University of Brighton
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Ecology
MRes (PGCert PGDip)

  • Course summary and entry requirements

    Course duration Help

    Full-time: 1 year

    Part-time: 2 years

    About the course

    This degree provides an opportunity to develop expertise in both ecological theory and research. Based in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and working with academic staff from the university's biogeography and ecology group, students have the opportunity to obtain experience in a wide range of modern research techniques relating to ecology. Drawing on the expertise of members within the research group, students are able to undertake a significant piece of ecological research on a wide range of biological taxa including invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and plants. With an emphasis placed on undertaking novel ecological research, this degree offers an excellent preparation for both further academic study and industry-based careers.

    Typical entry requirements Help

    The entry requirements listed here are for students starting their course in 2013. Individual offers may vary

    For non-native speakers of English:
    IELTS 6.5 overall and 6.0 in writing.

    Degree and/or experience:
    Normally, a good first degree (upper second class honours) in a relevant scientific discipline (eg ecology, environmental science, biology, zoology). Students with degrees that do not fall into this category, but have significant relevant experience, will also be considered.

  • Course content

    Areas of study

    The Ecology MRes is typically completed as a full-time, one-year degree by research. Central to this is the research project (100 credits), which provides you with the opportunity to undertake research at the forefront of the ecology discipline. Students design their own projects under the supervision of one or more relevant members of academic staff from the Biogeography and Ecology Research Group. This process is driven by the knowledge that you will gain during the two compulsory taught modules (Research Methods and Ecological Principles; 20 credits each) and supplemented by your choice of optional modules (a total of 40 credits).

    Research themes of the group include:
    - landscape ecology
    - molecular ecology
    - conservation biology
    - carnivore ecology, conflict and conservation
    - plant-insect interactions and invertebrate ecology
    - chalk grasslands ecology
    - wetland ecology.

    Bursaries available for 2012

    Students considering applying for the MRes programme in this coming academic year (October 2012) also have the opportunity to undertake specific research projects on the following two topics:

    1. Herbivorous insect community on oaks: impact of phenology on population dynamics.
    2. Factors influencing the abundance and distribution of the snake's head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) at multiple spatial scales.

    Successful applicants for these particular projects will be awarded a bursary worth 50% of home/EU fees.

    For more information on these projects please contact the postgraduate course administrator at: pabs@brighton.ac.uk. Please ensure when you apply for the above projects, you indicate which one, or more, you wish to be considered for. Applications for bursaries require an application, recent CV and a cover letter to explain why you are applying for the project.

    The deadline for applying for 2012 entry and bursary funded projects is July 31 2012.

    For further details on recent and current research projects please see the Biogeography and Ecology Research group website: http://www.brighton.ac.uk/pharmacy/research/groups/biogeography_ecology.php

    Syllabus

    Research Project
    Research Methods
    Ecological Principles

    Options
    Ecology Field Skills
    Molecular Ecology
    Introduction to GIS
    GIS in Environmental Applications
    Water Quality Analysis
    Work-in-progress seminars
    Introduction to Statistics using Excel and Minitab
    Advanced Statistical Analysis

  • Fees and costs

    The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

    The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

    What's included in the fee?

    When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

    You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

    Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

    Ecology (MRes) (Full time)  [P3BC004]
    UK/EU (Full Time)4,320 GBP
    Island Students (Full Time)8,925 GBP
    International (Full Time)12,750 GBP

  • Location

    Location Help Moulsecoomb

    Located to the north of Brighton city centre, the Moulsecoomb campus offers students an excellent learning environment and a wide range of facilities. It is the largest of our five campuses with over 8,000 students.

    View campus maps and directions

    Living in Brighton

    Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.

    Social scene

    Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.

    Music event on the beach

    Arts

    The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.

    Burning the Clocks winter solstice festival

    Sports

    Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.

    Playing volleyball on the seafront

  • Career opportunities

    Graduates from this course will be thoroughly equipped to enter a PhD programme in ecological science, as well as careers in industry and the public sector. The MRes provides a well-rounded, practical research-based training, plus the necessary transferable skills to prepare graduates for employment.

    Visit the careers service website.

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01273 642684
Email pabsschooloffice@brighton.ac.uk

If you are an international student, contact us on:

+44 (0) 207 250 6749
international@brighton.ac.uk

 

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