MSc
Biodiversity, Conservation and Nature Recovery

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Key Information

Duration

1 year

Start Date

September 2024

Typical Offer

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Campus

Brayford Pool

Academic Year

Course Overview

The next decades will be pivotal in reversing the current trend of biodiversity loss and expanding and restoring degraded ecosystems, while ensuring people and nature are resilient and able to adapt to a changing climate.

The aim of MSc Biodiversity, Conservation and Nature Recovery is to develop advanced interdisciplinary understanding of the interconnections between the natural environment, ecosystems, human health, and wellbeing. On completion of this MSc programme, graduates are expected to be equipped with the necessary conservation skills, interdisciplinary outlook, and in-depth subject knowledge for employment in conservation-related subjects.

The programme offers evidence-based, practice-based, and interdisciplinary modules to prepare you for careers in the public, private, and third sector, in ecology and conservation. Knowledge is drawn from a number of disciplines including ecology, conservation, environmental, and social sciences. The major focus will be assessing the impact of human-induced ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss from local to global scales, while exploring nature recovery and nature-based solutions as new and potentially transformative approaches to restore biodiversity. Particular emphasis will be put on understanding the interconnections underpinning these complex challenges and identifying solutions.

Why Choose Lincoln

A focus on the natural environment, ecosystems, human health, and wellbeing

Explore topics from a local to global scale

A residential field course to investigate biological phenomena in the field

Complete an independent research project in a specialist area

A student listening in a seminar

How You Study

Programme modules combine knowledge from all relevant disciplines, including ecology, conservation, physical, and human geography, environmental sciences, and human health to address the key themes of nature recovery, including climate change, urbanisation, contaminants, disease, food production, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.

Students undertake a residential field course which offers the opportunity to investigate biological phenomena in the field. You can investigate ecosystems, and the wider context of the anthropogenic impacts affecting them. Guided by staff, you will work to identify the key threats, challenges, and opportunities of a study area to develop evidence-based and practical knowledge.

Current potential visit sites may be in the UK or abroad. The course fees include the costs of the residential field course including transport, accommodation, and meals. Students may be required to pay for overnight stays, local travel, and food close to the destination outside of scheduled travel. Students may bring personal items of clothing and travel equipment. These costs will depend on what students choose to bring.

Modules

              † Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

              Biodiversity Loss – Challenges and Solutions 2024-25ECL9006Level 72024-25Biodiversity is vital to the continued health of the planet and human existence. Yet, we are in the midst of the sixth global mass extinction event, this time caused by humans. Key drivers such as climate and land use change are causing present-day biodiversity loss at all levels, from genetic diversity through species loss to ecosystem collapse. This module will encourage combining knowledge of past biodiversity loss with that of the present, with a view to designing plans to ‘bend the curve’ in the future, despite the challenges posed by political, social and economic contexts.CoreCurrent Issues in Planetary Health and the Biosphere 2024-25GEO9005Level 72024-25Planetary Health is an emergent and critical concept that examines the interconnections between human and environmental health. The concept draws attention to the multifaceted instances of earth’s destruction as principal barriers to human progress, sustainability and wellbeing, and is gaining increasing traction in international policy-making. To overcome such barriers at the planetary scale, scholarship and activism emphasizes the need for collaborative and shared approaches that are co-produced and recognize the cultural diversity, economic and political conditions and environmental pressures working across geographical scales. Following, the Current Issues in Planetary Health and the Biosphere module will facilitate student-led co-produced learning around key topics of planetary health, enabling students to engage in collaborative peer-to-peer learning and enhancing their skills in communication, co-working, collaboration, organization and leadership. The module is 15 credits of the academic work during the MSc degree.CoreData in Ecology and the Environment 2024-25ECL9002Level 72024-25We are living in the ‘information age’, through which ecological and environmental sciences are being transformed. First, by the rise in available data from genes to ecosystems, driven by technologies from eDNA to remote sensing. Second, by computational developments for understanding such data. With this transformation comes unique challenges in data storage and processing, so associated skills are becoming increasingly desirable. This module provides valuable skills in understanding and working with ecological and environmental data, providing a foundation upon which to build careers across associated sectors.CoreField Skills in the Life and Environmental Sciences 2024-25ECL9003Level 72024-25We are living in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Reversing the degradation of our landscapes, helping biodiversity to recover, and importantly, developing ways where humans can continue enjoying high-quality living alongside nature in a sustainable manner – all require not only science but also a range of technical and practical skills. This module takes an interdisciplinary and problem-driven approach to equipping students with ecological and geophysical skills, including surveying, mapping, designing and managing landscapes of different scales. It builds on knowledge acquired in the previous semester, in Advanced Data Skills, where the students will learn fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems. Emphasis will be placed on field-based learning including day trips and short-stay trips to real-world restoration/rewilding projects within the UK. Students will have opportunities to learn directly from practitioners in ecological and environmental management, and to build research/employability skills by working on practical projects.CoreIndependent Research Project 2024-25ECL9007Level 72024-25The project is 60 credits of the academic work during the MSc degree. The aim is to produce a dissertation in the form of a journal article fit for publication. The research project is an independent piece of work developed by the student. They are expected to (i) choose their own research topic; (ii) develop the research design, (iii) perform the data collection, analysis and interpretation, and (iv) write up their results in the form of a research paper.CoreNature Recovery and Sustainability 2024-25ECL9004Level 72024-25The aim of Nature Recovery and Sustainability is to equip the students with knowledge and understanding of the global challenges currently affecting the natural environment, and of the road to the recovery of nature in a sustainable way. The module will be structured around reversing current ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss by restoring natural processes, as well as how these processes can deliver benefits to the local communities for societal impact. The module will deal with principles of restoration ecology, rewilding and other conservation and management approaches.CoreProfessional and Research Skills in the Life and Environmental Sciences 2024-25BIO9029MLevel 72024-25The module focuses on the development of transferable skills that are applicable both professionally and to research projects, within the programme of study and beyond. The skills will be relevant to the broad life and environmental sciences and will allow students to strengthen their proficiency primarily in these areas: scientific writing and communication skills, research data analysis and presentation, professional and career skills.CoreResidential Field Course 2024-25ECL9005Level 72024-25Students undertake a residential field course which offers the opportunity to investigate biological phenomena in the field. You can investigate ecosystems, and the wider context of the anthropogenic impacts affecting them. Guided by staff, you will work to identify the key threats, challenges, and opportunities of a study area to develop evidence-based and practical knowledge. Current potential visit sites may be in the UK or abroad. The course fees include the costs of the residential field course including transport, accommodation, and meals. Low-carbon transport, accommodation, and meals at the field sites are fully funded by the University. Students may be required to pay for overnight stays, local travel, and food close to the destination outside of scheduled travel. Students may bring personal items of clothing and travel equipment, some of which may be specialised for the environment they are travelling to, and recommended medicines and travel toiletries such as vaccinations, insect repellent, and sunscreen. These costs will depend on what students choose to bring.Core

              What You Need to Know

              We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.

              How you are assessed

              The programme may use a range of assessment types, ranging from exams, essays, group and individual presentations, field reports, projects, data modelling, and computational analysis of geographic and spatial data.

              How to Apply

              Postgraduate Application Support

              Applying for a postgraduate programme at Lincoln is easy. Find out more about the application process and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page. Here, you'll also be able to find out more about the entry requirements we accept and how to contact us for dedicated support during the process.

              How to Apply
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              Entry Requirements 2024-25

              Entry Requirements

              Students should hold a second class honours degree or higher in ecology and conservation, zoology, biology, geography, environmental sciences, earth sciences, life sciences, or social sciences, or a related discipline.

              If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications.

              https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/

              Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page.

              https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/

              If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-session English and Academic Study Skills courses. These specialist courses are designed to help students meet the English language requirements for their intended programme of study.

              https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills/

              Course Fees

              You will need to have funding in place for your studies before you arrive at the University. Our fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. You can view the breakdown of fees for this programme below.

              Course Fees

              The University offers a range of merit-based, subject-specific, and country-focused scholarships for UK and international students. To help support students from outside of the UK, we offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.

              Funding Your Study

              Postgraduate Funding Options

              Find out more about the optional available to support your postgraduate study, from Master's Loans to scholarship opportunities. You can also find out more about how to pay your fees and access support from our helpful advisors.

              Explore Funding Options
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              Career Development

              Postgraduate study is an investment in yourself and your future. It can help you to further or completely change your career, develop your knowledge, enhance your salary, or even prepare you to start your own business. Postgraduate students at the University of Lincoln benefit from inspirational teaching combined with high-quality facilities and learning spaces, great industry links, and unique research opportunities, all of which are designed to help you stand out from the crowd and make the most of your time with us. 

              Why Postgraduate Study?

              Academic Contact

              For more information about this course, please contact the Programme Leader.

              Dr Graziella Iossa
              giossa@lincoln.ac.uk

              Postgraduate Events

              To get a real feel for what it is like to study at the University of Lincoln, we hold a number of dedicated postgraduate events and activities throughout the year for you to take part in.

              Upcoming Postgraduate Events
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              The University intends to provide its courses as outlined in these pages, although the University may make changes in accordance with the Student Admissions Terms and Conditions.