Conservation and Ecosystem Management MSc

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

This master's in conservation is taught in a block format each block lasting 4 weeks.

You'll be taught through:

• lectures and seminars
• practical and field visits
• tutorials
• case studies
• small group discussions
• vocational activities

You'll study independently outside of these structured sessions.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Computer assessment
• Dissertation
• Oral examination
• Oral presentation
• Practical lab report
• Report
• Written exercise

Where possible assessments will be used to develop your employability skills such as:

• presentations: oral or using video skills
• management plans
• consultancy reports
• scientific papers
• group reports
• guided tours of conservation sites
• reflective critical pieces

Exams are avoided wherever possible.

You can choose and develop your own dissertation topic, or we work with you to develop a title. This will ideally be in association with a relevant organisation. This ensures your research has value within the sector. You can also build relationships within the industry. Current and recent projects include:

• Reintroduction of grass snakes into Northumberland and Durham – The Wildlife Trust
• Rare plant survey in North East England - Natural England
• Factors that affect lichen distribution –British Lichen Society
• Techniques for restoring bare peat on blanket bog –North Pennines AONB
• Improving (ancient) woodland connectivity in Northumberland –National Park

Your thesis is in the form of a research paper. It can potentially be submitted to a conference or journal.

Support is available to you if you:

• have been out of education for some time
• have come from different specialisms
• are from education systems different from those in the UK

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Helen Adamson is lecturer, Senior Tutor and Degree Programme Director of MSc Conversation and Ecosystem Management She has worked in agro-ecological research in the UK uplands since 1991. Her current research focusses on management techniques to restore biodiversity and ecosystem functioning on blanket and raised bogs. Read her blog and Twitter feed to find out more.

Janet Simkin is a plant ecologist with a particular interest in species-rich grasslands and anthropogenic sites such as churchyards and lead mines. She is also a lichenologist and former President of the British Lichen Society. As well as teaching for Newcastle University, Janet teaches adult education classes in Botany and Ecology for the Natural History Society of Northumbria at the Great North Museum. She is also involved in a number of research projects, including the development of the Whin Sill grassland on the roof of Once Brewed National Park visitors centre. Read her Twitter feed to find out more.

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.