MSc Aquatic Conservation, Ecology and Restoration
Combining the fields of catchment hydrology, geomorphology, ecology and palaeoecology with those of aquatic conservation and restoration, the MSc Aquatic Conservation, Ecology and Restoration (ACER) gives students the fundamental interdisciplinary training necessary for a career in aquatic environmental research, consultancy and environmental protection.
Overview
Environmental issues such as pollution, habitat degradation, invasive species and climate change threaten the sustainability and quality of aquatic ecosystems. Responding to these threats the MSc Aquatic Conservation, Ecology and Restoration 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. The MSc integrates freshwater and coastal studies and places special emphasis on the transferal of science to practical conservation, restoration and policy.
The MSc Aquatic Conservation, Ecology and Restoration provides an ideal foundation for PhD research, or for employment within environmental protection and conservation agencies and environmental consultancies. Students taking the course have considerable interaction with aquatic conservation professionals, who give guest lectures and take part in fieldwork. Species identification, both in the field and laboratory, is an important part of the degree as is fieldwork with major residential field classes to the North Norfolk Coast, Scottish Highlands and Dorset. Students can specialise in subjects such as water pollution, palaeolimnology and environmental reconstruction, Geographical Information Systems, hydrological modelling, restoration ecology, freshwater and marine conservation as related to current-day legislative frameworks, stakeholder engagement and citizen science.
Students will gain transferable skills in project, survey and monitoring design, environmental governance and working with stakeholders, science report writing and communication and numerical analysis. The MSc has a substantial alumni base who attend regular course social events allowing past and present students to mingle and learn from each other. Aquatic Conservation, Ecology and Restoration students work closely with students from the MSc in Conservation and have access to a whole range of internal talks and events arranged by UCL Geography and the UCL Conservation Society that was initiated by course convenor Carl Sayer.
Coronavirus note: Due to COVID-19 updates, there may need to be changes to planned field trips for this programme. This will depend on travel restrictions, social distancing measures, and the availability of the relevant venues. We will keep you updated if any changes need to be made and on alternative options, as successfully used in 2020-2021.
i.e. we will keep you updated if any changes need to be made rather than we will let you know if we can run field trips
Course highlights
MSc Aquatic Conservation, Ecology & Restoration is unique in the UK in providing students with the science knowledge and practical skills necessary to tackle current aquatic conservation and restoration demands. Key course highlights and unique features are:
- Transfer the most up-to-date science to urgent aquatic conservation and restoration demands
- Learn about new approaches to aquatic conservation such as rewilding
- Take part in residential field courses (North Norfolk Coast, Scottish Highlands, Dorset, S. England) to gain practical, hands-on training with sampling and learn how to identify the aquatic species we are trying to protect, including fishes, mammals, crayfish, invertebrates, plants and birds
- Learn how to reconstruct past aquatic environments using palaeoecological techniques and sediment core collection and analysis
- Learn how to detect and monitor pollutants, including evolving problems such as microplastics
- Develop key GIS, data analysis and modelling skills that will hugely increase employability
- Learn how to set up science studies, biodiversity audits and monitoring in aquatic environments
- Learn about evolving techniques for aquatic monitoring such as eDNA
- Develop a thorough understanding of the aquatic conservation scene, including the policy and legislation that supports it
- Develop skills in project design and management and in best practice stakeholder engagement and citizen science methods
Structure
The MSc in Aquatic Conservation, Ecology and Restoration can be undertaken full time over a full year or part time over two years. Core modules take place in Term 1 (autumn) and consist of four courses which establish the fundamental principles of aquatic ecosystem science, key conservation issues and approaches, aquatic monitoring principles and application, study design, and data analysis. All courses take an integrated approach to aquatic ecosystems recognising catchment-based approaches and linkages between fresh and coastal waters. In Term 2 (spring) students chose from a substantial list of expert-taught specialist options, tailored to key interests and future career plans.
Modules
All students take four core Aquatic Conservation, Ecology and Restoration 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 12,000 words with the support of an academic supervisor. Course tutors encourage and support students to write up scientific papers from their dissertation work.
The following modules are expected to be available for 2021/2022. Please note these may be subject to change.
COMPULSORY MODULES (Term One)
| Module code | Module title | UCL Credit value |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG0094 | Aquatic Systems: Structure and Functioning | 15 credits |
| GEOG0095 | Aquatic Monitoring | 15 credits |
| GEOG0106 | Environmental Data Acquisition and Analysis | 15 credits |
| GEOG0108 | Scientific Basis for Freshwater and Coastal Conservation | 15 credits |
OPTIONAL MODULES (Term Two)
| Module code | Module title | UCL Credit value |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG0034 | Coastal Geohazards | 15 credits |
| GEOG0035 | Environmental GIS | 15 credits |
| GEOG0067 | Surface Water Modelling | 15 Credits |
| GEOG0083 | Politics of Climate Change | 15 credits |
| GEOG0101 | Ocean Circulation and Climate Change | 15 credits |
| GEOG0107 | Aquatic Macrophytes | 15 credits |
| GEOG0112 | Climate Change Impacts to Hydro-ecological Systems | 15 credits |
| GEOG0122 | Biological Indicators of Environmental Change | 15 credits |
| GEOG0123 | Climate Proxies | 15 credits |
| GEOG0135 | Marine Conservation | 15 credits |
| GEOG0152 | Introduction to Citizen Science & Scientific Crowdsourcing | 15 credits |
Students on the MSc Programme also embark on a dissertation in May, which lasts until the end of the programme in September. The department enjoys strong links with the conservation and environmental protection sector and each year dissertation placements projects are offered with a number of key organisations including PBA Applied Ecology and British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), The Rivers Trusts, Thames Estuary Partnership and the National Trust. Combined with the wide range of aquatic science expertise available in the department, this leads to great variety of possible research topics for investigation.
People
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Carl is the leader of the UCL Geography Pond Restoration Research Group and convenes the MSc in Aquatic Conservation, Ecology & Restoration. His research focuses on the ecology, palaeoecology conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems and on the conservation of rare aquatic species planning plants, invertebrates and fishes. Carl also leads a number of conservation projects including the River Glaven Conservation Group and the Norfolk Ponds Project. |
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Neil’s research interests are focused around the use of natural archives, principally lake sediments, as a means to determine the spatial and temporal patterns of environmental contaminants. He has over 30 years’ experience of working with remote lakes including both polar regions and has over 160 publications in the international scientific literature. He is currently a member of the Anthropocene Working Group. |
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Jan is the Physical Geography MSc Programme Director and Convenor of the UCL MSc Conservation programme. His research covers a wide range of issues related to biodiversity conservation in forested and agricultural landscapes around the world. He is also an Affiliate Professor at the Agricultural University of Iceland. |
 Jon French Jon directs the Coastal and Estuarine Research Unit. His research interests extend across coastal, estuarine and lacustrine environments and mainly concern the dynamics of coupled natural, socio-economic and engineered infrastructral systems and their resilience to geohazards and climate change. He has expertise in hydrodynamic and physical process modelling, data-driven 'machine learning' methods, and behavioural system modelling. |
 Helene Burningham The central focus of Helene's research is to explain coastal behaviour, system dynamics and mechanisms of forcing over decadal to century timescales. In particular, her research explores the relative importance of intrinsic system control versus external climate forcing on the geomorphology and morphodynamics of coastal sedimentary systems. |
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Peter is a senior associate researcher in environmental governance, specialising in case studies on marine protected areas and marine spatial planning. He has produced guidance for United Nations Environment on how to combine governance approaches to promote effectiveness and equity and published the related book: Governing Marine Protected Areas: resilience through diversity. |
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Helen's research interests are in aquatic ecology and palaeoecology with a focus on freshwater diatoms. She is interested in the application of science to lake management and conservation, particularly the EU Water Framework Directive. Her publications include around 70 academic articles and over 80 research reports and she is a peer reviewer for numerous international scientific journals and funding bodies. She has supervised more than 20 Masters and PhD students. |
 David Thornalley David is Deputy Chair of the Physical Geography MSc programmes and Deputy Director of the London NERC DTP. His research investigates the role of the ocean in the climate system. Recent work (Nature, 2018; GRL, 2020) is revealing the exceptional nature of industrial era changes in Atlantic circulation and ecosystems. |
 Richard Taylor Richard's research seeks to inform sustainable, safe water supplies in low-income countries. From 2009 to 2018, he led a global (IAH) Commission on Groundwater and Climate Change and is currently a contributing author to two chapters of the IPCC's 6th Assessment Report, Water Cycle Changes and Africa. |
 Sam Randalls Sam has worked at UCL since 2007. His research interests are at the interface of business, science and the environment, with a particular focus on weather and climate. Recent research focuses on the development of 19th century weather-related insurance and histories of climate policies. |
 Viv Jones Viv uses fossils preserved in lake sediments to infer recent and Holocene environmental change in a range of environments from Madagascar to Svalbard; she has investigated the effects of pollution in Scotland, carbon burial in Greenland and biodiversity changes in Russia. She is an expert in the identification of diatom algae and enjoys teaching how these fossils can be widely used to reconstruct past environments. |
 Jonathan Holmes Jonathan is Director of the Environmental Change Research Centre. His research is concerned with reconstruction of late Pleistocene and Holocene climate using lake sediments, abrupt climate change, human–climate interactions and data–model comparisons. He has authored over 100 publications and supervised/co-supervised 21 PhD students. |
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Muki is the co-director of the Extreme Citizen Science group and co-founder of social enterprise Mapping for Change. His work is focusing on participatory mapping, crowdsourced geographic information, and citizen science, and public access, use and creation of environmental information. |
Fees and funding
Information on fees and funding can be found on the main UCL website.
MSc Studentships
Applicants to the MSc Aquatic Conservation, Ecology and Restoration may be eligible to apply for studentship awards supported by the British Hydrological Society, JBA Trust and Environment Agency:
Field Courses
Please note that the optional Aquatic Macrophytes field-based module in term 2 has modest additional costs associated with accommodation and transport.
Applications
You can apply for a place on this Programme via UCL Admissions.
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. Advice is available from the programme tutor Dr. Carl Sayer. Overseas applicants will need a recognised English language qualification. Some information relating to your country and UCL can be found here.
Careers
Employability and graduate distinations
The MSc in Aquatic Conservation, Ecology and Restoration has seen near full employment of its students in freshwater and coastal science research, consultancy and in environmental protection and conservation organisations.
By integrating several external organisations into fieldwork and teaching, and especially through alumni involvement with the course and events that bring current and past students together, the MSc is constantly exposing students to careers possibilities, whilst also equipping them with key contacts. To prepare students for employment in aquatic conservation and research a series of dissertation “industry” placements are also offered. The programme’s focus on field working, species identification, water chemistry, study design, aquatic monitoring and modelling, citizen science, science communication and importantly stakeholder-conservationist-scientist interactions also increases employability by providing students with a skills set that is highly desired by employers.
Typically at least 30% of our graduates go on to undertake further research towards a PhD (at institutions all over the world) with recent subjects ranging from micro-plastic pollution, fisheries ecology, underwater sound ecology, paleoecology, beaver ecology and natural flood management. Other students have taken up careers in aquatic environmental consultancy, conservation management (especially for the Rivers Trusts, Natural England and Coastal Partnerships), environmental protection (especially with the Environment Agency), policy design and delivery (Defra), environmental education (for the Wildlife Trusts, Field Studies Council and Citizen Science delivery organisations) and company greening and sustainability.
Testimonials
Kesella Scott-Somme (part-time MSc student 2016-2018)
I loved my time on the MSc in Aquatic Conservation, Ecology & Restoration! It provides a really varied skillset, with a wide range of optional modules which can help you tailor the course to personal interests. Department staff are overwhelmingly supportive and helpful and will guide you through the inevitable occasional struggles of MSc study with kindness and understanding. You will be taught by a huge range of guest lecturers, as well as your regular teachers, and so will have the added benefit of learning from, and being put in contact with, a whole host of interesting and informed people, working in the aquatic realm. There are several field trips which help to hone your field and practical skills (as well as being incredibly good fun). My favourite part of the course was the support for personal development and the huge availability of extra-curricular activities and field working opportunities that helped me to develop contacts and which led to my first job working for the Thames Estuary Partnership. I use the skills I learnt at UCL every day in my current job as an aquatic consultant, and the contacts I made have been incredibly helpful in furthering my career. If it were possible I would definitely go back and do the course again, but as this is sadly not a practical option, I can only suggest that you should apply instead!
Olly van Biervliet (full-time MSc student 2012-2013)
The MSc provides the solid foundation required to understand aquatic systems, their physical, and chemical settings, but also their long-term history and development as illuminated by data from sediment cores. The course also gives excellent coverage of contemporary challenges faced by water managers whilst also offering modules in “core professional skills” such as hydrological modelling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In addition to lectures which are held in small groups with renowned academic staff, there is good exposure to both field work and lab work. There are also opportunities to meet water sector practitioners, especially in the wildlife conservation sector, which was great for me helping me to see career opportunities and the “why” of the course. In UCL geography, a host of very friendly and highly enthusiastic staff do all they can to make students feel supported and there is a real community atmosphere with a “revolving door” for past and present students to attend guest lectures, aquatic-themed workshops and social occasions.
Personally, the MSc provided me with the background and contacts needed to make a smooth transition from working as a high school Biology teacher to getting involved in cutting edge environmental water management projects. Before the end of the MSc, I was helped by my dissertation supervisor to apply for jobs as a Visiting Lecturer and as a Project Officer at a Rivers Trust, both of which I secured due to a combination of references and the knowledge and skills I gained during the MSc. Thereafter, it has been easy to find stimulating employment and to move through the expanding environmental water management and conservation sector in the UK. I have recently returned to UCL where I am currently undertaking a PhD on the effects of beaver dams on natural flood risk management. The course helped me in so many ways and I now get involved with some of the teaching on the MSc which I thoroughly enjoy.
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