Combined research and taught
MRes – 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Diploma – 9 months full-time
September/October 2010
A good Honours degree awarded in Agriculture, Biology, Environmental Science or a related discipline. Graduates without Honours but with at least two years approved paid or voluntary postgraduate experience, and non-graduates who hold diplomas or other qualifications may also be considered.
International entry requirementsWe accept a range of qualifications from different countries. See www.international.bham.ac.uk/countryinfo
English language requirementsStandard English language requirements apply
See the How to apply section for full details
Apply online www.apply.bham.ac.uk
See the fees and finance section
Standard fees apply
Alternatively email financialsupport@bham.ac.uk
International studentsThis programme provides training in the principles required to conserve and use crops and wild plant species and aims to meet the global skill shortage for professional plant conservationists.
The MRes builds on the international reputation for excellence in plant genetic resource conservation training in the School to offer an innovative mixture of taught courses with extended research training. The first four months are occupied by formal taught studies which provide students with a fundamental knowledge of the science of plant genetic conservation and use, while the final eight months are devoted to two individual research projects providing hands-on field or laboratory training.
The research project involves an industrial placement with one of our collaborating partners. These are: Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, Bioversity International, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, and World Conservation Union (IUCN) at the international level; the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity, European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources and Planta Europa at the regional level; and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Millennium Seed Bank, John Innes Research Centre, Horticultural Research International, Natural History Museum, English Nature, Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research and Organic Gardening within the UK. All students also attend a two-week conservation field course in the Mediterranean region to provide them with practical experience of field-based conservation techniques.
The Diploma programme comprises the taught elements of the MRes programme with one of the research projects.
The learning methods employed will involve lectures, seminars, small group discussions, a two week conservation field course in the Mediterranean region and two major research projects. The two research projects, supervised by an internal member of staff, can be undertaken within the School or in an industrial setting.
Students are assessed by examination, written assignment, critical analysis of case studies, seminar presentation, field course write ups and research reports. One third of final degree credits are associated with the taught element of the course and two thirds with the research projects.
The course will provide students with subject specific skills:
Graduates from the Birmingham CUPGR programmes have gone on to fill key roles in international, regional and national conservation agencies. We are very proud of our past graduate employment rate, with about 95% of our graduates obtaining employment in conservation or related fields.
Contact: Postgraduate Admissions
Tel: +44 (0)121 414 5922
Email: bio-pgtadmissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Other programmes in the School of Biosciences
School of Biosciences website www.biosciences.bham.ac.uk
