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MSc

Wildlife and Conservation Management

As pressures on the natural environment intensify, there is a growing need for professionals skilled in conservation and environmental management. The MSc Wildlife and Conservation Management is designed to give you experience in both the theoretical underpinning and practical application of conservation and environmental management, with an emphasis on integrating specialist knowledge with practical skills.

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Key Course Details

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £10,250*

  • International students

    £16,000*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £1,140*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

You will develop a wide range of professional skills including survey techniques, application of monitoring systems, and geographical information systems, within a framework of ecological theory, conservation principals and legislative systems. We offer an extensive and exciting fieldwork programme to help train you in a wide range of environmental survey and monitoring techniques.

DESIGNED FOR

This course is designed for anyone who wishes to enter a career in wildlife conservation or ecology. We are happy to support students who are already on a path towards their chosen career, as well as those who are wishing to change their career path. The course focuses on conservation interests in both an international setting as well as wildlife conservation here in the UK.

Accredited by

  • The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
  • Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management

Career Paths

  • Ecologist
  • Environmental Consultancy
  • Conservation Officer
  • Wildlife Manager
  • Academic Research (PhD etc)

Skills taught

  • Wildlife Surveying
  • Environmental Legislation
  • GIS and Spatial Mapping
  • Conservation Practice
  • Restoration Management

Course Highlights

Accredited by CIEEM & RICS

Accredited by both the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) the Environment and Resources Professional Group of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the MSc Wildlife and Conservation Management brings together the physical, chemical, biological, socioeconomic and legislative aspects of land planning, providing the skills you need for an exciting and rewarding career in conservation and ecology.

Fieldwork Opportunities

We offer a highly diverse range of fieldwork opportunities both in the UK and internationally, to ensure that you develop a wide range of skills which will enhance your employability within the Conservation sector.

International Fieldwork

Optional modules in Tropical Ecology and Tropical Environmental Monitoring offer you the exciting opportunity to study ecosystems in an international setting. Fieldwork locations have included South Africa, Belize, Mexico, and the Philippines. (Additional costs apply)

Digital skills development

We work with industry standard equipment and software to equip you with the skills you need to enter a career in conservation and ecology. GIS skills are now an essential skill for graduate careers, and we teach you everything you need to know to succeed with professional software and analysis.

Module Overview

The MSc Wildlife and Conservation Management combines a broad understanding of the science and management of conservation, putting emphasis on integrating specialist knowledge and practical skills with IT and communication. What’s more, our extensive and exciting fieldwork programme will train you in a wide range of environmental survey and assessment techniques.

You will develop a wide range of skills, including wildlife survey techniques, habitat classification, environmental management and monitoring systems, geographical information systems and an understanding of relevant ecological principles, conservation practice, legislation, and regulatory frameworks.

Professional Skills in Conservation
In this module you will learn core conservation and wildlife surveying skills, including habitat classification systems, botany, bird surveying, mammal surveying techniques, etc. Alongside this you will learn key theory relating to environmental legislation and wildlife conservation management.

Applied Geospatial Analysis
This module offers a practical introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and their use in environmental management and conservation. We will look at remote sensing techniques; animal population modelling; pollution modelling and land classification techniques using industry standard software.

Terrestrial & Aquatic Conservation
In this module you will study protected areas and their management; the impact of climate change on terrestrial habitats; agricultural systems and impact on conservation; the ecology of rivers, lakes, and marine habitats; human impacts on freshwater habitats and identifying freshwater life.

Restoration Ecology
In this module you will study ecology and biodiversity; re-wilding and reintroduction programmes; restoration approaches for various habitats and tropical forest management.

Tropical Ecology
This optional module centres around a 14-day field expedition (destinations have included Belize, Mexico, Borneo, Honduras, Philippines); one-week tropical forest surveys & one-week coral reef surveying. Additional costs apply.

Tropical Environmental Monitoring
This optional module is all about conservation and wildlife management in Southern Africa. In a 14-day expedition, you will look at field monitoring techniques, identification skills, and animal tracking on both foot and by vehicle.

Tools for Sustainable Development
In this module we look at energy use/resources and climate change. We also investigate sustainable alternatives to current lifestyles, consumerism, fossil fuel use and the implications for conservation policy and practices, plus how to obtain funding for community and sustainability projects.

Work Based Learning Project
This optional module enables our students to gain 60 hours work experience under the supervision of an employer. Recent organisations who have hosted our students include Capita Symonds, Natural Resources Wales, and The Wildlife Trust.

MSc Project
In this module you will develop your own independent research project. Projects are often done in co-operation with conservation organisations such as National Parks; NRW, OpWall, National Botanic Garden; Environment Agency and Wildlife Trusts. Examples of recent projects include coral reef conservation; deforestation in Peru; invasive species in South Wales; and recognition of Japanese Knotweed by remote sensing.

Part-time delivery

The Part-time course is delivered over two academic years. You will study the modules Applied Geospatial Analysis, Professional Skills in Conservation and Terrestrial and Aquatic Conservation in year one of the course. In year two you will choose your optional module, study Restoration Ecology and complete the MSc Research Project.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Typical qualification requirements:

A minimum 2:2 Honours degree in an environmentally-related subject which could include Environmental Studies, Biology, Geography, Geology, Zoology or Wildlife Studies. Other applicants will be considered on an individual basis.

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

The course welcomes international applicants and requires an English level of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our country pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your English Language pages is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch and we'd to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£10,250

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,000

per year*
UK Part-time Fee

£1,140

per 20 credits*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

Students undertaking outdoor fieldwork must wear appropriate outdoor clothing, which includes suitable wet weather gear, rugged boots and temperature appropriate clothes. Costs may vary. 

Cost: £100-200

Students will need to supply suitable stationary supplies, field notebooks and digital memory devices (USB etc.), for work both in the classroom and on fieldwork.

Cost: £25-350

Although kept to a minimum, some compulsory fieldwork may have additional costs applied. Generally, students will be expected to pay for their food unless specifically included within the field course.

Cost: £100

Some international fieldwork may require visas and vaccinations, which are at the cost to the student and will vary depending on individual circumstances.

Cost: £100-£250

Tropical Environmental Monitoring fieldwork presently conducted in S. Africa & costs include; flights, internal transport, accommodation, specialist staff and all food at the camp.

Cost: £2,500 - £3,000

Tropical Ecology fieldwork in a tropical location including marine and terrestrial study sites. Recent sites have included Mexico, Honduras and Borneo. Additional £350 for scuba diving qualification if not already held.

Cost: £2,500 - £3,000

Students who secure a placement in industry would be expected to pay their own travel costs and accommodation costs during the period of placement. Costs may vary depending on location.

Cost: £0 - £500

Course Highlights

How you'll learn

Full-time students will spend 16-22 hours per week in lectures, practical sessions, and fieldwork which is typically delivered over two days. Part-time students attend the equivalent of one day per week, generally completing the MSc in two years.

Part-time students attend the equivalent of one day per week, generally completing the MSc in two years. However, based on individual circumstances, for part time students, the MSc Project may extended into your third year of study. This would need to be agreed as part of a discussion with the course leader.

We teach using a combination of lectures, laboratory sessions, problem solving tutorials, video presentations and practicals. You will also undertake fieldwork excursions within the UK and overseas (additional costs apply). The number of hours of formal teaching vary depending on your module choice. You will also be encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning by completing guided reading and activities. 

You will be assessed through a range of methods depending on your module choice, these include time constrained tests and coursework such as professional reports of field excursions. You will also analyse case studies, undertake presentations, participate in workshops, and analyse data.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a specialist team of highly experienced lecturers who have skills and research interests in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology, both in the UK and internationally. See some of our latest research activities here https://science.research.southwales.ac.uk/research-impact/  

Placements

The course offers the opportunity to take part in an Optional module for Work Based Learning. You will complete a 60-hour work placement gaining valuable experience in the sector, as well as learning additional skills to help prepare you to enter the jobs market at the end of the course. Our students work in a variety of organisations both internationally and in the UK, and we are able to aid our students in gaining the right experience for their chosen careers path. 

Facilities

Your course will be based on the Glyntaff campus where we have dedicated facilities to deliver practical laboratory classes, computer-based workshops, lectures, and tutorials. You also will participate in activities which make use of our wild spaces on campus and complete fieldwork in some of the globally important conservation areas in South Wales. Our laboratories are equipped with all the specialist equipment that you might need for research projects including genetics facilities and Scanning-Electron Microscopes.

Careers and Employability

Graduate Careers

Graduates from our MSc Wildlife and Conservation Management course have progressed to careers in the Environment Agency, utility companies, local, national, and international conservation organisations, environmental consultancies, and regional and national government. Graduates can also progress to a PhD or research degree.

Possible career paths

There are a wide variety of career paths available within the Conservation and Environmental sector, including Ecologists, Environmental Consultants, Conservation Managers and Wildlife Education. Our students progress to careers both within the UK and internationally, and the skill you develop in this course help to create a strong basis for future career opportunities within the sector.

Careers Support

As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate. This includes one-to-one appointments from Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or online, and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers.

Why USW

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  • 94% of students are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating from USW.

  • Named in the Top 50 UK institutions for research power by the Times Higher Education

Why USW

94% of students are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating from USW.

  • 94% of students are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating from USW.

  • Named in the Top 50 UK institutions for research power by the Times Higher Education

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