Queen's University of Belfast - Medical Faculty
MSc in Ecological Management and Conservation Biology
Belfast, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,800 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus, Distance Learning
* EU and international student
Key Summary
About: The MSc in Ecological Management and Conservation Biology at Queen's University Belfast addresses biodiversity loss and threats like habitat degradation, climate change, invasive species, pollution and disease. You’ll study conservation, ecological management, habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring and applied research with international experts and world-class facilities. Apply by 31 July; a deposit secures your place.
Career Outcomes: The MSc prepares you for conservation, ecological consultancy, NGOs, government, habitat restoration, environmental impact assessment and research leading to a PhD. A Work Placement Project gives practical industry experience; a Research project prepares you for academic research. Graduates work as ecologists, consultants, managers.
We’re in the middle of a biodiversity crisis; the sixth mass extinction event on Earth driven by man. Wildlife populations have declined by 68% since 1970 while climate breakdown is pushing the Earth beyond safe ecological limits.
There is unprecedented pressure on the environment from overexploitation, habitat degradation and destruction, climate change, invasive species, pollution and emerging diseases. However, you can be part of global and local solutions.
Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July for courses which commence in late September. If any program receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.
Please note a deposit will be required to guarantee a place on the course. Due to high demand, applications may not be considered if the course has reached its maximum class size and will be placed on a waiting list. Please see deposit terms and conditions for more details.
Ecological Management And Conservation Biology Highlights
- Internationally Renowned Experts
- Industry Links
- World Class Facilities
- Student Experience
- Career Development
- Student Experience
Year 1
- Foundations for Research in the Biosciences
- Literature Review: Conservation Biology
- Conservation Biology Group Project
- Skills in Ecological Management
- Ecological Management and Conservation Biology
Assessment
Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:
Continuous Assessments such as coursework and module assignments based on self-driven, independent, study (there are no examinations).
A Postgraduate Diploma (PGDIP) student who achieves 50% or higher in completed modules may be permitted to transfer to the MSc Pathway subject to General Regulations. The MSc will be awarded with Distinction to a student who achieves an average mark exceeding 70% and with Commendation for those achieving a mark between 60-69%.
- Queen’s University Belfast is ranked 174th in the QS World University Rankings 2027
- Top 200 in the world for Biological Sciences (QS World Rankings 2026)
- 6th in the UK for Biological Sciences (Research Ranking) (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)
- Joint 5th in the UK for Research Quality for Biological Sciences (Complete University Guide 2027)
- 9th in the UK for Ecology & Environmental Biology (Teaching on my Course) (NSS 2025)
- 9th in the UK for Biological Sciences (Graduate Prospects) (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)
We offer prestigious, competitive scholarships of up to 50% off tuition fees to new international students. You must have an offer to study a full-time course with us in 2024 to apply for a scholarship.
The course has a mix of students from Ireland, Great Britain and international students (previously from, for example, but not limited to China, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, the USA etc.)
If you undertake a Work Placement Project this MSc will equip you with the knowledge and skills required for a successful career in conservation or ecological consultancy. If you undertake a Research project this MSc will qualify you for entering further research e.g. a PhD programme.
Employment after the Course
- Graduates have been employed by a range of international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Government departments and environmental consultancies with some progressing annually into research at other Universities.
- International students frequently return to their home country to work on local conservation.
- Principal Town & Country Planning Consultant at TC Town Planning
- Psychologist, DOE Marine Division
- Conservation Officer, The Irish Wildlife Trust
- Managing Quantity Surveyor, Faithful & Gold
- Survey Team Leader & Wildlife Guide at ORCA
- Ecologist at Roughan & O'Donovan
- Ecologist at Neo Environmental Ltd
- MCO Spatial NI at Ordnance Survey
- Outreach Officer Bumblebee Conservation Trust
- HSEQ Coordinator & Advisor Remondis Australia
- Scientific Officer at AFBI
- Scientific Officer at Northern Ireland Environment Agency
- Principal Environmental Consultant at Ayre Environmental Consulting
- Assistant Ecologist WYG
- Consultant Ecologist at AECOM
- Network Development Manager (NE) Sustrans
- Ecologist at Blackstaff Ecology Ltd
- Project Manager for ESGE, Munich
- Lab Analyst at Fibertec Environmental Services, Michigan
- Freelance Seasonal Ecologist/ Bat Surveyor
- Environmental Educator, UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere
- Conservation Advisor at RSPB
- Application Specialist, Exploristics Ltd
- Raptor Monitoring Officer at Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group
- Environmental Assistant at Northstone (NI) Limited
- AES Biodiversity Intern at Ulster Wildlife
- Graduate Assistant Ecologist at Ecological Survey & Assessment (ECOSA) Limited
- Ecologist at RPS Group
- Ecologist at Focus Ecology
- Compliance Officer at Norbrook Laboratories Ltd
- Assistant Ecologist Wild Frontier Ecology Ltd
- Graduate Land Consultant at Mouchel
- Regulatory Affairs Associate at Genpact Pharmalink
- Engineering Technician at McCloy Consulting Limited
- Volunteer at Belfast Hills Partnership Trust
- Natural Resources Specialist at Equinox Environmental
- Consultation and Design, Inc. Ashville
Employment Links
Employers who are interested in people like you:
Environmental consultancies including international organisations like AECOM Ltd., global conservation charities like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) or Conservation International, government, for example, the Departments of Environment, Agriculture or Fisheries or local conservation groups such as those into fisheries management, stock assessment, habitat or species restoration.
Professional Opportunities
You will be perfectly placed as a site manager on a nature reserve or an environmental education officer. You could equally end up in industry conducting environmental impact assessments on projects such as alternative energy production like wind farms or marine turbines, or infrastructural developments such as airport runway extensions.
After your MSc, you might want to travel and gain experience in places like Asia, South America or Africa.
You may even follow in the footsteps of Queen’s alumni like zoologist, wildlife photographer and television presenter Jonathan Scott, who has gone on to film wildlife documentaries for the BBC like Big Cat Diary.
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised by a world-leading university, but you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this the Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
You’ll get to know your classmates and your lecturers well during field trips.