Taxonomy, Biodiversity and Evolution
Receive broad training towards a career in biological diversity.
Receive broad training towards a career in biological diversity
Learn from subject specialists at the Natural History Museum and develop your computer and laboratory-based skills
Specialise in a research area of interest during an independent four-month project
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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South Kensington
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Course overview
Study how taxonomy and systematics provide the foundation for our understanding of biological diversity on this Master's course.
Based primarily at the Natural History Museum, this programme will equip you with the quantitative and analytical skills required for a career in biodiversity research.
This includes the chance to explore a range of computing, morphological and molecular techniques.
You'll attend lectures and carry out computer and laboratory-based practicals at the museum before applying your skills to field work at Imperial's Silwood Park campus.
You'll then further demonstrate your expertise by investigating a research area of interest during an independent four-month project.
This course's close links with the museum will also provide you with opportunities to attend regular seminars and network with leading researchers as you build towards future PhD study or a biodiversity career.
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
- MSc Living Planet with Nature-based Solutions
- MSc Living Planet with Sustainable Agriculture and Technology
- MSc Taxonomy, Biodiversity and Evolution (this stream)
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 all the following core modules:
- NHM Field Course and Basic Computing
- Statistics in R
- Ecological and Evolutionary Data Science
- Natural History Collections and Principles of Taxonomy
- Phylogenetics and Molecular Systematics
- Macroevolution and Speciation
Undertake an extensive independent research project, either at the Natural History Museum or at Imperial.
Topics should relate to the general subject area of systematics and/or biodiversity, and should show the scope for original observation or experimental design.
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 and practicals
- Independent learning
- Research project
Terms 1 and 2
- 50% Title 1 goes here
- 50% Title 2 goes here
Term 3
- 0% Title 1 goes here
- 100% Title 3 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Practicals
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Workshops
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Individual research project
Assessment methods
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Project report
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Oral presentation
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Coursework
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.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee - Taxonomy
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 - Taxonomy
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 qualitative and analytical skills to prepare for a career as a biodiversity researcher.
Due to its unique location, you will have an opportunity to network with leading researchers in the field at the Natural History Museum.
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: s.dennison@imperial.ac.uk
Course Directors: Professor Alfried Vogler and Dr Arkhat Abzhanov
Visit the Department of Life Sciences 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