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MSc SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND SURVEY SKILLS

  • Year of entry
    2021
  • Course duration
     12 months
  • Year of entry
    2021
  • Course duration
     12 months
View all

Start date: September 2021

Gain industry-relevant knowledge and practical skills with our hands-on MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills degree.

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.

You’ll participate in hands-on and field-based training and, in addition to the taught component of your degree, you’ll have the opportunity to embark on a six-month work placement with a leading ecological consultancy. A bursary for this period is provided by the employer. 

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. 

More than half of all credits on this programme are overseen by consultants when you choose to take a placement, making this course unique in the UK, and the current course employment rate in the ecology and ecological consultancy sectors is 100% (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, 2016/17).

Read more about MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills. 

Overview

Gain industry-relevant knowledge and practical skills with our hands-on MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills degree.

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.

You’ll participate in hands-on and field-based training and, in addition to the taught component of your degree, you’ll have the opportunity to embark on a six-month work placement with a leading ecological consultancy. A bursary for this period is provided by the employer. 

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. 

More than half of all credits on this programme are overseen by consultants when you choose to take a placement, making this course unique in the UK, and the current course employment rate in the ecology and ecological consultancy sectors is 100% (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, 2016/17).

Read more about MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills. 

Close contact with lecturers who are national experts in their fields and professionals working for successful companies has made postgraduate studies at the University of Reading better than I could ever have expected.

James Howsam
MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills

Entry requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent)

Entry requirements: Normally a good undergraduate honours degree (2:1 or above), or equivalent from a university outside the UK, in a related subject such as biological sciences, geographical sciences, agricultural sciences or environmental sciences, but each application will be considered individually.

Structure

  • Botanical Field Skills
  • Ecological Consultancy Skills
  • Molecular Methods for Species Identification and Survey
  • Project Placement
  • Research Project

Please note that all modules are subject to change. Please see our modules disclaimer for more information.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,500 per year

New international students: £20,600 per year

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated, and relate to courses starting in September 2021. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Careers

All our master’s programmes emphasise the practical skills that employers need, whether that is the ability to identify plants, carry out environmental assessments or use the latest cutting-edge molecular techniques. As a University of Reading MSc graduate, you will be well equipped to work in the field or the lab, and in the private or public sector. 100% of our graduates are in work or study 15 months after the end of their course; of those in full-time employment, 92% were in graduate-level roles [1]. Many of our graduates go on to study for a PhD and pursue a career in research, either in industry or in universities.

Typical roles of graduates from our ecology and wildlife-based MSc programmes include conservation officers, project managers, field ecologists and environmental consultants. Graduates from our biomedical MSc programme typically go on to pursue PhD studies or work in the pharmaceutical industry.

[1] Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18; Postgraduate (Taught) responders from Biological Sciences.

 

Related Courses

  • MSc Environmental Management
    Full Time: 12 months | Part Time: 24 months
View all Biological Sciences course at the University of Reading courses

Close contact with lecturers who are national experts in their fields and professionals working for successful companies has made postgraduate studies at the University of Reading better than I could ever have expected.

James Howsam

MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills

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2020
2021
Undergraduates
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Subjects A-B

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Science
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Building and Surveying
  • Business and Management, Accounting and Finance

Subjects C-E

  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Classical Studies
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management
  • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
  • Creative Writing
  • Drama
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Education
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  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environment

Subjects F-G

  • Film & Television
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Foundation programmes
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Graphic Communication and Design

Subjects H-M

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • International Development
  • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
  • International Relations
  • Italian
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Museum Studies

Subjects N-T

  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate Studies
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Spanish
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Surveying and Construction
  • Teaching
  • Theatre

Subjects U-Z

  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Zoology

Subjects A-C

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Business (Post-Experience)
  • Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Ancient History
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management and Engineering
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Creative Enterprise

Subjects D-G

  • Data Science
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Energy and Environmental Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Film, Theatre and Television
  • Finance
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Graphic Design

Subjects H-P

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • Information Management and Digital Business
  • Information Technology
  • International Development and Applied Economics
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Management
  • Medieval History
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Nutritional Sciences
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

Subjects Q-Z

  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Social Policy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Strategic Studies
  • Teaching
  • Theatre
  • Typography and Graphic Communication
  • War and Peace Studies
  • Zoology

Subjects A-B

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Science
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Building and Surveying
  • Business and Management, Accounting and Finance

Subjects C-E

  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Classical Studies
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management
  • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
  • Creative Writing
  • Drama
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environment

Subjects F-G

  • Film & Television
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Foundation programmes
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Graphic Communication and Design

Subjects H-M

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • International Development
  • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
  • International Relations
  • Italian
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Museum Studies

Subjects N-T

  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate Studies
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Spanish
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Surveying and Construction
  • Teaching
  • Theatre

Subjects U-Z

  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Zoology

Subjects A-C

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Business (Post-Experience)
  • Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Ancient History
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management and Engineering
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Creative Enterprise

Subjects D-G

  • Data Science
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Energy and Environmental Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Film, Theatre and Television
  • Finance
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Graphic Design

Subjects H-P

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • Information Management and Digital Business
  • Information Technology
  • International Development and Applied Economics
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Management
  • Medieval History
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Nutritional Sciences
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

Subjects Q-Z

  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Social Policy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Strategic Studies
  • Teaching
  • Theatre
  • Typography and Graphic Communication
  • War and Peace Studies
  • Zoology

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