fees

Fees for full time UK/EU students for 2012-13 are £7,750. Fees for full time overseas students for 2012-13 are £15,500.

Course bursaries

Two course bursaries are available for September 2012, each worth £5000. These have been offered to the MSc from the Department of Geography’s in-house aquatic ecological consultancy ENSIS Ltd. To apply please complete a Graduate Application Form - selection will be based on applications received by 1st July 2012.
To apply online or download a Graduate Application Form please click here.

UCL scholarships

For further information on UCL scholarships, please visit: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/scholarships/

Other sources of funding

There are a number of other potential sources of financial assistance for UCL Aquatic Science students:

• John Lyon UCL Masters Scholarships
  Up to two scholarships annually enabling UCL undergraduates from certain London boroughs to pursue a taught Masters course at UCL.
• Gay Clifford Awards
  Scholarips (UCL) for academically outstanding female students.

Other sources from which UK MSc students have received funds include:

• Laurence Attwell Charity: Skinner's Hall, 8 Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 2SP
• The Ian Karten Charitable Trust: The Mill House, Newark Lane, Ripley, Surrey GU23 6DP
• The Mercers' Company: Educational Grants Secretary, The Mercers' Company, Mercers' Hall, Ironmonger Lane, London EC2V 8HE
• The Richard Newitt Fund: The Correspondent, The Richard Newitt Fund, Trustee Department, The Lawn, Speen, Newbury, Berks. RG13 1QN
• The Radley Trust: Philip Radley, The Radley Trust, 53 Sherlock Close, Cambridge CB3 0HP
• The Percy Sladen Memorial Fund: The Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1V 0LQ
• The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust: 1 York Street, Baker Street, London W1H 1PZ

An excellent web site listing many relevant international sources of funding and for dissertation studies:
List of Potential Funding Sources for Neotropical Field Biologists & Conservationists [University of Wisconsin Ecology]

Apply

Potential applicants are expected to have a first or upper second-class Honours degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Environmental Science, Geography, Oceanography, Biology, Chemistry or Engineering) from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with relevant professional experience in aquatic science or environmental management will also be considered.

To apply, please contact the Graduate Admissions Secretary (masters@geog.ucl.ac.uk) to request a Graduate Application Pack.

Application for 2012-13 admission closes Friday August 3rd. We will not accept any applications after this date. Applicants who require a student visa should do their utmost to submit the programme application form before 31st July to ensure that there is enough time to process all the necessary paperwork.

Application materials may also be downloaded at:
www.ucl.ac.uk/admission/graduate-study/application-admission/

Academic enquiries may be addressed to aquatic@geog.ucl.ac.uk


A Geography Graduate Open Day is taking place on Wednesday 8th February 2012. For further information and to book a place please email linda.fuller@ucl.ac.uk

Further Information

A short brochure can be downloaded here.		A more detailed course handbook can be downloaded here.