MSc Ecological Survey Skills with Placement

Gain industry-relevant knowledge and practical skills with this hands-on degree that includes a six-month paid placement with one of our ecological consultancy partners.*

This course will provide all you need to work in the competitive consultancy and conservation sectors. To achieve this, the School of Biological Sciences has teamed up with ecological consultants at RSK Group Ltd since 2011, and more recently with Aspect Ecology, to deliver a course that provides the skills and knowledge demanded by these industries.

This programme was previously named MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills and has been renamed to better reflect learning outcomes. It's taught by experienced ecologists with visiting lecturers from our partner consultancies – many of whom are alumni from the programme. In fact, more than half of all credits on this programme are overseen by consultants, making this course unique in the UK.

You’ll participate in hands-on and field-based training with all of your assessments being skills-based and fit-for-purpose, with no written examinations. You'll gain a thorough grounding in the skills needed for ecological surveying and species identification, including specialised report-writing and hands-on activities such as species translocation.

In addition to the taught component of your degree, you will be expected to take a six-month paid work placement with a leading ecological consultancy to apply your learning in the workplace.* This will involve working as a field ecologist alongside consultant ecologists planning and undertaking on-site surveys and completing ecological survey reports. The salary is covered by the employer, is at the market rate, and is taxable. In addition, any travel and accommodation while on surveys with the consultancy are covered as expenses by the employer following their expenses procedures.

100% of graduates from MSc Ecological Survey Skills (formerly known as MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills) are in work 15 months after the end of their course (based on our analysis of HESA data ©, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20 and 2020/21 data combined). 

A new feature of this programme is our module on molecular species identification and surveying. On this module, you’ll learn about the molecular methods used to survey and identify species, and you’ll also get practical experience in designing, collecting, processing, and analysing environmental samples. 

97% of our research outputs are of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Biological Sciences).

You may also be interested in our MSc by Research Entomology programme.

* The University has ringfenced paid placements with partner ecological consultants. Students are required to pass an interview with the placement provider and hold a driving licence.