Taxonomy and systematics provide the foundation for studying the diversity of the living world. This course will give you a broad background in these disciplines and their power for our understanding of biological diversity.
This taught course is based mainly at the Natural History Museum, where you will attend lectures, together with computer and laboratory-based practicals. The Natural History Museum is in South Kensington, just a five-minute walk from Imperial's main campus.
The programme will equip you with quantitative and analytical skills in computing, morphological and molecular techniques in systematics, taxonomy and biodiversity research.
As well as a one-week field course at Imperial’s Silwood Park Campus, you will also have the opportunity to specialise in your chosen subject during an independent four-month research project, based either at the Museum or the Silwood Park Campus.
You may choose to undertake fieldwork carrying out biodiversity surveys, work in the molecular laboratories, or use the Natural History Museum’s world-renowned collection of natural history specimens.
The unique location of this course enables you to attend regular seminars given by top researchers and to have important networking opportunities for future PhDs and careers.
For full information on this course, including how to apply, see: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/life-sciences/taxonomy-biodiversity/
If you have any enquiries you can contact our team at: [email protected]
The understanding of plant diversity and resources has never been more important. As we face the unprecedented challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, effective environmental surveillance and conservation depend upon detailed knowledge of plants and their habitats.
This programme is run jointly by the University and the world-renowned Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). The RBGE is home to one of the world’s best living collections of plants (15,000 species across four sites, amounting to five per cent of known world species), a herbarium of three million preserved specimens and one of the UK’s most comprehensive botanical libraries.
RBGE offers collections-based biodiversity research opportunities across a wide spectrum of organisms and geographical regions. This diversity, coupled with the RBGE’s world-leading research in different continents, provides an unrivalled masters programme in plant biodiversity.
This programme is full time and consists of two semesters of lectures, practicals, workshops and investigations, followed by a four-month research project. The programme includes a two-week field course in a tropical country (recently Belize).
The programme is delivered mainly at RBGE but also at the University’s King’s Buildings campus.
There are no option elements to the programme – all courses are compulsory.
Courses
Research
Your research project will be chosen in consultation with your supervisor, and will link directly with active research programmes at RBGE or other research institutions.
The field trip, together with training and a short practical exam, qualifies you for the RBGE Certificate in Practical Field Botany.
The programme is good preparation for roles in taxonomy, while many graduates have also continued to PhD studies. Past students have entered a wide variety of jobs at research institutions, conservation agencies and elsewhere.
This research-based course is run jointly with the Natural History Museum, and provides a broad perspective of taxonomy and systematics, together with relevant practical experience. The museum is just a five-minute walk from Imperial's South Kensington Campus.
It provides a broad perspective of taxonomy and systematics, together with relevant practical experience, and is aimed at students who wish to broaden their knowledge in this area.
The programme is specifically designed to prepare students before undertaking a PhD or embarking on a career in systematics research, for which it provides excellent networking opportunities.
For full information on this course, including how to apply, see: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/life-sciences/biosystematics/
If you have any enquiries you can contact our team at: [email protected]
This MSc Energy and Environmental Management (with Advanced Practice) course is ideal if are seeking to develop your skills and confidence to address the critical global challenges of energy and diminishing natural resources. Clean energy, optimal use of resources and the economics of climate change are the key issues facing society, and form the fundamental themes of this programme.
You explore the world’s dependency on hydrocarbon-based resources, together with strategies and technologies to decarbonise national economies. This course examines global best practice, government policies, industrial symbiosis and emerging risk management techniques. You also address the environmental, economic and sociological (risk and acceptability) impacts of renewable energy provision and waste exploitation as central elements.There are three routes you can select from to gain a postgraduate Master’s award:
The one-year programme is a great option if you want to gain a traditional MSc qualification – you can find out more here. This two-year master’s degree with advanced practice enhances your qualification by adding to the one-year master’s programme an internship, research or study abroad experience.The MSc Energy and Environmental Management (with Advanced Practice) offers you the chance to enhance your qualification by completing an internship, research or study abroad experience in addition to the content of the one-year MSc. This two-year programme is an opportunity to enhance your qualification by spending one semester completing a vocational internship, research internship or by studying abroad. Although we can’t guarantee an internship, we can provide you with practical support and advice on how to find and secure your own internship position. A vocational internship is a great way to gain work experience and give your CV a competitive edge. Alternatively, a research internship develops your research and academic skills as you work as part of a research team in an academic setting – ideal if you are interested in a career in research or academia. A third option is to study abroad in an academic exchange with one of our partner universities. This option does incur additional costs such as travel and accommodation. You must also take responsibility for ensuring you have the appropriate visa to study outside the UK, where relevant.
For the MSc with advanced practice, you complete 120 credits of taught modules, a 60-credit master’s research project and 60 credits of advanced practice.
Energy, environment, risk managing projects, sustainability and integrated waste management are emphasised on the programme, but you also explore the financial aspects of energy and environmental management. Economics is integral to developing policies and is often a key influencing factor.
You develop a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the role and place of energy in the 21st century, and how the environment impinges on the types of energy used and the way they are produced. You investigate the environment as it is perceived, and contextualise its actual importance to mankind. Specific objectives for this course are to establish the financial validity of pursing alternative energy forms and managing the environment.
Examples of past MSc research projects
Course structure
Core modules
Advanced Practice options
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn through a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, projects and assignments. You are also expected to participate in self-directed study, to review lecture notes, prepare assignments, work on projects and revise for assessments. Each 20-credit module typically has around 200 hours of learning time.
You usually spend around 60 hours in lectures, tutorials and in practical exercises over the duration of the course. The remaining learning time is for you to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. Each year of full-time study consists of modules totalling 180 credits. During one year of full-time study you can expect to have 1,800 hours of learning and assessment.
How you are assessed
Modules are assessed by a variety of methods including exams and in-course assessment with some using other approaches such as group work, or verbal or poster presentations.
Your Advanced Practice module is assessed by an individual written reflective report (3,000 words) together with a study or workplace log, where appropriate, and through a poster presentation.
Career opportunities
Successful graduates from this course are well-placed to find employment. As an energy and environmental manager, you might find yourself responsible for overseeing the energy and environmental performance of a private, public or voluntary sector organisation, or in one of a wide range of engineering industries.
Work placement
There may be short-term placement opportunities for some students, particularly during the project phase of the course. This University is also in the process of seeking accreditation for the Waste Management module from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.
Entomology is increasingly at the forefront of addressing global challenges such as food security and disease transmission. By using insects as model organisms across science we can make discoveries that impact society for the better.
The MSc Practical Entomology course focuses on equipping you with in-depth and hands-on experience of the specialist entomological techniques and practices that underpin the study of insects. These include the collection, preservation, setting, archiving, monitoring, imaging and dissecting, setting you up for a career in insect-related research, policy and beyond.
In the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, our research entomologists are among the best in the world. They have experience in the field and in the lab and are the people who will train you in the practical skills needed to be an effective scientist working with insects.
The course is designed to suit all skill levels: whether you’re keen to start exploring your passion for entomology, or you’d like to further your existing skills and knowledge in entomological practice.
This 12-month course is designed to provide you with in-depth training in the core skills underpinning any scientific study of insects. You'll learn how to produce museum-quality levels of sample preparation, material and archiving and how to establish and maintain insect cultures to be able to apply your skills to your entomological interests.
The biggest part of the course is the individual research project. Here you'll spend three months conducting independent research with the opportunity to work with specialists at the Natural History Museum, London. You'll also spend a week in a research station in Portugal undertaking experiments on insect-pollinator systems to cement your learning.
You’ll study the following core modules:
You’ll be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, and workshops, in addition to the field course and individual research project under the supervision of an expert in the field. Assessment includes essays, practical work, a research project report and presentation.
Our MSc in Practical Entomology will equip you with the skills you require for a career in insect-related research, policy and beyond. The focus on practical skills will make you highly qualified for a wide range of careers that use insects as model systems, or manage them in agricultural, public health, and other contexts.
The transferrable research and project management skills that you’ll develop on this course are valued by a wide range of employers. The University’s Careers Service will show you how to demonstrate this on CVs and in job applications and once you graduate, the support doesn’t stop. You’ll continue to have access to the Careers Service for three years to help you find your perfect job.
To apply for this course, complete the University of Sheffield's postgraduate online application form.
You can find more information about the application process on the University's postgraduate webpages.
Please note that we are no longer accepting applications for 2018 entry.
You can find out about scholarships available to UK, EU and international students on the University of Sheffield’s web pages.
We run postgraduate open days and events throughout the year. Visit our website to book your place.
This course provides comprehensive knowledge and practical training in the spread of microorganisms (predominantly bacterial and viral pathogens), disease causation and diagnosis and treatment of pathogens significant to public health. The increasing incidence of microbial infections worldwide is being compounded by the rapid evolution of drug-resistant variants and opportunistic infections by other organisms. The course content reflects the increasing importance of genomics and molecular techniques in both diagnostics and the study of pathogenesis.
In response to a high level of student interest in viral infections, the School has decided to offer the opportunity for students who focus on viruses in their module and project choices to be awarded a Master's degree in Medical Microbiology (Virology). This choice will depend on the module selection of the individual student in Terms 2 and 3 and choice of project.
Graduates from this course move into global health careers related to medical microbiology in research or medical establishments and the pharmaceutical industry.
The Bo Drasar Prize is awarded annually for outstanding performance by a Medical Microbiology student. This prize is named after Professor Bohumil Drasar, the founder of the MSc Medical Microbiology course.
The Tsiquaye Prize is awarded annually for the best virology-based project report.
- Full programme specification (pdf) (https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/files/mm_progspec.pdf)
- Intercalating this course (https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/courses/ways-study/intercalating-study-masters-degree)
Visit the website https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/medical-microbiology
By the end of the course students should be able to:
- demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the nature of viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi and basic criteria used in the classification/taxonomy of these micro-organisms
- explain the modes of transmission and the growth cycles of pathogenic micro-organisms
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis and the outcomes of infections
- distinguish between and critically assess the classical and modern approaches to the development of therapeutic agents and vaccines for the prevention of human microbial diseases
- demonstrate knowledge of the laboratory diagnosis of microbial diseases and practical skills
- carry out a range of advanced skills and laboratory techniques, including the purification of isolated microbial pathogens, study of microbial growth cycles and analyses of their proteins and nucleic acids for downstream applications
- demonstrate research skills
Term 1:
There is a one-week orientation period that includes an introduction to studying at the School, sessions on key computing and study skills and course-specific sessions, followed by two compulsory modules:
- Bacteriology & Virology
- Analysis & Design of Research Studies
Recommended module: Molecular Biology
Sessions on basic computing, molecular biology and statistics are run throughout the term for all students.
Terms 2 and 3:
Students take a total of five modules, one from each timetable slot (Slot 1, Slot 2 etc.). The list below shows recommended modules. There are other modules that can be taken only after consultation with the Course Director.
- Slot 1:
Clinical Virology
Molecular Biology & Recombinant DNA Techniques
- Slot 2:
Clinical Bacteriology 1
Molecular Virology
- Slot 3:
Advanced Training in Molecular Biology
Basic Parasitology
- Slot 4:
Clincal Bacteriology 2
Molecular Biology Research Progress & Applications
- Slot 5:
Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Molecular Cell Biology & Infection
Mycology
Pathogen Genomics
Further details for the course modules - https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/courses/masters-degrees/module-specifications
During the summer months (July - August), students complete a laboratory-based original research project on an aspect of a relevant organism, for submission by early September. Projects may take place within the School or with collaborating scientists in other colleges or institutes in the UK or overseas.
The majority of students who undertake projects abroad receive financial support for flights from the School's trust funds set up for this purpose
The Royal College of Pathologists accepts the course as part of the professional experience of both medical and non-medical candidates applying for membership. The course places particular emphasis on practical aspects of the subjects most relevant to current clinical laboratory practice and research.
Find out how to apply here - http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/msmm.html#sixth
This course will help you become part of the newest and fastest growing specialty in healthcare by understanding how to apply informatics solutions to develop high-quality and sustainable healthcare.
It has been designed for health professionals who wish to enhance their careers with an informatics qualification. It will also appeal to computer scientists, engineers and others with relevant technical or professional qualifications who wish to move into a successful career involving the application of informatics in the health service.
The Health Informatics MSc at City, University of London aims to develop future leaders in the field who will transform healthcare with sustainable, informatics-led approaches, and is the only MSc in the UK to be accredited by the British Computer Science Society.
High-quality teaching combines both theory and practice, with a strong focus on real-world applications including electronic health records, clinical data management and analytics, mobile technology and telehealth. Teaching is supported by guest lectures from medicine and industry. Furthermore, you will be part of a multi-professional and strongly international cohort bringing together many points of view on national and international computerised healthcare initiatives.
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
As a postgraduate student on a Computing and Information Systems course, you will have the opportunity to complete up to six months of professional experience as part of your degree.
Our longstanding internship scheme gives you the chance to apply the knowledge and skills gained from your taught modules within a real business environment. An internship also provides you with professional development opportunities that enhance your technical skills and business knowledge.
Internships delivered by City, University of London offer an exceptional opportunity to help you stand out in the competitive IT industry job market. The structure of the course extends the period for dissertation submission to January, allowing you to work full-time for up to six months. You will be supported by our outstanding Professional Liaison Unit (PLU) should you wish to consider undertaking this route.
High-quality teaching is delivered by research-active academics from City, University of London. Specialist industry professionals also participate in teaching and learning, ensuring that students learn the knowledge and skills most valued by industry.
Teaching combines both theory and practice, with a strong focus on real-world applications including electronic health records, clinical data management and analytics, mobile technology and telehealth. You will also undertake an independent research project.
All taught modules are delivered through a combination of lectures, interactive workshops, tutorials and activities supported by the University's online learning environment.
Taught modules are generally assessed through a combination of coursework and examination, although some modules are 100% coursework based (e.g. Data Analysis with Healthcare Application, Information Architecture and Project Management). Examinations focus on applying health informatics theories to realistic clinical scenarios. Coursework assignments centre on analysing real world problems, developing computational models and systems to solve these problems and producing written reports and documentation.
The taught component of the MSc is worth 66.67% and the independent research project is worth 33.33%. The independent research project allows students to conduct original research on a health informatics topic of their choice
Upon successful completion of eight modules and the independent research project, you will be awarded a master’s level qualification. Alternatively, if you do not complete the dissertation but have successfully completed the taught component you will be awarded a postgraduate diploma. Successful completion of four modules will lead to the award of a postgraduate certificate.
The MSc comprises of 180 credits.
You will study six core modules and two elective modules. You will also undertake an independent research project.
A full-time student is expected to commit 35 hours a week, which includes attendance at lectures, tutorials and workshops, and independent study on coursework, the individual research project and preparation for examinations.
Taught Core Modules
Core modules are mandatory and provide a detailed insight into key areas of health informatics. The modules are designed to complement each other and incrementally build specialist knowledge in the area. For example, the Electronic Health Records module focuses on important standards and techniques for securely capturing, storing and exchanging clinical data. Data Analysis with Healthcare demonstrates how to undertake statistical analyses of clinical data and report the results. In the Modelling Healthcare Decisions and Knowledge Management in Healthcare modules students learn about machine learning techniques that can be applied to clinical data and used to develop intelligent systems to support clinical decision making, including the cost effectiveness of those decisions in a variety of healthcare settings. The Telehealth and Mobile Applicationsmodules examines the emerging role of telehealth with a focus on new technologies and devices such as mobile apps, sensors and cloud computing that can be used to capture clinical data and deliver health services in environments such as patients’ homes. The Research, Methods and Professional Issues module develops students' research skills and helps with planning and carrying out original research in their independent research project.
Graduates from the Health Informatics MSc pursue successful careers in health services (both state and private sectors in the UK and overseas), and in related healthcare industries such as Electronic Health Record providers. There are a wide variety of roles and opportunities in health informatics as outlined the NHS Careers in Health Informatics including:
Environmental issues such as eutrophication, habitat degradation and climate change threaten the sustainability of our aquatic resources. Responding to these threats the Aquatic Science MSc equips students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the structure and functioning of aquatic environments, encompassing lakes, ponds, rivers, wetlands, groundwaters, estuaries and shallow seas.
Students focus on integrated freshwater and coastal systems and gain extensive training in field sampling, study design and species identification. Distinctive features include: integration of aquatic ecology with hydro-geomorphology, aquatic landscape ecology, analysis of sediment cores for environmental change reconstruction, design of aquatic monitoring programmes and modelling of aquatic system dynamics. Students come away with a sound knowledge of current-day links between aquatic science, legislation and conservation.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma - four core modules and four optional modules all 15 credits (120 credits, full-time nine months, part-time two years) is offered.
A Postgraduate Certificate - four core modules only at 15 credits each (60 credits, full-time twelve weeks, part-time two years) is offered.
Core modules
* modules running are dependent on staff sabbaticals
Optional modules
Students choose four of the following:
* modules running are dependent on staff sabbaticals
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 12,000 words. Dissertation placement positions are offered linked to external conservation bodies and research-orientated consultancies.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical classes, laboratory sessions, case-studies and residential field classes. Assessment is through coursework and the dissertation, which includes an oral presentation of the research proposal.
Fieldwork
Field classes around the UK, these may include trips to Norfolk, Suffolk and the Scottish Highlands.
Optional module Aquatic Macrophytes - approximately £200
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Aquatic Science MSc
This programme provides an ideal foundation for PhD research, or for employment with environmental protection and conservation agencies, the water industry and environmental consultancies.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
The MSc provides students with the science background and practical skills necessary for a career working in aquatic conservation and environmental protection agencies, environmental consultancies and stakeholder agencies. The MSc is also an ideal platform for further PhD study. We aim to expose students to potential employers from the outset and students receive expert tuition in field sampling and monitoring programme design, conservation biology, taxonomy of key species groups, knowledge of important conservation principles and legislation and working with stakeholders.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The Aquatic Science MSc is run by UCL Geography which enjoys an outstanding international reputation for its aquatic environmental research and teaching. The degree has a strong emphasis on field working with three major residential classes to the North Norfolk Coast, Scottish Highlands and Dorset.
The programme is taught by world-leading researchers specialising in Recent Environmental Change & Biodiversity and Environmental Modelling and Observation which has specialist input from the Thames Estuary Partnership
Speakers from environmental organisations including the UK Environment Agency, the Rivers Trusts, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, the UK Wildlife Trusts, National Trust and Natural England lecture on the programme and take part in fieldwork. By bringing together students, researchers and practitioners, a vibrant and informal academic environment is created encouraging mutual discovery and ongoing debate.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Geography
81% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
The programme includes the following profiles:
This profile introduces students into the study of animal and plant development, microbiology, cell signaling pathways, cytoskeleton dynamics, cancer biology, virology and immunology. Courses of this profile span multiple levels of biological organization, from whole organisms down to the molecular level. Students choosing this profile not only receive up-to-date knowledge on these topics but also acquire the laboratory skills required to engage in cutting-edge research.
This profile allows students to gain experience in the research methods used to study the evolution and ecology of organisms found in terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecosystems. A staff of experts teaches up-to-date knowledge on individual organisms, populations, species communities and ecosystems, backed up by their active research experience in taxonomy and phylogeny, vertebrate and invertebrate ecology, evolutionary ecology, biogeography, plant ecology, plant-animal interactions, and nature management. In addition, students are introduced into ecological research by means of practical field training and excursions in Belgium and abroad.
This unique profile addresses biology students with a passion for amphibians and reptiles. An international team of visiting scientists organizes lectures on diversity, ecology, physiology, behavior, evolution and conservation biology and prepares students for a professional career in herpetology. Ecological and herpetological field courses in European and tropical countries form an important part of this programme. As a student, you will be in a stimulating environment, with fellow students and top-experts sharing your passion. For more information, have a look at http://www.herpetology.be.
This profile focuses on the interaction between humans and their natural environment. The increasing impact of the human population on ecosystems worldwide stresses the urgent need for researchers with a multidisciplinary background, that engage in developmental plans for a durable use and management of natural resources. The profile Human Ecology addresses an international audience of students and offers a course programme that, besides scientific topics, also addresses technological, socio-economical and political aspects. For more information, have a look at http://www.humanecology.be.
The world faces a crisis risking extinction of species through global warming. Due to impact of e.g., changes in land use and destruction of habitats, tropical rain forests, mangrove forests and coral reefs are disappearing and with them ecosystem functions, goods and services on which human populations are dependent. In order to conserve nature, to manage or even to restore tropical biodiversity and ecosystems, we must understand patterns of tropical biodiversity, study how organisms interact with their environment and how they respond to perturbations and change. Next to research, this is dealt with in this unique masters programme. http://www.tropimundo.eu
Department of Life Sciences – a leading international centre for research and training in ecology, evolution, conservation and the environment
