MSc Conservation

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

The following modules are expected to be available for 2022/23. Please note these may be subject to change.

COMPULSORY MODULES (Term One)

COMPULSORY MODULES (Term Two)

OPTIONAL MODULES (Term Two)

As an MSc Conservation student, you also carry out a piece of original research leading to a dissertation of 12,000 words (worth 60 credits) with the support of an academic supervisor. The dissertation period lasts from late April or early May to the end of August. Our strong links with the wider conservation community mean you are well placed to carry out your project in collaboration with organisations outside the University.

Please 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 accessibility of relevant venues. We will keep you updated if any changes need to be made and on alternative options.

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

Jan Axmacher Professor of Biodiversity Conservation Programme Convenor Jan is the Programme Director for Postgraduate Taught Physical Geography courses and the Convenor of the MSc Conservation programme. His research covers a wide range of issues related to global biodiversity conservation in forested and agricultural landscapes. He is also an Affiliate Professor at the Agricultural University of Iceland.
Carl Sayer Professor of Limnology and Freshwater Ecology Carl is the leader of the UCL Geography Pond Restoration Research Group and convenes the MSc in Aquatic Conservation, Ecology and Restoration. His research focuses on the ecology, palaeoecology conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems and the conservation of rare aquatic species planning plants, invertebrates and fish. Carl also leads several conservation projects including the River Glaven Conservation Group and the Norfolk Ponds Project.
Sam Randalls Associate Professor Sam's research interests are at the interface of business, science and the environment, with a particular focus on weather and climate. His recent research focuses on the development of 19th century weather-related insurance and histories of climate policies.
Peter Jones Professor of 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 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on combining governance approaches to promote effectiveness and equity. His related book, Governing Marine Protected Areas: resilience through diversity, was published in 2014.
Jon French Professor of Physical Geography 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 infrastructure 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 Professor in Physical Geography The central aim of Helene's research is to explain coastal behaviour, system dynamics and mechanisms of forcing over decades and centuries. In particular, she is exploring 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 scientific application of 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 Master's and PhD students.
Viv Jones Professor of Environmental Change Viv uses fossils preserved in lake sediments to infer recent and Holocene environmental changes in 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 the Director of the Environmental Change Research Centre. His research is concerned with the reconstruction of late Pleistocene and Holocene climates using lake sediments, abrupt climate change, human–climate interactions and data-model comparisons. He has authored over 100 publications and supervised/co-supervised over 20 PhD students.
Julian Thompson Professor of Physical Geography - Hydrology and Wetlands Julian's research includes the investigation of hydrological functioning and numerical modelling in wetland environments. This has predominantly, but not exclusively, involved freshwater ecosystems. His work has focused on the wider catchment hydrological context and the links between wetland hydrology and ecology. In addition, his research investigates the impacts and associated uncertainties of climate change and anthropogenic activities on wetlands, river basins and water resources

Fees* and scholarships information can be found on the main UCL website.

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

Find out more about the MSc Studentship Award Scheme.

In the past, UCL MSc Conservation students have secured funds from:

• The Laurence Attwell Charity
• The Ian Karten Charitable Trust
• The Mercers' Company
• The Richard Newitt Fund
• The Radley Trust
• The Percy Sladen Memorial Fund
• 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, Oceanography, Biology, Chemistry or Engineering) 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 questions about this programme, please email the Department.

It is possible to take the MSc part time. Please contact the programme convenor, Jan Axmacher, to find out more about part-time study.

More than 75% of our graduates are working in the conservation sector or doing conservation-related research. In fact, many industry leaders have graduated from the course themselves over the last 50+ years.

Our students have gone on to work for:

• DEFRA (Project Support Officer, Environmental Permitting Programme; Policy Advisor, Marine and 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 - a 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)
• United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) (Internship, developing databases for rare species including crocodiles)
• Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) (initially Internship, Project Research Assistant, subsequently Project Research Officer
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL) (including Development and Events Coordinator and various internships)
• Kew Gardens (Internship, Sample Red List Index Project, botanical horticulturalist)
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) (Communications Officer)
• Various ecological, conservation and 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)

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