Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Train in ecology, evolution and conservation concepts and study their applications to biodiversity.
Train in ecology, evolution and conservation concepts and study their applications to biodiversity
Build your appreciation of ecological and evolutionary models and their use in guiding population dynamics
Carry out a five-month project and specialise in an area of research interest
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£16,600 Home
£36,000 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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Silwood Park
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Course overview
Deepen your understanding of key concepts in ecology, evolution and conservation on this interdisciplinary Master's course.
You'll receive broad research training that examines fundamental concepts and theory, and their application to evolutionary ecology, conservation and biodiversity science.
Based at Silwood Park – a centre of excellence for ecological research – you'll explore a range of interdisciplinary topics guided by leading researchers in their field.
You'll benefit from their own research insights and model systems to understand the fundamental scientific principles that underpin the study topics.
External conservation specialists will also highlight the key issues involved with applying science to practical conservation.
At the beginning of the course you will have the option to choose between focussing on developing your computational or improve your field skills in Silwood and in other areas of the UK. A research project forms the major component of this course.
Over five months, you'll apply research techniques from the course to a topic of your choice.
MSc Living Planet streams
Our MSc Living Planet course will equip you to tackle the great environmental challenges facing the world, providing training on the transferrable research skills you’ll need to develop science-based understanding and interventions.
You may wish to consider if another stream is right for you according to your career aims and background:
- MSc Living Planet with Computational Methods in Ecology and Evolution
- MSc Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (this stream)
- MSc Living Planet with Nature-based Solutions
- MSc Living Planet with Sustainable Agriculture and Technology
- MSc Taxonomy, Biodiversity and Evolution
MRes Living Planet streams
We also offer an MRes in Living Planet course with the following streams:
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 complete the following core modules:
- Statistics in R
- Ecological and Evolutionary Data Science
- Ecology
- Evolution
- Conservation
You'll receive extensive training in research skills on an extended five-month project.
This will see you apply the quantitative and analytical techniques obtained from the taught element of the course.
Projects are arranged in discussion with academic staff after the start of the programme, allowing you to explore options before committing to a topic.
Your work will be assessed by a thesis, oral examination (viva) and presentation.
Many projects are based in a lab or in the field with academics at Silwood, but some projects can be taken in partnership with external organisations.
Previous partner organisations have included the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the Natural History Museum, the Institute of Zoology, and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
You'll choose one of the following optional modules:
- Silwood Field Course and Basic Computing
- Biological Computing Bootcamp
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
- Lectures, practicals and fieldwork
- Independent study
- 10% Title 1 goes here
- 90% Title 2 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Seminars and formal presentations
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Practical classes
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Field work
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Workshops
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Group work
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Computer-based work
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Virtual learning environment
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Lecture recordings
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Individual research project
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Independent study
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Work placement opportunity
Assessment methods
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Coursework
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Projects
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
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.
When are applicants invited for an interview?
Applicants will be invited for an interview should their written application pass an initial review.
How long is the interview and what purpose does it serve?
This interview lasts about 10-20 minutes. It serves as an opportunity for a two-way conversation between the interviewer and the applicant to ask questions and probe further. There are several elements that are being explored, including the applicant's motivations, academic ambitions and their suitability for our courses.
When does it take place?
Interviews will usually be scheduled approximately 3-4 weeks after the application round deadline that you applied to, and we aim to inform applicants of the confirmed schedule approximately 1 week in advance.
How is the interview going to be conducted?
Regardless of whether you are in the UK or overseas, the interview will be conducted through an online meeting via Microsoft Teams.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee - MSc Living Planet (except Nature)
2026 entry
£16,600
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 - MSc Living Planet (except Nature)
2026 entry
£36,000
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.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow will studying at Imperial help my career?
Develop the essential core knowledge and skills for a conservation or biodiversity science career.
Gain a clear insight into your own research interests from among current research topics.
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Our graduates often pursue further study in master's programs or doctoral research.
Life Sciences graduates from Imperial are highly sought after in a variety of employment sectors.
These include business and consultancy, health and social work, banking/finance, education, and manufacturing.
Further links
Contact the department
Email: pgt.silwood@imperial.ac.uk
Course director: Professor Rob Ewers
Visit the Department of Life Sciences website.
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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