Ecology is an important discipline to inform many different environmental management issues which often involve wider impacts being assessed for planning and other purposes. There is an increasing desire to utilise sites which are environmentally sensitive and this puts pressure on ecology and habitat survival. There are many other types of environmental impacts which are often hidden but also affect Ecology such as the many different pollutants which are often highlighted monthly. Species decline is becoming a well known issue globally and the ability to maintain and continue species and grow is important in a declining environment.
The programme comes from a very strong department which has been ranked consistently at number 1 in soil science and soil ecology in the UK (REF 2014). The Master's in Ecology has very solid foundations as it has been taught to generations for over 50 years and with this comes considerable knowledge and experience. With this programme you get a chance to influence how we utilise our environment and manage it to the best ability to preserve our ecology.
Our MSc programme provides flexibility to enable you to gain knowledge and skills to meet your career aspirations, whether in research or as a practicing ecologist. The programme runs through a full year, starting with a field course and culminating in a major research project. You will have the opportunity to gain hands on experience of everything from field survey to chairing discussions, from statistics and modelling to report writing and from identifying important ecological questions to researching them and writing a scientific paper. Previous graduates have gone on to the top of their chosen profession in research, consultancy, conservation, policy, education and advocacy.
Semester 1
Optional Courses
Semester 2
Compulsory
Optional
Semester 3
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
Find out about international fees:
Find out more about fees on the programme page
*Please be advised that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page and the latest postgraduate opportunities
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
NEW PROGRAMME
The Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR) is excited to announce the launch of a new programme entitled MSc Agroecology, Water and Food Sovereignty (title subject to validation), which will commence in September 2018. The programme will encompass enhanced knowledge from our now larger team of experts and will be informed by recent research. This will replace the MSc in Agroecology and Food Security which will run for the last time in the September 2017-18 academic year. Please check our website for details which will be published very soon.
-------------------------------
Food security is of critical concern globally, and the development of food systems that provide food of high quality and quantity in a sustainable way, is now a research and policy priority.
The MSc in Agroecology and Food Security is designed to equip professionals and graduates with the knowledge to critically analyse and assess the relationships between agroecological food production and management, farming systems, climate change economics and the environment.
Run by Coventry University's Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR) whose mission is to create resilient food systems worldwide, the course:
-Draws on the outstanding range of academic and practical expertise of CAWR staff plus world-renowned guest lecturers
-Is designed for students from a variety of different academic and professional backgrounds and from the natural and social sciences (e.g. previous experience of agriculture not necessary)
-Provides unique content in terms of its cutting edge focus on transforming the food system through alternative paradigms, concepts, and methodologies to enable real and equitable change
-Is based at the UK’s national centre for organic horticulture in 10 acres of organic gardens.
The course will provide you with the knowledge of the major agricultural production systems found in different parts of the world and the main theoretical approaches to understanding contemporary food systems.
The course covers a range of subject areas including:
For each module, teaching normally takes the form of weekly 'face-to-face' contact at the University (including lectures, workshops, seminars and exercises) throughout each semester, with associated directed and self directed study, which may be undertaken off-campus.
All students undertake an individual research project, which may be associated with an appropriate organisation or company in the UK or overseas. Equipped with a detailed understanding of food systems and a range of appropriate practical skills your potential for employment will be strong.
Opportunities present themselves in national and international government agencies, non governmental policy, research and development organisations, the private sector including food companies and the farming sector.
To prepare students for the challenges of the global employment market and to strengthen and develop their broader personal and professional skills Coventry University has developed a unique Global Leaders Programme.
The objectives of the programme, in which postgraduate and eligible undergraduate students can participate, is to provide practical career workshops and enable participants to experience different business cultures.
If you are interested in earth science, and environmental science but you want to specialise in the study of soil specifically the Aberdeen programme gives you in depth knowledge and a range of experts and alumni who consult at government level. Aberdeen is further supported by having the James Hutton Institute within the city limits, a notable institute specialising in soil science over the years known formerly the Macaulay Institute.
Soil Science is becoming increasingly important to our ability to sustain life on earth as we look at how to keep the soil clean from pollutants in water, air and polluting industries, pesticides and all sorts of changes to soil. There are also growing concerns that as the population increases and climate change also increases how do we farm in the future? The degree gives you all the skills and knowledge you need to work as a soil scientist either as a researcher, within government or regulation or as a consultant working with industry and other organisations devoted to soil science.
You learn about soil science, sustainability, land use planning, food security, GIS, and land use with intensive laboratory analysis from one of the top centres in the world for soil science. We also take you into the field to study specific situations and you are guided by our world renowned researchers in the environmental sciences. This is one of only a handful of Soil Science programmes with cutting edge technologies to help you analyse and study soil in depth. Soil science falls within agricultural sciences which were ranked No. 1 in the UK for research excellence (REF 2014) and the highly acclaimed Environmental Science disciplines which Aberdeen has made a name for itself in over the years.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Optional
Semester 3
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
Find out about international fees:
Find out more about fees on the programme page
*Please be advised that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page and the latest postgraduate opportunities
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
This course is uniquely broad in its coverage, reflecting the range of knowledge and skills required to address the challenges of energy, climate change and sustainable development. Business, society and policy makers are recognising that change is required at all levels of society if we are to address the challenge of sustainable energy and development that meets the needs of future generations.
This course will allow you to understand how sustainable development can be achieved and how we can deal with global climate change through sustainable energy, more efficient design and manufacturing, better management of buildings, organisations and behaviour change. You are able to choose from a range of modules to focus either on more general sustainable development, policy and behaviour change or consider strategies for business and industrial sustainability. If you want to be equipped, challenged or re-trained to lead communities, organisations and governments in responding to this challenge then this course is for you.
The course is suitable for graduates from a variety of disciplines with either a social science or physical science background. It is also suitable for mid-career professionals with relevant experience. The course has been accredited by both the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Energy Institute for completing the educational requirements for chartered engineer registration.
• Academic and research expertise
With more than 30-year’s research experience, our Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD) research and teaching staff provide students with a unique opportunity to learn from scientists actively involved in furthering knowledge and sharing expertise
• Flexible study options
the course is designed to be flexible and fit around you with on campus, part-time or full-time or distance learning options, and multiple exit awards from a full master’s to a single module
• Course content relevant to modern day practice
This course has evolved from input from established courses delivered by the IESD, relevant research projects and industry-related issues are covered to ensure you gain the relevant knowledge and expertise required for when you graduate
• Study a wide range of specialist modules
course content is regularly reviewed and modules have been specifically developed to address skills gaps in the industry
• Excellent graduate prospects
graduates have gone on to work for global companies including the Carbon trust, BMW, National Grid and the European Commission; as well as a variety of other energy and environmental consultancies, central and local government and multinational organisations
Core modules
• Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Energy
• Sustainable Buildings
• Resource-Efficient Design
• Energy Analysis Techniques
• Study Skills and Research Methods
• Dissertation
Optional modules
• Integrated Environmental Strategies
• Leading Change for Sustainability
• Low-Impact Manufacturing
• Green Business
You will complete the MSc by undertaking a research project on a topic of your choice, supervised by an experienced member of research staff.
Full-time students attend for two days each week and receive formal lectures from experienced researchers and teaching staff, complemented by informal seminars and group discussions. Part-time students attend one day per week. You will also be expected to undertake self-directed study.
Distance learning students follow a structured study plan provided on the VLE, supported by discussion forums with other students, and email and telephone conversations with the module leader.
All assessment is by coursework. Each taught module has two items of coursework. The first is a smaller assignment, on which prompt feedback is given while the module is being studied. A second, major assignment is submitted after the material has been assimilated.
As well as the eight taught modules, students complete either an individual dissertation or a team-based design project, and all students get to attend the annual MSc conference, where final year students present.
You will normally attend two-four hours of timetabled taught sessions each week for each module undertaken during term time; for full time study this would be 12 hours per week during term time. You can also expect to typically undertake a further hours of six hours independent study and assignments as required per week.
To learn more about this course and DMU, visit our website:
Postgraduate open days: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-study/open-evenings/postgraduate-open-days.aspx
Applying for a postgraduate course:
Funding for postgraduate students
With our Master's in Global Environmental Change, you'll gain a solid foundation in environmental science, data collection and analysis, and land/water-use interactions. You'll develop key skills and knowledge needed to address some of the world's major challenges.
Changes to the environment manifest globally but will incur varied, and potentially devastating local impacts. This Master's programme seeks to reflect the interactions or 'nexus' between land use, water demands, food provision and energy supply. This framework becomes more pressing in a future under climate change. The compulsory courses will embody the complexity of this 'nexus', providing both a theoretical foundation on topics such as climate change and complementary practical skills such as carbon accounting which will enhance employability. Core courses include:
The programme also offers a range of optional subjects including:
Global Environmental Change is a wide-ranging programme which reflects the strength of unique expertise held within the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), where recent interdisciplinary research ranges from practical areas with a direct relevance to climate adaptation – such as agricultural practices – to issues of equity and environmental economics. NRI staff who lead courses in this programme have contributed to global initiatives such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports.
You will be based at the University of Greenwich, Medway Campus in Kent, where you will benefit from the expert knowledge within the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), a prize-winning research and teaching institute specialising in food, environment, agriculture and sustainable development.
