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UCL Division of Biosciences

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MRes Biodiversity, Evolution & Conservation

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. 

About the course

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. 

You’ll learn about how quantitative tools are applied in a range of contexts, including bioinformatics, systematics, biogeography and genetics. 

You’ll undertake two separate research projects, building your investigative independence and working alongside expert researchers - both here at UCL and at our programme partners, the Institute of Zoology and the Natural History Museum. 

You’ll draw on the wealth of genetic and evolutionary expertise at the Natural History Museum, helping you understand the most effective ways to preserve diversity. Meanwhile, the Institute of Zoology will provide you with exciting opportunities to learn conservation science through field work and access to their zoo collections. 

 

Course benefits

  • Students have access to excellent facilities, including the field station at Blakeney Point in Norfolk, our on-site museum, the Grant Museum of Zoology and the UCL Cruciform Hub. You can read about the latest visit to Blakeney Point here: Latest News from Blakeney Point.

  • Our research-led teaching also takes advantage of our links with other top London institutions such as the Natural History Museum, ZSL London Zoo and UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.

  • Taught across the Faculty of Life Sciences, we offer a breadth of biological education unmatched in almost any other UK university.

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).

Take a look at where you’ll be studying   

Join us in shaping the future of healthcare and scientific research, and unlock endless opportunities for personal and professional growth in one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse cities.  

Take a virtual tour of our campus  


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.