Conservation Management in Freshwater Environments MSc
Course code C160
What is special about this course?
If you’re looking for a master’s programme that takes you beyond the classroom and into the heart of real-world conservation, this is it. Our MSc in Conservation Management in Freshwater Environments is designed to immerse you in the practical skills, scientific knowledge, and field experience needed to make a tangible impact on freshwater ecosystems.
You’ll be based in the stunning Scottish Highlands, where your learning will culminate in a professional placement with a conservation-active organisation. This is your chance to get directly involved in applied conservation, whether that’s collecting environmental data in the field, analysing samples in a cutting-edge eDNA lab, or using programming and GIS to explore patterns in biodiversity. Alongside your placement, you’ll deepen your expertise through focused study in topics like applied genetics, freshwater conservation science, and data visualisation in R.
Throughout the course, you’ll be guided by leading experts and supported to develop the skills that conservation employers need, from hands-on fieldwork to critical analysis and effective communication. You'll leave the programme not just with a degree, but with real experience that sets you apart.
Graduates from this programme go on to careers as wildlife biologists, environmental consultants, policy advisors, and GIS specialists, as well as into roles in conservation education and ecotourism. Whether you want to work in the field, in the lab, or at the interface between science and policy, this MSc gives you the tools, and the experience, to make it happen.
Special features
- Placement with a conservation active organisation in the Scottish Highlands
- Fieldwork in the Scottish Highlands
- Lab work in a state-of-the-art environmental DNA lab
- Lectures from experts in their fields
Entry requirements
- 2:2 Undergraduate Honours Degree in a related subject OR
- 2:2 Undergraduate Degree in a non-related subject PLUS a minimum of 2 years relevant work experience in the conservation sector OR
- Postgraduate Diploma or professional qualification in a related subject
- This is a Category 2 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required for specific optional modules/unit(s), where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in optional module/unit(s), but an alternative pathway exists to achieve target qualification. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage
PgCert
You will study the following core modules:
- Applied conservation genetics
- Freshwater conservation science
- Introduction to R and data visualisation
PgDip
You will study the following core modules:
- Applications of GIS
- Fundamental statistics
Plus 1 of the following optional modules:
- Advanced GIS and remote sensing
- Biodiversity management
- Statistics 2
MSc
To achieve the award of MSc Conservation Management in Freshwater Environments, you must also complete a placement with a Scottish conservation-relevant organisation and report back on the real-world conservation actions you participate in.
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time
- This course is mainly delivered online with scheduled sessions and tutorials
- Online study will be done via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
- There will be mandatory online module inductions in week one of each individual module
- You will also study in-person, on campus for mandatory field and lab work weeks at UHI Inverness - this includes international students, who may need to arrange a visitor visa to be able to attend
- You will undertake 2 mandatory 1-week residentials:
- 1 week field course in September as part of the Freshwater conservation science module and
- 1 week lab work course in March as part of the Applied conservation genetics module
- You will also undertake a mandatory 12-week (minimum) work placement in Semester 3. Your placement provider will be selected by you and it may be possible to do this from your home location. The course team will check the suitability of your placement prior to approving it, and will provide support and advice throughout, as well as access to industry links that connect you to your chosen interests
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 1 year @ approx 30-36 hours per week*
- Part-time: 2-3 years @ approx 15-18 hours per week*
*10-12 hours per module per week
The number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent on online material as well as individual study and research.
Where can I study my course?
- Inverness
- The majority of the teaching of this course can be studied fully online from anywhere in the world, however there are lab and field work weeks held on campus at UHI Inverness that all students will be expected to attend in person
- You will also undertake a 12-week placement. It may be possible to do this from your home location; all placement choices will require discussion with, and approval from, your course team
Start date
- September - for 2025/26, this course will only be available to start in January 2026. September 2026 apply links will open in September 2025
- January
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
| Per module (20 credits) | £584 | £610 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £1,752 | £1,830 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits) | £3,504 | £3,660 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation) | £5,256 | £5,490 |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), studying this course on-campus or online from their home, the following fees apply:
| 2024-25 (on-campus) | 2024-25 (online) | 2025-26 (on-campus) | 2025-26 (online) | |
| Per module (20 credits) | £792 | £780 | £855 | £840 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £2,376 | £2,340 | £2,565 | £2,520 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits) | £4,752 | £4,680 | £5,130 | £5,040 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation) | £7,128 | £7,020 | £7,695 | £7,560 |
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. These students will get an automatic fee scholarship.
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| 2025-26 | On-campus study (term-time address in Scotland) | With scholarship | Online study (from home country) | With scholarship |
| Per module (20 credits) | £1,800 | £1,350 | £1,200 | £900 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £5,400 | £4,050 | £3,600 | £2,700 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits, 180 credits) | £10,800 | £8,100 | £7,200 | £5,400 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) | £16,200 | £12,150 | £10,800 | £8,100 |
| 2024-25 | On-campus study (term-time address in Scotland) | With scholarship | Online study (from home country) | With scholarship |
| Per module (20 credits) | £1,666 | £1,250 | £1,110 | £833 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £4,998 | £3,750 | £3,330 | £2,499 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits, 180 credits) | £9,996 | £7,500 | £6,660 | £4,998 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) | £14,994 | £11,250 | £9,990 | £7,497 |
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union, studying on-campus or online, the following fees apply:
| Qualification | On-campus study (term-time address in Scotland) | Online study (from home country) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
| Per module (20 credits) | £1,666 | £1,800 | £1,110 | £1,200 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £4,998 | £5,400 | £3,330 | £3,600 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits, 180 credits) | £9,996 | £10,800 | £6,660 | £7,200 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) | £14,994 | £16,200 | £9,990 | £10,800 |
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international postgraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.
Funding
UHI offers assistance in the form of bursaries, such as the Reid Endowment Fund, for students who need to travel to attend mandatory academic activities. Please visit our funding pages for more information.
Additional costs
You will be required to attend a one-week field course and a one-week lab course as part of the programme, both of which are based in UHI Inverness. These will incur travel and accommodation costs for students who are not resident in Inverness (see the Funding section for financial assistance).
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed this course, you might like to consider careers in:
- Wildlife biologist, park ranger, environmental consultant
- Environmental organisation education, communication, marketing, fundraising officer
- Ecotourism field guide
- Environmental organisation GIS spatial modeller or GIS officer
- Field or research assistants
- Policy advisor
Can I progress into further study?
You may wish to progress from MSc Conservation Management in Freshwater Environments into a further research degree such as a PhD in Environmental or Freshwater science.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
Apply for Conservation Management in Freshwater Environments MSc
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.