COURSE CURRICULUM

The MRes in Evolution, Behaviour, and Conservation equips students with advanced research skills and comprehensive knowledge in animal behaviour and conservation science. Core modules provide a strong foundation, beginning with Research Foundations in the autumn term and culminating in the MRes Research Project in Evolution, Behaviour, or Conservation in the spring and summer terms, allowing students to undertake an extensive, independent research project. Students can also select from a range of optional modules to tailor their learning to their interests and career goals. Options include Behavioural Ecology, Current Topics in Evolution, Behaviour and Conservation, Intelligence in Animals and Machines, and practical field courses such as the Masters Tropical Rainforest Field Course, Masters African Zoology Field Course, and Masters Mediterranean Ecology Field Course. Additional modules focus on pressing ecological challenges, including Rewilding and Ecosystem Services, Animals in the Anthropocene, and Field Biology and Conservation Skills, providing practical experience alongside theoretical understanding. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, integrating insights from evolutionary biology, ecology, and environmental management. Students benefit from the university’s location within the Brighton and Lewes Downs UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the South Downs National Park, facilitating hands-on fieldwork. Graduates gain the expertise to pursue research careers, PhD opportunities, or professional roles in conservation, ecological consultancy, and wildlife management, with the skills to address complex ecological and behavioural challenges.