Ecological Survey Skills with Placement

This programme was previously named MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills and has been renamed to better reflect learning outcomes. It's taught by experienced ecologists with visiting lecturers from our partner consultancies – many of whom are alumni from the programme. In fact, more than half of all credits on this programme are overseen by consultants, making this course unique in the UK. You’ll participate in hands-on and field-based training with all of your assessments being skills-based and fit-for-purpose, with no written examinations. You'll gain a thorough grounding in the skills needed for ecological surveying and species identification, including specialised report-writing and hands-on activities such as species translocation. In addition to the taught component of your degree, you will be expected to take a six-month paid work placement with a leading ecological consultancy to apply your learning in the workplace.* This will involve working as a field ecologist alongside consultant ecologists planning and undertaking on-site surveys and completing ecological survey reports. The salary is covered by the employer, is at the market rate, and is taxable. In addition, any travel and accommodation while on surveys with the consultancy are covered as expenses by the employer following their expenses procedures. 100% of graduates from MSc Ecological Survey Skills (formerly known as MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills) are in work 15 months after the end of their course (based on our analysis of HESA data ©, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20 and 2020/21 data combined).