Course summary

Our integrated Masters in Ecology examines how the Earth’s biological systems respond to environmental change and why this is important, at scales ranging from microorganisms to global climate shifts. This course is ideal if you want an interdisciplinary approach to Ecology. You will have a wide range of options to tailor the course to your developing interests. You’ll develop an understanding of the processes that occur within and between organisms through to investigating global systems and the influences that drive changes in these settings. Ecology at York ranges from studying the fundamentals of evolution, to the structure of populations and communities, and applications in conservation and environmental biology. You will build a solid foundation in theoretical concepts, which you will supplement with valuable experience in the field, and we have a dedicated field course in each of the first three years of the programme. As an ecologist, your focus on understanding our ecosystems and the processes occurring in them will be vital in helping us to work towards sustainable and effective solutions around current and future global challenges, whether around climate change, feeding the world sustainably or tackling diseases. The integrated Masters course introduces a four-year programme that specifically focuses on the skills needed for a career as a research scientist. During this time you work with researchers within one of the UK’s top bioscience departments to learn specialised techniques; you will gain experience in a research lab doing pioneering work at the forefront of their field. You also undertake specialist research training and take Masters-level modules. Adding a year in industry or a year abroad are both an option with this course too, so you can benefit from the advantages that a year away can bring. The Department of Biology will provide you with the opportunity to learn in new, spacious and modern teaching laboratories which provide excellent facilities for practicals and small group project work, alongside our state-of-the-art computing facilities.