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Duration
1 year
Course level
Postgraduate
Qualification
Master of Science
Location
ZSL, Regents Park; Whipsnade Zoo; UCL London Bloomsbury and UCL East
Academic partners

Train as a biodiversity and conservation researcher on an intensive one-year research master’s, co-designed in a unique collaboration with the Institute of Zoology and the Natural History Museum. 

Pursue a research career exploring one of the most urgent existential issues facing our living planet, with an MRes that puts you to work at three of the most important ecological research facilities in the world: UCL’s Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, the Natural History Museum, and ZSL.  You’ll learn about how quantitative tools are applied in a range of contexts, including bioinformatics, systematics, biogeography and genetics, and undertake two separate research projects, building your investigative independence and working alongside expert researchers from across the partner organisations.

What you can look forward to

  • Build your quantitative skillset, learning the methodologies of statistical analysis most commonly used in biological research.
  • Experience conservation field work, with a field trip into the wilderness at the UCL Blakeney Point field station in the first week of the course.
  • Gain hands-on experience of conservation technology such as tracking devices, camera trapping and acoustic monitoring.
  • Become a more effective science communicator with training through lectures, seminars and workshops from science communication experts from UCL, the BBC, RSPB, the Zoological Society of London and the Natural History Museum.
  • Get involved in vital projects and collaborations, such as the EDGE of Existence programme (based at the Zoological Society of London) or the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (based at the Natural History Museum).

Where the course can take you 

This course is ideal if you want to progress to a PhD in biodiversity or conservation research. You’ll also be qualified for research-related roles across a range of sectors and industries, with relevant opportunities to be found at conservation NGOs, government agencies, civil service, or even biotech and healthtech companies. 

Further information
  • You can find further detail on the UCL course page.
  • Find information on fees, entry requirements and how to apply on the UCL website.