MSc Biodiversity Conservation
Gloucester, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 17,500 / per course
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Hartpury’s 360-hectare estate spans a wide variety of habitats ranging from woodland through to commercial farmland making it the ideal setting to fully explore this topic as you deepen your understanding of the scientific principles of biodiversity conservation and explore practical solutions to real-world problems in a highly applied way. Get hands on experience of surveying skills looking at the broad range of native wildlife living on our campus, including hedgehogs, bats, plants and much more. You will have the opportunity to work alongside academics and practitioners to learn techniques such as bird ringing at an internationally important wetland, the curation of museum biological collections, and the use of drones to map habitats such as on our commercial farm. As the biodiversity strategy for Hartpury is constantly evolving and growing, your studies and surveys will be able to have an impact on our developing policies and practices so you can be at the forefront of real practice.
Undertake extensive field work to develop skills and explore opportunities to work towards industry standard field survey skills, complete a field identification certificate for the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (which significantly improves an international ecologist’s job prospects in the UK), gain certification in Project Management for Wildlife Conservation from Wild Team, and develop practical skills in areas such as chain saw use.
Hartpury has a number of scholarships available to support students from outside the UK.
Your degree will explore a wide range of topics related to the conservation of biodiversity to kick start your career in this highly progressive field.
Module credits
Upon successful completion of your modules, you’ll gain academic credit that accumulates towards your award. The marks you gain may contribute towards your final master’s degree differential award (pass, merit or distinction).
Modules
Applied Principles of Conservation (30 credits)
You will study applied theoretical principles related to conservation and the application of this knowledge to a wide range of scenarios. A particular focus will be achieving no net loss of biodiversity by 2030, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), green financing, opportunities for developers, landowners and councils such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), and time to complete a certificated short course in Project Planning for Wildlife Conservation in partnership with Wild Team.
Practical Skills and Technology in Conservation (30 credits)
A wide variety of skills will be developed, including survey skills for UK protected species, plant ID skills (you will complete a Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) test as part of the module which is highly sought after by ecological consultancies), and work with a wide range of technology including drones (with LiDAR and thermal imagery), telemetry, acoustic surveys, and preparation of biological specimens. Learning to use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) will allow you to present your findings about key habitat features and land classes. Extensive field work on campus and at local sites will be a key feature of this module.
Conservation in Agriculture (15 credits)
Working in partnership with the Hartpury Agri-Tech centre, this module will explore topics in regenerative agriculture including rewilding, soil ecology, orchard management and agroforestry. Site visits, including to Knepp Rewilding Estate in West Sussex (residential), Hasfield Court and Elmore Court Rewild Things in Gloucestershire (day trips) will give real-world examples of how agricultural land can be a haven for biodiversity.
Wildlife Conflict (15 credits)
Explore the drivers of and solutions for human wildlife conflict. In the module you will discuss and debate the ecological, social, and economic impacts of wildlife conflict and conservation.
The Research Process (15 credits)
Discuss research methodologies and applications, as well as the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of different methods.
Captive Exotics & Wildlife Policy and Law (15 credits)
Explore zoological institutions as well as areas surrounding performance animals, pest control, population management and game rearing. This module will touch on important international legislation, such as CITES.
Postgraduate Dissertation (60 credits)
Develop and implement a research project with the support of an individual supervisor to guide and support you to undertake this innovative piece of research.
Industry opportunities on this course are diverse, to ensure you develop the skills, experience and connections needed for your career.
Field trips and guest lecturers
Field trips and industry professionals in lectures form an important part of this programme, enabling you to experience different businesses, careers and best practices.
Trips are planned to include Knepp Rewilding Estate in West Sussex (residential), Hasfield Court in Gloucestershire, the Forest of Dean, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) Slimbridge, and the Natural History Museum at Tring amongst others.
Guest lecturers are likely to include conservationists, sustainability experts, and ecological consultants, in addition to academic researchers.
Practical skills
You will develop key practical skills valued by the industry within this course, including completion of a recognised field ID certificate and chainsaw training, as well as learning how to use GIS software.
Graduate destinations
As a graduate of this course, you may go on to a career in practical conservation, ecological consultancy, NGOs, research, environmental science, science communication or teaching. Opportunities for progression to PhD will be supported and promoted. Our careers team can support you in finding and preparing to secure your perfect role.