University of Hull

What you'll study

This MSc combines classroom tuition, laboratory work and extensive field training to give you a broad grounding in conservation biology and applied wildlife management. Core themes typically include population and community ecology, ecological survey methods, habitat management, conservation genetics and molecular approaches, and statistics for ecological data. You will also cover conservation policy and law, human–wildlife interactions, and techniques in remote sensing and GIS for habitat assessment.

• Field skills and survey techniques: transects, point counts, mist‑netting, camera trapping, invertebrate sampling and surveying freshwater and coastal habitats.
• Population ecology and modelling: population dynamics, demographic analysis, mark–recapture and population viability analysis.
• Conservation practice and management: designing and evaluating management plans, restoration ecology and adaptive management.
• Molecular and laboratory methods: DNA barcoding, genetic diversity assessment and basic lab skills relevant to conservation genetics.
• Spatial analysis and remote sensing: GIS, habitat mapping and landscape ecology for conservation planning.
• Science communication, policy and ethics: translating research into management, stakeholder engagement and understanding legislation affecting wildlife.

The programme typically culminates in an independent research project or dissertation, which may be laboratory‑based, field‑based or policy‑focused, often carried out in partnership with local conservation organisations, government agencies or research groups.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a UK honours degree in a relevant subject (for example biology, ecology, zoology, environmental science) at a 2:1 level or international equivalent. Applicants with a lower classification (such as a 2:2) but who have substantial relevant professional experience or demonstrable research skill may also be considered. Relevant experience can include paid or voluntary fieldwork, ecological survey work, wildlife rehabilitation, environmental consultancy or laboratory experience.

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate English proficiency; typical requirements are an IELTS score or equivalent at postgraduate level (e.g. overall 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component), but applicants should check current departmental guidance for accepted qualifications and scores. You will also need to provide references and a personal statement outlining your interests and experience in wildlife conservation.

Career prospects

Graduates of this MSc go on to a range of conservation and research roles. Common career paths include positions with conservation NGOs and charities, local and national government conservation agencies, protected area and reserve management, environmental and ecological consultancy, wildlife monitoring and survey teams, and roles in wildlife rehabilitation and captive‑management facilities. The degree also provides a strong foundation for doctoral research and academic careers, and equips students for roles in policy, education and community engagement related to biodiversity and natural resource management.

Why study at University of Hull

The University of Hull offers strong practical training and research supervision within easy reach of a variety of habitats — estuaries, coastal cliffs, wetlands and agricultural landscapes — that are valuable for fieldwork and applied projects. The department has active research in ecology and conservation, with staff who run projects on species monitoring, habitat restoration and applied conservation science. Students benefit from hands‑on modules, access to laboratory and GIS facilities, and links with local conservation organisations and statutory bodies that provide opportunities for placement projects and collaborative research.

Hull’s location in the Humber region also means frequent opportunities for coastal and estuarine fieldwork, while the university supports skill development in both technical laboratory methods and practical field techniques, preparing graduates for the diverse demands of contemporary conservation work.