Master of Science by Coursework in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Management

Differences from 2017/18 to 2021/22

  • 1. The Social Sciences Divisional Board shall elect for the supervision of the course a Standing Committee.

  • 2. Candidates must follow a course of instruction in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Management for at least three terms.

  • 3. The examination will consist of:

    • (i) a written examination of three three-hour papers based on core courses as described in the schedule;

    • (ii) two assessed essays based on elective courses. These must be uploaded to the courseUniversity WebLearnapproved Submissionsonline siteassessment platform by the times and dates specified at the start of the course. Each submission must be accompanied by a declaration indicating that it is the candidates own work;

    • (iii) a dissertation on a subject selected in consultation with the supervisor and Course Director and approved by the Course and Academic Directors.

  • 4. Candidates must submit to the Course Director by the end of Hilary Term in the year in which they enter the examination, the title and a brief statement of the form and scope of their dissertation, together with the name of a person who has agreed to act as their supervisor during preparation of the dissertation.

  • 5. The dissertation shall be of a maximum length of 15,000 words and accompanied by an abstract not exceeding 150 words. The maximum word count shall include footnotes, but exclude  appendices, references and the abstract. The detailed format and specification of the dissertation shall be approved by the Standing Committee, and published in the course handbook.

  • 6. The dissertation must be uploaded to the courseUniversity WebLearnapproved Submissionsonline siteassessment platform no later than noon on the first weekday of September in the year in which the written examination is taken. The submission must be accompanied by a declaration indicating that it is the candidate's own work.

  • 7. In the written examination, the examiners will permit the use of hand-held pocket calculators subject to the conditions set out under the heading Use of calculators in examinations in the Regulations for the Conduct of University Examinations.

  • 8. The examiners may also examine any candidate viva voce on the candidate's written papers, dissertation, or both.

  • 9. Arrangements for reassessment shall be specified by the Standing Committee and published in the course handbook.

  • 10. The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole examination.

Schedule

  • (a) Core courses.

    Three core courses will be examined under the following heads:

    • (i) Biodiversity science.

      Candidates will be expected to have knowledge of and a critical understanding of the major contemporary themes in biodiversity science and conservation including an appreciation of the various research methods used to collect scientific data.

    • (ii) Conservation ethics and values.

      Candidates will be expected to have knowledge of the various ethical frameworks and value systems adopted by conservationists and how differing value systems can influence the development of effective conservation practice and policy.

    • (iii) Biodiversity policy and management.

      Candidates will be expected to have knowledge of the techniques and conceptual basis of contemporary conservation planning and the international and national legal frameworks for implementing conservation policy.

  • (b) Elective courses

    Candidates will be expected to show advanced knowledge of two of the option elective courses on offer in any one year.