MResWildlife Conservation
| Study location | United Kingdom, Southampton |
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| Type | Master courses, full-time |
| Nominal duration | 1 year |
| Study language | English |
| Awards | MRes |
| Course code | C100 |
| Entry qualification | Undergraduate diploma (or higher) Designed for graduates and postgraduates of biology, zoology and ecological disciplines |
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| Language requirements | English IELTS: 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each band) |
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| Other requirements | At least 2 reference(s) must be provided. CV Identify the project you are interest in on your application. |
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| More information |
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Overview
Interested? To learn more about this study programme, entry requirements and application process, please contact one of our consultants in a country nearest to you.
Programme structure
Programme-specific modules will be taught by Marwell Wildlife’s team of conservation biologists. Marwell Wildlife is located 9 miles from the main Highfield campus of the University of Southampton, near Winchester. As a conservation charity with a zoological park as part of its conservation profile Marwell Wildlife undertakes a broad portfolio of conservation research which includes managing individuals and populations of threatened species and the restoration of endangered wildlife and ecosystems. During semester 1 you will attend taught modules at the zoological park and, in November, a field course at Marwell Wildlife’s conservation science site in Kenya. You will also have the unique experience of undertaking an extensive 8-month in-depth research project based on real needs arising from Marwell’s ongoing conservation work, under the joint supervision of a Marwell Wildlife conservation Biologist and a University of Southampton academic. Data collection for the in-depth research project may be based at any one of Marwell Wildlife’s sites, in the UK or Africa (Prospective candidates are invited to identify their preferred research project at time of application). Through the combination of time spent at Marwell Wildlife’s UK base for module delivery and working alongside conservation biologists throughout your research, you will spend a significant proportion of this one year course playing an important role within Marwell Wildlife’s dynamic conservation team.
On campus at University of Southampton you will be based in the iconic Life Sciences building where a module on research and statistical skills will be taught by Biological Sciences lecturers. Students on other postgraduate programmes within the Centre for Biological Sciences will also join you on this statistics module providing an important opportunity to mix with your fellow postgraduate University of Southampton students, enhancing your student experience. You will also have weekly programme-specific tutorials in small groups throughout semester 1, which will cover research skills including: science communication – posters, seminars, scientific papers; critical evaluation; employability skills; online presence, including blogs and social media; grant applications.
Career opportunities
This MRes allows those with career aspirations within conservation to enhance their prospects in a number of ways. You will develop your academic credentials and your practical skills, jointly, without having to choose to invest in one route or the other. You will be exposed to, and have the opportunity to work alongside, practicing conservation biologists, providing you with valuable experience and insight into the realities of working in conservation. By undertaking an in-depth 8 month research project you will develop some specialist knowledge within your area of interest, and be exposed to a wider network of conservation biologists and other industry professionals working for organizations that collaborate with Marwell Wildlife (for example, European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, Kenya Wildlife Service, Natural England). This wide range of experience, and any contacts within the conservation network you have made, will assist you when applying for positions within conservation NGOs and wildlife focused government agencies.
Additionally, graduates will find the MRes programme an excellent way to prepare for a PhD in conservation science as you will gain experience of undertaking postgraduate research, as well as having the opportunity to begin developing your own specialist area of study, off the back of your 8 month in-depth research project . Students should note that the research undertaken for the MRes Project would be independent of research for a PhD.