MSc Conservation Science and Practice

Learn to lead conservation programmes to tackle global biodiversity challenges.

How effective are the world’s protected areas at saving our species? How does conservation impact people? How can we promote biodiversity within urban areas?

If these critical biodiversity questions and challenges that face the world today inspire you to join the new generation of conservation scientists and practitioners, this could be the course for you.

You’ll balance interactive and engaging online activities with intensive in-person work to learn the fundamentals of biodiversity conservation and how to manage, deliver and evaluate the impacts of conservation programmes. You’ll be taught by scientists and practitioners from around the world and learn the tools and frameworks for tackling conservation problems effectively, thoughtfully, and ethically.

Fieldwork on the course will give you the opportunity to put your theoretical skills and knowledge into practice and give you the ability to strengthen these skills by completing an independent research project in an area of your interest. You can carry out your project in conjunction with an outside organisation in the UK or abroad.

The skills you have the opportunity to develop will equip you to become a conservation pioneer devoted to solving sustainability and environmental problems in a range of academic, research, governmental and non-governmental organisations.

This course consists of two intensive in person 3-week periods at the Centre for Environmental Policy in South Kensington (one during the first and one during the second term), where students will benefit from seminars, practicals and fieldtrips. The rest of the course is delivered remotely and online, this offers students flexibility and a fantastic opportunity to interact and be taught by world leaders in conservation science and practice from all over the world. Fieldtrips and coursework will give you the opportunity to put your theoretical skills and knowledge into practice, whilst you will also get the chance to conduct an independent research project in an area of your interest in the UK or abroad. Part-time students complete their project in their second year.

Please note that, as a result of these taught remote sessions, our course is currently classified as a blended learning programme. This means the University will be unable to sponsor a student route visa, and that to undertake the face-to-face elements of this degree you will need to enter the UK on a visitor visa https://www.imperial.ac.uk/students/international-students/visas-and-immigration/short-term-study/.