MSc Nature Recovery, Restoration and Rewilding

Entry requirements

We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent. We welcome applications from a variety of subject areas to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the programme.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Humanity has created a global biodiversity crisis. Wildlife populations are plunging and over one million species now face extinction. The United Nations have stated that everyone, from governments and businesses to individuals, needs to rethink their relationship with nature: We must embrace transformative solutions that will recover, restore and rewild nature across all ecosystems. The MSc in Nature Recovery, Restoration and Rewilding (NR3) has been designed to expose you to the solutions that can help address the biodiversity crisis. You will gain knowledge and understanding of the conceptual and ethical debates about biodiversity enhancement, acquire the practical and field skills required to transform biodiversity futures whilst learning from best practice ‘nature positive’ examples around the world. You will also learn about the wider benefits of these transformative solutions, including their role in addressing the climate crisis and improving human health and wellbeing.

Through small class learning and field work, this course will equip you with a ‘toolbox’ of knowledge and techniques to transform humanity’s relationship with nature. You will acquire understanding and practical skills relating to nature recovery , a suite of tools that aim to benefit nature not just minimise harm, which are being applied in sectors normally linked to biodiversity declines like agriculture and urban development. Whilst studying this programme, you will see ecological restoration first-hand in uplands, wetlands and forests, learning about practical restoration techniques that repair natural processes and help ecosystems recover after human-induced damage. You will also be immersed in the theory and practice of rewilding , an exciting approach seeking to give nature more independence over large areas, including reintroducing organisms that can ‘engineer’ ecosystems. Throughout your studies, you will enquire, debate and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of these different approaches, exploring theoretical, ethical and practical perspectives.

Aside from the University of Manchester being a top ranked Higher Education institution, the city has been at the heart of industrial development since the growth of the cotton trade in the late 18th century. The expansion of Manchester has been the forerunner of global urbanisation, which has prioritised economic growth at the expense of the natural environment. This has not just affected cities, but also the surrounding landscapes that provide natural and social capital to fuel growth, and a wider impact on unconnected areas with a requirement for intensive agricultural practices needed to support a growing human population. By studying nature recovery, restoration and rewilding in the city that kickstarted urbanisation, students coming to Manchester will be immersed in an excellent example of the global challenge of sustainable development.

During the MSc, students will gain a diverse and rich experience that will enable them to make a real-world impact. Our cohort of students draw from backgrounds representing an array of disciplinary knowledge. This is a crucial aspect of the degree because developing solutions to our environmental crises will require interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches.

Students will be provided with a diverse portfolio of learning opportunities. This will include lectures and seminars given by academics and guest speakers with expertise in the arena of transformative conservation, delivering a blend of philosophical, ethical and applied perspectives. Real-world understanding will be gained through field visits to chosen case studies that are delivering positive outcomes for people and nature. Finally, students will learn a diverse array of practical skills that are transferable to a wide range of environmental careers, such as data analytics, ecological survey techniques, and geographical information systems. Students are also able to tailor their experience according to their personal ambitions through optional course units from across The University of Manchester, as well as embarking on a research project of their choosing.

Fees and funding

We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students.

In addition, the Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class bachelor's degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught master's course. For more information on scholarships and bursaries, see our Fees and funding webpages or research the University's postgraduate funding database .