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Posted March 11, 2015

Spotlight on: Postgrad Study in Ecology

A postgrad degree in ecology is ideal for people who have a bachelors degree in ecology and want to take the study to the next level. Postgrad students have the opportunity to complete the course either full time in one year or part time over two or three years, depending on their work and family commitments. It's even possible to do them via distance-learning. Postgrad degrees are offered by more than 30 different universities in the United Kingdom. The specifics of the degree vary between universities, so it is worth taking the time to check out the options. Here is a selection of the types of ecology postgrad programs that are available.

Masters in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation This type of course generally focuses on research, and students will learn the skills they need to take part in special research projects. There are also a series of lectures included in the course that focus on elements such as fieldwork and practicals and are taught by leading research scientists.

Landscape Ecology with Geographical Information Systems MSc Students who choose to take this course will be provided with three conservation courses that are specially designed to integrate the major theoretical and practical aspects of contemporary conservation and environmental management as well as three courses that cover the principles and implementation of Geographical Information Systems. The course prepares students with all the elements they need to secure a job in ecology and modules are mainly taught.

MSc Applied Ecology This is a very practical course for students who are interested in working in the field of ecology after they graduate. Students who take this course are provided with a lot of firsthand experience as well as lectures that are given by experts in the field of ecology. Other essential skills including CV writing, interview techniques and presentation skills are also covered in the course to help students prepare for landing the job of their dreams after they graduate.

Ecology and Sustainabilty This course focuses on sustainability and analyses the various interactions between economy, environment and society. The course aims to provide students with an understanding of the practical issues that are involved in ecology as well as how to work with leading businesses to help them become more environmentally friendly and help protect local environments for future generations.

Animal Behaviour and Ecology People who have their sights set on working with animals can take the Animal Behaviour and Ecology MPhil that is offered by the University of Nottingham. This course focuses on a number of specialist areas linking the behaviour of animals with their natural environment such as sperm-egg interactions in birds, the structure and dynamics of forest communities and the effects of competition and predation on population dynamics. The course involves a lot of field work and research and teaches students how to look at the natural world with a focus on ecology. Specialist subject areas that are included in the course are Animal Psychology, Behaviour Studies and Ecology.

Entry Requirements Most Masters/PhD courses require a 2:1 degree in a related subject such as ecology, biology or another form of science. Applicants will also need strong English writing skills and be able to write clear and informative essays in English.

As you can see, most of the postgrad ecology courses available focus on specific areas and elements in the broad field of ecology. Students who have already completed their bachelor’s degree in ecology should by this point have an idea of the area that they want to specialise in. before selecting a postgrad ecology course, it is important to read all of the course details carefully to find out exactly what is included and select the programme that best matches the field that you want to specialise in.

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