Biodiversity and Conservation

Protecting biodiversity is more pressing than ever. At Southampton, our MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation helps you understand how species, habitats, and ecosystems interact, and why these systems matter. You’ll explore field methods for monitoring wildlife, learn to track changes in species populations, and develop evidence-based conservation strategies. You’ll cover global threats like climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution, and discover how to solve these challenges through science, policy, and community action.

This postgraduate degree unlocks careers in ecological consultancy, wildlife conservation, environmental management, and conservation policy. You’ll gain real-world skills in GIS mapping, spatial modelling, ecological data analysis, and environmental impact assessment. These skills are valued by environmental NGOs, government bodies, and consultancies. Many graduates progress to PhD research, lead conservation programmes, or work with international organisations addressing global biodiversity loss.

At Southampton, you'll:

- work with researchers shaping global conservation policy and ecological restoration

- use advanced spatial analysis, remote sensing, and species distribution modelling

- learn how social and economic factors influence conservation outcomes

- apply your knowledge through fieldwork and data-driven projects

- be assessed using formats used in industry, like policy briefs, consultancy reports, and environmental audits

Our Partnership Projects initiative gives students the chance to complete a Policy, Practice, or Industry dissertation in collaboration with an external partner organisation, working on a real brief defined by the partner. Projects range from ecological field studies, to social research into community sustainability initiatives, to identifying new locations for environmental and social charity initiatives, with students producing research that addresses real‑world challenges and supports meaningful change.

Visit our course page for a full list of modules and detailed requirements.