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Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation MRes

London, Bloomsbury

UK students International students

Study mode

Full-time

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

£19,300

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)

£37,500

Duration

1 calendar year

Programme starts

September 2024

Applications accepted

Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 05 Apr 2024

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally, a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in life sciences, environmental sciences or related subject area, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with an appropriate professional qualification and relevant work experience may also apply.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance. This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Taught modules will focus on cutting-edge quantitative tools in ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, bioinformatics, systematics, palaeobiology, conservation, biogeography and environmental biology. Seminars, discussions with scientists and practitioners, and the two research projects will provide students with diverse opportunities at UCL Genetics, Evolution and Environment & Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, the Natural History Museum and the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London.

Who this course is for

This is an ideal degree for highly motivated students interested in the breadth of evolutionary, ecological, and conservation science and seeking a programme to provide a foundation in both pure and applied research in biodiversity.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This programme is an innovative collaboration between three globally renowned organisations: UCL Genetics, Evolution and Environment & Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, the Natural History Museum and the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London.

By consolidating research expertise across these three organisations, students will gain a unique and exceptionally broad understanding of ties among different fields of research relating to the generation and conservation of biodiversity.

The MRes offers diverse research opportunities; these include the possibility of engaging actively in fundamental and applied research and participating in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (based at the Natural History Museum) or the EDGE of Existence programme (based at the Zoological Society of London).

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This programme provides students with a strong foundation to pursue careers in academic research, environmental policy and management, applied conservation, public health, or scientific journalism.

Interested in a PhD? Find out about London NERC DTP

Employability

This programme offers students a strong foundation with which to pursue careers in academic research, environmental policy and management, applied conservation, public health, or scientific journalism.

Networking

Students are invited to Divisional Research Seminars where there are opportunities to network with academic colleagues. A number of teaching sessions are taught by staff from our partnership organisations NHM and ZSL, and students will also get some access to the research facilities at those organisations if their project supervisor is based there. A number of regular social events are also scheduled throughout the year.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, practical classes, peer learning, and a field course element in term 1. Terms 2 and 3 are delivered through practical research project supervision.

Assessment is through essays, project reports, presentations and practicals. The research projects are assessed by dissertation, and poster or oral presentation.

In term 1, there are typically around 21 hours per week of taught classes. Term 2 onwards is devoted to the Research Projects. When considering contact hours and self-study hours together, each 15 credit module requires 150 learning hours in total and each 60 credit project is therefore expected to require 600 learning hours.

Modules

The programme consists of four compulsory taught modules (BIOS0002 Computational Methods in Biodiversity Research; BIOS0027 Biodiversity Generation and Maintenance; BIOS0042 Analytical Tools in Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation Research; BIOS0021 Science Communication for Biologists) (60 credits total), and two 16-week research projects (120 credits total).

The projects are non-condonable modules. The taught modules are condonable.

Compulsory modules

Computational Methods in Biodiversity Research

MRes Biodiversity Research Project I

MRes Biodiversity Research Project II

Science Communications for Biologists

Biodiversity Generation and Maintenance

Analytical Tools in Biodiversity, Evolutionary and Conservation Research

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MRes in Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation.

Fieldwork

Students undertake a field trip to Blakeney Point, Norfolk. Taking place towards the beginning of term one, students are introduced to experimental design.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£19,300
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£37,500

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

Students should have access to a laptop which can run R. We organise and pay for travel, and supply accommodation and food on the field trip. Students are asked to bring warm and waterproof clothing as well as suitable footwear and a sleeping bag.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: Brown Family Bursary

Deadline: 20 June 2024

Value: £15,000 (1 year)

Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need

Eligibility: UK

UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 20 June 2024

Value: Tuition fees plus £15,700 stipend ()

Criteria Based on financial need

Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

Why you want to study Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation at graduate level
Why you want to study Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation at UCL
What particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
Where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) must submit their applications as early as possible, as applications will be evaluated and offers made on a rolling basis.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.