Overview

Develop interdisciplinary solutions needed to tackle the global biodiversity crisis. Understand the issues we face when conserving natural habitats and ecosystems upon which human communities depend. Become a member of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), which in 2019 received the highly prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its world-leading research and training in conservation science. On our MSc programme, which is delivered by DICE staff, you will collaborate with world-leading conservation scientists and gain the knowledge, skills and practical experience needed for a successful career in conservation. 

A key focus for conservation managers needing to address the challenges of international wildlife trade is understanding the complex relationships between biodiversity conservation, local communities, and the use of natural resources. You’ll examine a range of factors that shape both legal and illegal wildlife trade, from economics to cyber-enabled wildlife trafficking, and how these factors affect biodiversity and society. The programme focuses on understanding what drives wildlife trade, its impacts on people and nature, and the challenges it presents for effective conservation. You will also undertake a research project specifically focused on these themes, giving you the opportunity to contribute to meaningful, real-world conservation efforts.

You will gain an interdisciplinary perspective on conservation issues, drawing on over 30 years of DICE expertise on what it takes for effective conservation management. You will receive state-of-the-art training across the full breadth of conservation disciplines, learning the approaches needed where local communities also rely on natural resource use, as well as the skills needed to restore threatened species and habitats. You will gain practical and methodological tools you will need to achieve success as a conservation scientist who can operate across the natural and social sciences. 

Why study Conservation Science at Kent?

• Learn from DICE staff, all of whom have practical conservation experience from around the world and have published internationally excellent research (we are ranked first in the UK for our research publications).
• Conduct fieldwork anywhere in the world or use outstanding facilities on-campus for your research project, including modern laboratories in molecular genetics and wildlife ecology and the DICE field site to support your research.
• Learn outside the classroom with a residential field course at the Durrell Conservation Academy, based at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey, and gain insight into cutting-edge population recovery techniques.
• Build your professional network by becoming part of the global DICE alumni network that includes award-winning conservation scientists and practitioners from over 100 countries.
• We provide a rich postgraduate learning environment that spans all areas of conservation, and perfectly reflects the DICE mission of focusing on applied conservation that breaks down the barriers between the natural and social sciences.