Online Postgraduate Opportunity in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health

From the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

Frog image © Martin Valigursky This new online MSc programme draws together expertise from the University of Edinburgh's Global Health Academy and Royal (Dick) Vet School, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), with the support of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and partner global associates, to deliver first class teaching and research in the field of Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health.

Helping you to manage ecosystems for wildlife and human health in the 21st Century and beyond

The future health and security of both wildlife and human populations relies critically on the health of the ecosystems on which they depend. 

It is important that people fully appreciate the complex relationships between human populations, wildlife and the ecosystems in which they live. 

Underwater landscape image © Olga Khoroshunova There is more emphasis than ever before on a holistic approach to conservation management, to assess and accommodate the needs of all aspects of ecosystems.  This can help achieve the ultimate goal of sustainable ecosystem use, to conserve the long-term potential of habitats and species diversity in both the developing and developed world.

This new MSc in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health aims to meet the demand for interdisciplinary training required by those whose role it is to understand and manage the natural environment.  It will introduce you to the complex inter-dependent nature of ecosystems and the species they sustain, and encourage you to assess the impact of current and future threats to their survival.

Rice paddy image © TMAX If you would like to find out more, call us on +44 (0)131 242 6461, email Programme Director Dr. Sharron Ogle at WEB.onlineMSc@ed.ac.uk, or visit us on the web at: www.WEB.mvm.ed.ac.uk or www.globalhealthacademy.ed.ac.uk.

Overview
This programme is taught entirely online using the Virtual Learning Environment of WebCT.  Students work load is approximately 12-17 hours per week for 3x ten week teaching blocks per year. 

Year 1 (Postgraduate Certificate): two core courses:

  • Evolution and Biodiversity
  • Ecosystem health and sustainability

Then two of the following:

  • Global citizenship
  • Ex situ wildlife management
  • Introduction to GIS and spatial data analysis
  • Population biology
  • Water and sanitation

Year 2 (Postgraduate Diploma): courses are selected from a variety of electives including:

  • Biomedical research methodologies
  • Climate change, policy and practice
  • Communication and public engagement of conservation
  • Conservation genetics
  • Ecology, ethics and religion
  • Environmental law
  • Extreme environmental ecosystems
  • Green economics, policy and advocacy
  • Managing ecosystems for human well being
  • Invasive non-native species
  • Land use and food security
  • Population and habitat viability assessment
  • Surveillance and control of transboundary diseases affecting international trade
  • Taming statistics
  • The marine environment
  • The modern zoo
  • The use of artificial reproduction technology in wildlife
  • Wildlife crime and forensics
  • Zoonotic diseases

Year 3 (MSc)

  • Written reflective element

Learning online

We continually assessed across the academic year, assignments are designed to reinforce transferable skills beyond the context of the MSc such as grant writing, using PowerPoint for presentations, dissemination of information to a non-academic audience and survey design.  Training is provided where appropriate.

Cross-programme contact with other online students is encouraged through commonly themed events and online conferences.

Entry requirements

The programme welcomes applicants from zoological, biological, environmental and veterinary backgrounds or those that have a 2.1 honours degree in a relevant bio-science topic.

The postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health may appeal to a wider audience, including persons with appropriate experience from working within the animal or human health sectors.

Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS score of 6.5 with 6.0 in each section (or equivalent).

Provisional timetable for 2010/11:

  • Term 1 October to December 2010
  • Term 2 January to March 2011
  • Term 3 April to June 2011

Tuition Fee

In session 2010/11 is a flat fee of £9650: £3217 per year.  Scholarship places may be available, please refer to our website for further details.
 

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