Research Methods in Ecology
Gain hands-on experience in a wide suite of methods and skills used in ecological research.
Gain hands-on experience in a wide suite of methods and skills used in ecological research
Deepen your research expertise through extensive field-based activities in the UK and Malaysia
Develop your own ideas on an individual research project exploring an ecological area of interest
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MSc
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
October 2023
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£17,700 Home
£31,800 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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Silwood Park
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Course overview
Gain practical experience of a wide range of ecological research methods on this Master's course.
You'll develop key research skills for a career in ecology as you explore a broad set of real-world ecological questions.
This programme offers a varied coursework component, with six weeks of field-based research activities offered in the UK and Malaysia. You'll work in teams to develop meaningful hypotheses, and have opportunities to test them using your collected field data.
This field work will be complemented by extensive laboratory and computing training, providing you with the tools to manage and interpret ecological data.
You'll also build your soft skills expertise in project planning, project management and logistics, teamwork, and communicating data.
Nested within the Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet at Silwood Park, this programme brings together natural scientists, engineers, mathematicians, medics, economists and social scientists.
The field course in Malaysia will also embed you in an active global research network at the SAFE Project.
Your studies will build towards an individual research project, where you'll explore an ecological topic of your choice.
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.
You'll complete the following core modules.
Core modules
Build your quantitative and analytical skills in computing.
Understand data analysis and how to use key insights from statistics and machine learning.
Module description coming soon.
Module description coming soon.
Learn how to recommend and implement appropriate sensor technology for collecting ecological data.
You'll carry out an individual research project, which can be conducted on any ecological topic and in any ecosystem around the world.
You’lll be encouraged to follow your interests, and will have the opportunity to work with researchers inside and outside of Imperial College London.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures, practicals and fieldwork
- Independent study
- 15% Lectures, practicals and fieldwork
- 85% Independent study
Teaching and learning methods
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Practical classes
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Fieldwork
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Lectures
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Seminars
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Workshops
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Team-based learning
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Problem-solving sessions
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Independent learning
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Research projects
Balance of assessment
Key
- Practical
- Coursework
- 32% Practical
- 68% Coursework
Assessment methods
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Posters
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Project proposal
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Research plan
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Annotated dataset
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Computing script
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Written research reports
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Oral assessments
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures, practicals and fieldwork
- Independent study
Teaching and learning methods
Assessment methods
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 5 closes on Friday 7 July 2023
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by midnight (UK time) on the relevant application round deadline to ensure that you receive the outcome of your application by the decision date.
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.
Application rounds
Round 1
- Apply by 4 November 2022
- Decision by 19 December 2022
Round 2
- Apply by 20 January 2023
- Decision by 10 March 2023
Round 3
- Apply by 31 March 2023
- Decision by 12 May 2023
Round 4
- Apply by 26 May 2023
- Decision by 27 July 2023
Round 5
- Apply by 7 July 2023
- Decision by 4 August 2023
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for all taught Master's applications excluding those to the Imperial College Business School
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
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.
Unless you are from an exempt nationality, you will need an ATAS certificate to obtain your visa and study this course.
Nationals from the following countries are exempt: Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, USA and EEA members.
Use this information when applying for an ATAS certificate to study this course:
- CAH code: CAH03-01-03
- Descriptor: ecology and environmental biology
- Supervisor name: Professor Daniel Davis
Get guidance and support for obtaining an ATAS certificate.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2023 entry
£17,700
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, 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.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount was £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2023 entry
£31,800
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, 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.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount was £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Your future career
Acquire practical research skills that prepare you for a career in the field as an ecologist or for further graduate study.
With its research-intensive approach, you will learn to think like a scientist.
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Gain time management, leadership, and problem-solving skills that employers are looking for.
Develop your writing and data communication skills while learning about research ethics.
With specialised knowledge as a Life Sciences graduate, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
These include government and industrial research, public health, and careers in business.
Further links
Contact the department
- Email: r.ewers@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Robert 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