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Conservation and Biodiversity MSc

UK

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What will I learn?

Our Conservation and Biodiversity master's offers great flexibility, with a wide choice of topics from across disciplines, enabling you to construct a programme that suits your individual interests and career ambitions in this increasingly important field.

You will have the opportunity to gain a solid foundation in the key theoretical issues, such as wildlife population dynamics and conservation biology, and learn how these are applied to real-world problems, such as managing habitats or dealing with wildlife-human conflicts. Additionally, you will gain and develop the key skills that are valued by employers, such as field skills on species identification, sampling and monitoring, and more generic skills in problem solving, report writing, data analysis and presentation.

You will complete six taught modules delivered by world-leading researchers from our three internationally-renowned partner organisations: Lancaster Environment Centre, Rothamsted Research and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. This gives you the opportunity to interact with a wide range of expert specialists, including conservation biologists, terrestrial, marine and lake ecologists, food security biologists, and earth observation geographers.

Several modules include field trips to the beautiful and topographically varied countryside around Lancaster, and beyond. If you want to travel further afield, we have research projects and partners across the globe that provide exiting opportunities when it comes to selecting your dissertation project.

This project forms a substantial part of your master's degree. It will enhance your practical and analytical skills and give you the opportunity to apply your learning to a real-world challenge. This may involve doing a project with a government agency or conservation organisation through our award winning Centre for Global Eco-innovation, which uses our excellent links with the environmental and conservation sectors. Examples of previous dissertation projects are:

Effectiveness of habitat management for fritillary butterflies (with Butterfly Conservation)

Impact of tourist disturbance on breeding seabirds on the Isle of May (with CEH)

Predation impacts on breeding success of black-tailed godwits (with RSPB)

Habitat selection by sand lizards in coastal dunes

Impact of urbanization on blue tit song behaviour

Biodiversity in reed fringes on Lake Windermere (with Freshwater Biological Association)

Graduates have gone on to successful careers in the environmental and conservation sectors, as well as further study for a PhD.

Which department am I in?

Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC)

Study options

Full Time (1 year)

Tuition fees
£30,310.00 (33,02,462) per year
This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please

Start date

October 2025

Venue

Lancaster University

Bailrigg,

Lancaster,

Lancashire,

LA1 4YW, NORTHERN ENGLAND, England

Entry requirements

For international students

Students need to have 2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in Ecology, Conservation, Biodiversity, Biology, Environmental Science, Geography, Biological Sciences, Earth Sciences, Water Management, Zoology etc. We may also consider non-standard applicants with a 2:2 degree in a related subject area, Â鶹ԭ´´ extensive work/volunteering experience or training in the ecology and conservation sector. Research experience via a dissertation on ecology or conservation may also be considered. IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test, Pearson PTE Academic with a score of at least 58 and a minimum of 50 in each component of the test; or ToEFL IBT or ToEFL IBT Home Edition with an overall score of at least 87, with a minimum of 19 in reading, 19 in listening, 19 in speaking and 22 in writing.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About Lancaster University

Lancaster University is highly ranked in both UK and international league tables and is home to students from over 120 countries.

  • Global teaching and research links
  • Top 10 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2025)
  • World-class, modern campus and facilities
  • Range of dedicated support and services for students