MSc in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation

This vocational programme aims to give you the knowledge, skills and practical training needed to work with wildlife, with special emphasis on its health and conservation at the global scale. Cutting-edge topics covered include animal capture and handling techniques, the assessment, stabilisation and transport of injured animals, concepts in behavioural ecology, ethical issues in wildlife management, methods for improving the welfare of captive animals, the importance of biosecurity, endangered species breeding programmes, the reintroduction of captive populations to the wild, post-release monitoring, practical field-based conservation strategies and the management of protected areas. The curriculum also delivers a comprehensive introduction to wildlife disease ecology, surveillance and control.

The MSc is based at the School of Veterinary Science near the Mendip Hills in Somerset, providing convenient access to Exmoor National Park and the rich wildlife habitats of South West England.

A special feature of this MSc is the large number of specialist lectures, workshops and seminars that are delivered by leading researchers, conservationists and wildlife veterinarians from outside the University. A variety of programme workshops and practical sessions are held at Bristol Zoo, allowing you to gain hands-on experience of exotic wildlife care and management.

The programme has been carefully designed for those aspiring to a career in wildlife conservation. Potential employers include national parks, zoological gardens, animal rescue centres and government agencies with statutory wildlife responsibilities, either in Britain or overseas. By the end of the programme you will have gained the skills and knowledge to deal with a variety of practical situations that professional wildlife biologists face on a day-to-day basis.

Core units

The modular programme is split into two elements. A taught element from September to April provides training in:

• Applied Wildlife Conservation
• First Aid for Injured Animals
• Wildlife Care and Rehabilitation
• Captive Wildlife Management
• The Re-release of Wildlife into the Field
• Wildlife Diseases and Integrated Health
• Animal Behaviour and Welfare
• Skills for Animal Research

A research element from May to August provides an opportunity for you to carry out an applied project on a wildlife topic of special interest to you. You will undertake a literature review, collect and analyse data and present your results both in written format and as an oral presentation. You will also develop transferable skills including critical thought, data handling and scientific communication.