MSc Global Wildlife Health and Conservation
- MSc
Overview
This unique programme is taught in collaboration with Bristol Zoological Society and includes practical experience, field trips and mentoring from global experts. It prepares you for a career as a wildlife professional with the skills and knowledge to handle the practical situations that professional wildlife biologists face daily.
Unique content with diverse topics
The programme covers the conservation and health of wildlife in situ, and ex-situ (both temporarily for rehabilitation and long-term captive breeding programmes). You'll learn a wide range of theoretical concepts and practical skills, including:
- Animal capture and handling techniques and optimal care of wildlife during rehabilitation.
- Surveillance, diagnostics, risk analysis and other tools and methods of controlling wildlife diseases.
- Effects of human activities and climate change on the health of wildlife populations;
- Assessment, stabilisation, and transportation of injured animals.
- Preventive medicine and interventions to maintain the health of captive wild animals.
- Animal behavioural principles and welfare science to predict and tackle wildlife management problems.
- Ethics and legislation affecting wildlife care.
- Factors associated with successful endangered species breeding programmes and reintroductions to the wild.
The curriculum covers surveillance, epidemiology, and control of wildlife diseases, and the ‘One Health’ approach, integrating animal, human, and environmental health which are key to tackling emerging diseases and preventing pandemics.
You will learn ecological surveying techniques and how to use new technologies, such as GIS, remote sensing, and Species Distribution Models to address wildlife conservation issues. Additionally, you'll be introduced to effective conservation principles and practices to combat biodiversity loss and climate change.
You’ll develop advanced research skills that may be used to progress to a PhD and/or academic career, if you choose to do so.
Global networking opportunities
We emphasise global wildlife health and conservation. You'll learn through our experts through guest lectures, workshops, and seminars by specialist researchers, conservationists, and wildlife veterinarians, offering valuable networking opportunities. Field visits to key wildlife sites near Bristol are also included.
You’ll receive support to design and carry out a research project in your chosen area. Our students have worked with academic and charity partners worldwide, with many projects published in journals.
Our Global Partners:
- Bristol Zoological Society
- Cheetah Conservation Fund, Namibia
- University of Western Australia
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
- National Wildlife Management Centre
- RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre
- Secret World Wildlife Rescue
- Colobus Conservation
This programme is available as an intercalated degree for current undergraduate medicine, dentistry or veterinary students from the University of Bristol or other universities. Find out more about our intercalated degrees and eligibility criteria.
Programme structure
The programme is split into two elements. A taught element provides training in six core units. A research element gives you the opportunity to carry out an applied project on a wildlife topic of interest to you. You will undertake a literature review, collect and analyse data, and present your results as a written report suitable for publication.
Units include:
- Research Skills
- Wildlife Care and Rehabilitation
- Wildlife Diseases and OneHealth
- Captive Wildlife Management
- Wildlife Conservation
- Wild Animal Behaviour and Welfare
- Research Project
Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for our MSc in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation.
The MSc is based at the Bristol Veterinary School in the village of Langford near the Mendip Hills in Somerset. Many small group workshops and practical sessions take place with the Bristol Zoological Society; in Clifton Bristol and at Bristol Zoo Project, allowing you to gain hands-on experience of wild animal care while working behind the scenes in a modern zoological setting.
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in a Veterinary or Zoology subject. Other subjects will be accepted, provided they contain a minimum of 50% relevant Biology content; this can be demonstrated with modules related to Whole Organism Biology, Anatomy or Physiology. Relevant modules could include:
- Anatomy /Animal Taxonomy
- Animal Behaviour
- Animal Conservation
- Animal Nutrition
- Animal/Plant Development
- Animal Reproduction
- Animal Welfare
- Biodiversity
- Biostatistics
- Biotechnology
- Ecological Surveys
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Plant-Animal Interactions
- Resource Management
- Wildlife Policy
- Wildlife Population Analysis.
If you do not meet the module requirement, we will also consider your application if you have studied Geography, Neuroscience or Psychology with A-level Biology at grade C (or international equivalent) or above. You should show evidence of completing a research project as part of your degree.
If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.
We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications:
Evidence of at least two years relevant work experience in the fields of:
- wildlife conservation, wildlife rehabilitation, international wildlife research or working for NGOs on wildlife-related projects.
- a postgraduate qualification.
Specific module requirements would still apply.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £16,300 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £32,900 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
This programme has been carefully designed for those aspiring to a career in wildlife health, conservation and management. Potential employers include national parks, zoological gardens, animal rehabilitation centres, wildlife hospitals, environmental NGOs, conservation charities and government agencies with statutory wildlife responsibilities, both in the UK and overseas.
Our graduates have gone on to work in a range of exciting roles globally, progressing wildlife conservation from positions of influence in Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. Employers include:
- Environment Agency
- Natural England
- Cheetah Conservation Fund Namibia
- Chester Zoo
- The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
- The Sloth Institute of Costa Rica
- Worldwide Fund for Nature
- Secret World Wildlife Rescue
- Bristol Zoology Society
- Frontiers
- Wildlife Rescue Centre Java
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
- Ecofieldtrips Singapore
- Pench Tiger Reserve
Charles Wheeler (MSc Global Wildlife Health and Conservation)
“The connections with Bristol Zoological Society really stood out to me when making the decision to apply to Bristol Veterinary School. The practical experience with such a wide range of industry partners was integral in guiding my future career. I am currently working as a Project Officer for the Madagascar & Mascarenes field programmes at Chester Zoo, delivering project management for the flagship project in Eastern Madagascar - which involves habitat restoration, species monitoring and community conservation work. I’ve been on three field visits to Madagascar since March last year and I got to experience one of my best animal encounters during one of the trips. While on a hike through the forest I saw four Indri lemurs, one of the largest lemur species in Madagascar, leap overhead and listen to their incredible calls.”
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- choosebristol-pg@bristol.ac.uk
- Faculties
- Schools