MSc Conservation

The UCL MSc Conservation is widely recognised as the leading programme for aspiring nature conservation professionals and those wishing to pursue an academic career. This successful, interdisciplinary degree programme engages with the environmental, social and policy dimensions of conservation. More than 75% of our graduates have gone on to secure posts related to nature conservation.

In our teaching, we focus on the principles (conservation biology and ethics), policy (socio-economics, law and governance) and practice of conservation. These aspects are put into the wider context of the inter-related driving forces of globalisation, demographic trends, invasive species, climate change, habitat degradation and the loss of biodiversity that is resulting from these forces.

You can complete this Programme full time over one year, taking four core conservation modules in Term 1 and the choice of four modules in Term 2.

The following modules are expected to be available for 2021/22. Please note these may be subject to change.

COMPULSORY MODULES (Term One)

OPTIONAL MODULES (Term Two)

MSc Conservation students also undertake a piece of original research leading to a dissertation of up to 12,000 words (60 credits) with the support of an academic supervisor. The dissertation period normally lasts from late April or May to the end of August. The Department enjoys strong links with the conservation sector, and projects are often carried out in collaboration with organisations outside the University.

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.

Some of the people who deliver key components of the MSc Conservation include:

Jan Axmacher Associate Professor, Biodiversity Conservation and Landscape Ecology Programme Convenor Jan is the Physical Geography MSc Programme Director and Convenor of the 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.
Carl Sayer Associate Professor of Aquatic Ecology and Palaeoecology 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.
Sam Randalls Associate Professor 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.
Peter Jones Reader in Environmental Governance 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.
Jon French Professor of Physical Geography Jon directs the Coastal and Estuarine Research Unit and is Convenor for the MSc Environmental Modelling. 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 Reader in Physical Geography 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.
Helen Bennion Professor of Environmental Change 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.
Viv Jones Professor of Environmental Change 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 Professor of Physical Geography 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.
Julian Thompson Professor of Physical Geography Julian’s research includes investigations of the hydrological functioning and numerical modelling of wetland environments (predominantly but not exclusively freshwater ecosystems) often in relation to the wider catchment hydrological context and the links between wetland hydrology and ecology. His research also investigates the impacts, and associated uncertainties, of climate change and anthropogenic activities upon wetlands, river basins and water resources.

Information on fees and funding can be found on the main UCL website.

1. Fees*
2. Scholarships

*Please note that optional choice modules in Term 2 may incur additional costs for accommodation and transport associated with residential field classes or fieldwork.

Other Funding Sources

Applicants to the MSc Conservation may be eligible to apply for studentship awards supported by the British Hydrological Society, JBA Trust and Environment Agency:

MSc Studentship Award Scheme

Sources from which UCL MSc Conservation students have secured funds in the past include, the Laurence Attwell Charity, the Ian Karten Charitable Trust, the Mercers' Company, the Richard Newitt Fund, the Radley Trust, the Percy Sladen Memorial Fund and the Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust.

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 or Biology) from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applications with relevant professional experience in conservation or environmental management will also be considered. The Department currently requires a good level of English demonstrated by a recent IELTS Academic or equivalent qualification. If you have any more questions about this programme, you can email the Department or make an appointment to come and meet staff. It is possible to take the MSc part time. Please contact the programme convenor if you require details of the part-time structure.

More than 75% of our graduates are known to have gained a post in the conservation sector or in conservation-related research. Many potential employers have themselves graduated from the course over the last 50+ years.

The following list provides some examples of initial MSc Conservation student destinations:

• DEFRA (Project Support Officer, Environmental Permitting Programme; Policy Advisor, Marine & Freshwater Biodiversity Division)
• Natural England (Government and Conservation Adviser)
• Environment Agency (Planning Technical Assistant)
• Local Boroughs and Councils (e.g. Conservation Park Ranger; Biodiversity Project Officer; Environmental Information Support Officer)
• Local Wildlife Trusts: (Project Officer, Living Landscapes Programme; Design for Biodiversity Officer
• Wildlife Protection Society of India (Projects Manager)
• ECOMAR (Brazilian marine conservation NGO) (Executive Director)
• Blue Ventures, Madagascar (Science Intern, Marine Conservation Project Coordination; Research Development Manager)
• Environmental consultant, Dubai (EIAs for marine oil and gas projects)
• IUCN (Internship, Freshwater Biodiversity Unit)
• UNEP-WCMC (United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre) (Internship, developing rare species (crocodile) database)
• CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research) (initially Internship, Project Research Assistant, subsequently Project Research Officer
• ZSL (Zoological Society of London) (e.g. Development and Events Coordinator; various Internships)
• Kew Gardens (Internship, Sample Red List Index Project; botanical horticulturalist)
• RSPB (Communications Officer)
• Various ecological/conservation/sustainability consultancies (Consultant Field Ecologist; Consultant Ecologist; Graduate Ecologist; Administrator)
• Waste Watch NGO (recycling advisor)
• Broadview Energy Ltd (assistant project manager on wind farm projects)