Conservation Science and Practice
Learn to lead conservation programmes to tackle global biodiversity challenges based on conservation science practice
Learn to lead conservation programmes to tackle global biodiversity challenges using evidence-based practice
Develop practical experience and insights through fieldwork and field trips
Complete an independent research project on a topic of your choice in the UK or abroad
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year, 2 years
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
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Fees
£16,500 Home
£34,500 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
2:1 in any subject. Science, engineering or social science subjects are preferred. Relevant industry experience may also be considered.
Course overview
Gain world-class, inter-disciplinary training to tackle critical conservation challenges and deliver projects effectively, thoughtfully, and ethically.
You’ll be trained to understand conservation issues as complex problems, that require social and ecological sciences for great decision-making.
The option of studying full or part-time provides flexibility and accessibility for our students.
This course consists of two taught terms at the Centre for Environmental Policy (CEP) in South Kensington, featuring seminars, practicals, fieldtrips, one-to-one mentoring, and insights from conservation experts.
The course offers students a unique opportunity to learn from conservation leaders in research, policy and practice all over the world.
Assessments are based on authentic conservation activities, such as grant proposals, presentations and policy briefs.
You will also conduct a specialist independent research project in an area of your interest within the UK or abroad, and that can be carried out in collaboration with one of our many research and NGO partners outside Imperial.
This course will equip you with the skills to be a pioneer within the next generation of conservation scientists and practitioners, able to solve sustainability and environmental problems in a range of academic, research, governmental and non-governmental organisations.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You'll take all of these modules. First year part-time students will undertake all core modules alongside full-time students.
Core modules
Gain an understanding of the critical concepts of conservation science, how they developed and how they are used in international conservation efforts.
Consider social and ecological processes, system dynamics and feedback loops at local, regional and global scales. Explore how these influence the effectiveness of potential solutions to environmental problems.
Effective conservation programs involve a myriad of decisions, the outcomes of which collectively influence the success of these initiatives.
Learn how to use the techniques and evidence to effectively analyse outcomes and make excellent conservation decisions.
Build a solid understanding of principles, concepts and techniques for ecological and social research.
Learn to characterise biodiversity, study social-ecological systems, and explore how these techniques are used in a range of case studies around the world.
Develop the practical skills to lead, fund, manage and deliver projects to become an effective conservation practitioner.
Learn to translate challenges to opportunities, lead teams, collaborate effectively and organise conservation projects.
Learn techniques to make data analysis and literature reviews reproducible and study a core set of statistical methods used in social and ecological research.
Critically examine whether conservation actions lead to positive outcomes for both nature and humanity. Explore the importance of monitoring and evaluation to underpinning more effective, evidence-informed conservation.
Complete an independent research project on a topic of your choice drawn from conservation science.
You'll have the opportunity to work with academic research groups, governmental or non-governmental conservation organisations. You can take up a project from a range proposed by our external partners or develop your own research questions.
You might conduct ecological or social fieldwork in the UK or abroad or in-depth analysis of existing datasets.
Full time students will carry out the project over 5 months. On the part-time version of this course, you'll complete this project in your second year, after completing the taught modules in the first year.
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
This is a general guide to how teaching and learning are usually balanced across this course. The methods used may change based on the modules you take.
Key
- Coursework
- Research project
- 50% Title 1 goes here
- 50% Title 2 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Seminars
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Computer-based work
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Field trips
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Group work
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Data analysis
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Virtual learning environment
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Independent research project
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may vary depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Independent research project
- Taught modules
- 50% Title 1 goes here
- 50% Title 2 goes here
Assessment methods
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Group presentations
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Reports
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Individual presentations
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Group discussions
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Coursework
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Individual research project
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How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – Round 2 closes on Wednesday 7 January 2026.
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Monday 29 September 2025
- Applications close on Wednesday 7 January 2026
- Decision by Wednesday 4 March 2026
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 8 January 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 11 March 2026
- Decision by Wednesday 6 May 2026
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 12 March 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 29 April 2026
- Decision by Thursday 2 July 2026
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee
Full-time
£16,500
Part-time
£8,250
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee
Full-time
£34,500
Part-time
£17,250
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Learn with global expertise and cutting-edge research from social and ecological scientists, economists and engineers.
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Study with flexibility and accessibility around your life and location, with in-person and online teaching and a choice of full-time or part-time modes.
Meet alumni and undertake career development panels with conservation leaders.
Alumni have gone on to become academic researchers at top universities, conservation practitioners at NGOs, policy advisors in governments, and consultants in the ecological survey, sustainability and green finance industries.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 9347
- Email: enquiries.env@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Morena Mills
View the Centre for Environmental Policy website.
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Request info
Find out more about studying at Imperial. Receive updates about life in our community, including event invites and download our latest Study guide.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications