Master of Science - Biodiversity Conservation (16-months)

The program offers an exceptional learning environment situated in one of the UK’s most biodiverse regions, including heathlands, the New Forest, and the Jurassic Coast—providing an ideal living laboratory for studying biodiversity conservation. It equips students with interdisciplinary knowledge spanning ecology, geography, social science, psychology, and technology, addressing issues of global political and socio-economic importance. Learners benefit from access to cutting-edge research across tropical and temperate ecosystems, such as grasslands, forests, freshwater, coastal, and marine habitats. The programme is delivered by specialists in ecology, biogeography, behaviour, data analysis, and conservation, and benefits from strong, research-led collaborations with nature conservation practitioners. It is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of both the science and practical application of biodiversity conservation. Field-based teaching is a core component, leveraging the university’s location within a biodiversity hotspot. The curriculum also offers flexibility, enabling students to tailor their learning to suit their individual needs and career ambitions. Graduates of this programme gain a valuable combination of specialist knowledge and high-level transferable skills that are highly sought after by employers in the sector. They are equipped to become lifelong learners, ready to adapt to the rapid pace of change and the continual emergence of new knowledge in biodiversity conservation. Bournemouth University’s taught programmes consist of units of study, each assigned a specific credit value that reflects the amount of learning involved. The minimum credit value for a unit is typically 20 credits, with higher values usually increasing in increments of 20. One 20-credit unit represents approximately 200 hours of student learning, including lectures, seminars, assessments, and independent study. Additionally, 20 university credits are equivalent to 10 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits.