Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation MRes

Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Research
  • Postgraduate taught
  • MRes

Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation

Obtain the interdisciplinary research skills required to succeed in the fields of ecology, evolution and conservation.

Apply detailed understanding of the essential facts, concepts, principles, and theories relevant to your project specialisation and harness this knowledge to tackle outstanding issues

Join world leading academic research groups, along with potential opportunity to work with leading ecological and conservation organisations and research institutes

Apply your knowledge across two extended research projects

Course key facts

  • Qualification

    • MRes

  • Duration

    1 year, 2 years

  • Start date

    September 2025

  • Study mode

    Full-time, Part-time

  • Fees

    • £15,500 Home

    • £34,250 Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • Silwood Park

Minimum entry standard

  • 2:1 in a science subject

View full entry requirements

Course overview

Gain broad and interdisciplinary research training in ecology, evolution and conservation on this Master's course.

Available full-time or part-time, and taught by internationally recognised experts, this programme provides you with first-hand experience in conducting high-quality research.

You'll be taught by active researchers throughout the department and have the opportunity to join research groups as you develop your expertise in specific areas.

You'll build interdisciplinary skills and benefit from international connections and collaborations with leading institutions and organisations. Your science will have relevance to practical conservation.

MRes Living Planet programme

Our MRes 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. All our MRes Living Planet streams are available in full-time or part-time modes.

You may wish to consider if another stream is right for you according to your career aims and background:

MSc Living Planet course

We also offer an MSc 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 compulsory modules in the Autumn term, designed to give you the core skills needed to understand, interpret and conduct independent research. This training is conducted in field and computing environments and will introduce you to modern data collection and experimental methods, along with state-of-the-art techniques in data science, geographic information systems (GIS), genomics and bioinformatics, and data interpretation.

  • Statistics in R
  • Introduction to Ecological and Evolutionary Data Science
  • Planning Research Projects

You’ll complete one of the following optional modules:

  • Silwood Field Course and Basic Computing
  • Biological Computing Bootcamp

You will conduct a long research project on almost any topic within the remit of ecology, evolution and conservation that can come under the broader area of environmental science.

Projects normally involve the collection of new data, and can be developed through the university, with national and international collaborators, with external institutions and companies, or be based on the application of science to practical conservation through working with conservation organisations and research institutes.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and learning methods

  • Research seminars
  • A person studying independently
    Independent research projects

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Lectures and practicals
  • Research project

  • 33% Lectures and practicals
  • 67% Research project

Assessment methods

  • Individual research project reports
  • Checklist for a practical examination
    Practical assessments
  • Oral presentations
  • Oral exams

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 1 closes on Thursday 16 January 2025

Tuition fees

Home fee

Full-time

£15,500

2 years, part-time

£7,750per year

Overseas fee

Full-time

£34,250

2 years, part-time

£17,125per year

How will studying at Imperial help my career?

Person with magnifying glass over head

Be equipped with the necessary skills to proceed to a PhD and establish a career in academia.

Research screen

You will be well placed to pursue a research position with government and non-governmental organisations that seek to protect biodiversity.

Man standing under a sign pointing different directions

Life Sciences graduates from Imperial are also highly sought after in a variety of employment sectors outside of academia.

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.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

Programme specifications