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Biological Sciences at UEA
Find out more about studying Biological Sciences at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMSc Applied Ecology and Conservation with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2026
Other Start Dates
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17th
UEA is ranked 17th overall for research quality in Biological Science
The Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisCourse Overview
Why MSc Applied Ecology and Conservation with a Placement Year at UEA?
Why Choose UEA
- Evidence-led teaching: Learn from world-leading researchers and network with conservation experts
- Tailored learning: Shape your studies around your interests with a blend of practical, analytical, and policy-focused learning
- Research intensive: Conduct an original four-month research project in a topic area of your choice
What is MSc Applied Ecology and Conservation with a Placement Year?
Turn your passion for wildlife and the environment into the skills needed to make a real difference. You'll learn from leading ecologists, conservationists, and organisations including Norfolk Wildlife Trust, RSPB, CEFAS, and BirdLife.
Through a blend of fieldwork, practical training, and hands-on research, you'll develop the confidence to tackle real conservation challenges and help protect biodiversity. You'll gain expertise in ecological survey methods, global conservation, and data analysis, while tailoring your studies through optional topics such as GIS, conservation policy, evolutionary biology, and genetics.
A four-month research project is at the heart of the course, giving you the opportunity to investigate a current biodiversity challenge, often in partnership with conservation organisations. In year two, you’ll take part in a placement, gaining valuable professional skills. This valuable research experience helps you build professional skills, expand your network, and strengthen your prospects for careers in ecology, conservation, environmental consultancy, or further study.
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Placement Year
A placement is a compulsory part of the programme and takes place in your second year, giving you the opportunity to apply your knowledge in a professional setting while developing the skills employers value. During the first semester, you'll continue your structured employability development programme, including dedicated support to help you secure an industry placement.
Placements are typically completed with a UK organisation over eight to ten months. We work with a specialist, award-winning partner to provide tailored careers support throughout your placement search, helping you maximise your chances of securing a paid role that aligns with your career ambitions.
If you're unable to secure a placement or don't meet the academic requirements, you'll complete three structured industry projects with different UK organisations instead. Available in a range of formats, these projects provide valuable experience of working on real industry challenges, allowing you to build your professional skills and broaden your experience across multiple organisations.
Whichever route you take, you'll graduate with practical, career-relevant experience that will enhance your CV, strengthen your employability and help you stand out in a competitive job market.
Find out more at Postgraduate Placement Year.
Careers
Career Pathways
With an MSc Applied Ecology and Conservation, you could pursue a career as:
- Ecological Researcher: Contribute to scientific understanding of ecosystems, biodiversity, and environmental change
- Ecological Consultant: Advise organisations on environmental impacts, habitat management, and conservation requirements
- Conservation and Environmental Manager: Lead projects that protect habitats, restore ecosystems, and support biodiversity
- Science Communicator: Share environmental research and conservation issues with public, professional, and policy audiences
- Environmental Educator: Inspire others through teaching, outreach, and environmental education programmes
Career Support
Throughout the course, you'll build practical experience, research expertise, and professional networks that support your career ambitions. Working alongside leading researchers and conservation organisations, you'll gain valuable insight into the ecology and conservation sector while developing skills highly valued by employers. You’ll also benefit from support from UEA’s Career Central, including careers advice, CV and application guidance, interview preparation, and resources to help you plan your next steps.
After the Course
You'll graduate as a skilled conservation ecologist, ready to use what you've learned at UEA to make a real difference. You could go on to a career in many different areas – from ecological research to environmental management, consultancy, and conservation. You might also consider education or science communication and engagement. Many of our students progress to PhD study after their Master's degree.
Study and Modules
Structure
Our MSc Applied Ecology and Conservation with a Placement Year course is delivered over two years, beginning with a series of field trips in the first year. You'll then study a combination of taught modules before undertaking an individual research project. In your second year, you'll complete a placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience and apply your knowledge in a professional setting.
Your compulsory modules will give you a strong grounding in both practical and theoretical skills and knowledge. You’ll be trained to carry out ecological research and interpret and evaluate the results of ecological surveys carried out by a third party. This offers ideal vocational training and first-hand experience in a range of methods for surveying plants, animals, and habitats, including remote census techniques such as radio-tracking, passive acoustic monitoring, and camera trapping.
In addition, you’ll critically evaluate scientific evidence as a basis for effective biodiversity conservation policy, strategy and interventions in a world challenged by climate change, population growth and the need for socio-economic development and environmental justice.
You’ll cover statistical concepts and practice, and the links between statistics and experimental design. Using R, you’ll build from simple tests for trends, associations and differences to understanding how and why multivariate statistics are used in ecological analyses and how to visualize complex data. Alongside these core modules, you’ll also be able to select from a range of optional modules offering advanced analytical skills and additional practical experience.
After the taught component of the course, you’ll apply your learning in a real environment through your dissertation study – conducting a four-month research project in an area of your choice.
You’ll undertake a year-long Employability Skills module, which will equip you with the skills needed to seek, secure and succeed in your placement. You’ll benefit from workshops on CV writing, interview practice and using LinkedIn. You’ll also have one-to-one meetings that will help you plan your application strategy and give you opportunities for mock interviews. Sessions will be a mixture of online and in-person. This is a pass/fail module, and you’ll need to meet the attendance requirements in order to progress to the placement year.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
Year two provides you with the opportunity to take part in a placement aligned to your discipline. In the first semester, you'll undertake an intensive placement search. You’ll have dedicated support throughout your placement search, along with six broader in-person workshops that provide the opportunity for critical reflection. At the end of your placement search, if you haven’t managed to secure an industry work placement, you’ll undertake a series of three industry projects.
At the end of the module, you'll be required to submit an assessment consisting of a portfolio of materials related to your job search and a reflective report. You’ll highlight skills learnt, increased sector awareness, and development needs for the future. This will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. By the end of the placement module, you’ll have enhanced your career confidence, as well as strengthened your CV and professional network. You’ll be ready for the next stage of your career, whether in the UK or elsewhere.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
All our teaching is research-led and is delivered by enthusiastic, friendly academic staff, with world-leading research reputations in ecology, evolution and conservation, from across UEA’s Schools of Biological and Environmental Sciences and affiliated institutes. Contributions from staff at leading local, national and international conservation organisations ensure that your modules incorporate the latest conservation issues and ideas while also providing excellent networking opportunities. You'll learn through lectures, seminars, workshops, and fieldwork, where you’ll perfect your practical field skills. You’ll also get the chance to attend regular seminars and workshops, organised by the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (CEEC), to keep up with the latest research in conservation and ecology.
Assessment
Assessment methods vary depending on the modules you choose, but typically include written assignments, research posters, presentations, and reports. These assessments help you develop valuable skills in critical thinking, data analysis, problem-solving, and scientific communication. You'll also complete an independent research project for your dissertation, giving you the opportunity to investigate a topic that interests you and apply the skills you've developed throughout the course. Many student research projects make valuable contributions to the field, with some going on to be published in peer-reviewed journals.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2.
Degree Subject
Biology-related subject plus evidence of additional conservation experience. Geography and Environmental Management degrees are also acceptable if containing strong ecological component.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or international equivalent
Degree Subject
Biology-related subject plus evidence of additional conservation experience. Geography and Environmental Management degrees are also acceptable if containing strong ecological component.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum of 5.5 in each component).
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £14,450
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International Students: £28,250
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.