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Introduction

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Location

Headington

Course Length

Full time MSc: 12 months

Why choose this course?

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Overview

Focus on the area of Primate Conservation that you’re passionate about - and learn directly from internationally renowned conservation researchers.

On this course, you’ll gain a deep knowledge of conservation biology and primates. You’ll shape your learning experience around your interests - whether that’s habitat loss, the illegal wildlife trade or population management. You’ll collaborate on meaningful conservation projects and you’ll undertake fieldwork on a topic you care about - within our network of field sites in over 40 countries.

You’ll work directly with internationally acclaimed tutors who carry out world-leading research across Asia, South America and Africa, including Madagascar. Your tutors have unparalleled expertise on primates, and you can specialise in the topic of your choice within species like:

 Great apes
 Gibbons
 Asian, African and American Monkeys
 Lorises and galagos
 Lemurs
 Tarsiers

You’ll emerge with the skills to start or accelerate your career in conservation biology.

Modules

Semester 1

Compulsory modules

• Primate Diversity and Conservation: Theory, Methods and Practice (20 credits)

You’ll review the variety of primate species, together with their distribution, ecology and conservation status. You’ll develop your understanding of the differences between primate species and the factors that make them more or less vulnerable to extinction. You’ll explore methods of population viability assessment, and find out about successful conservation projects.

Optional modules

People-Primate Interaction (20 credits)

You’ll receive an overview of the many ways that humans and wildlife (both primates and other animals) interact with and impact each other. You’ll consider examples of interactions between humans and wildlife in relation to crop raiding, hunting, biomedical research, tourism, and the design and management of national parks and wildlife reserves.

You’ll learn about the diverse attitudes of different cultures or levels of society towards primates, and the way that these attitudes influence primate conservation initiatives.

Conservation Education (20 credits)

What are the best ways to inform people about environmental decline? How can primates be used to promote public understanding of conservation? You will explore environmental and conservation education with particular reference to threatened species, and consider the theories behind and ways to measure the effectiveness of different strategies. You’ll discover a variety of techniques for presenting and disseminating information about conservation, particularly using digital technology and methods. We’ll make use of case studies to introduce you to planning, conducting and evaluating educational projects.

Semester 2

Compulsory modules

• Primate Conservation Research Methods (20 credits)

You’ll gain a basic understanding of how to conduct a field study of primates in the wild, in captivity or in a museum. You’ll learn about the best ways to collect and analyse data for different kinds of research or investigation that are suitable for your final project. You will have the chance to compare the methods available and learn about their strengths and weaknesses.

You’ll learn about research planning, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results, and you’ll receive training in programs such as SPSS, DISTANCE, Ranges and QGis. You’ll take part in visits to one or more collaborating institutions, to learn practical techniques such as museum studies, behavioural observation techniques in zoos and botanical sampling in situ.

Optional modules

Captive Management and Rehabilitation (20 credits)

In this module we review good practice in the management and welfare of captive primates, and the implications for the survival of declining populations in the wild. You’ll study the effects of the captive environment on behavioural traits (stereotypy, genetic selection), welfare and breeding success. You’ll consider factors such as

 veterinary care
 nutrition
 housing and enclosure design
 environmental enrichment.

We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of reintroducing and rehabilitating primates into the wild.

Genetics and Population Management (20 credits)

You’ll gain an understanding of applied conservation genetics, as well as demographic management of small captive populations and those that have become isolated in the wild. We will present the foundations of population and molecular genetics, which we will place in a practical and conservation management context. You’ll learn about genetic techniques that allow us to assess relationships between individuals, populations and species. You will have the chance to apply these skills in a biochemistry lab setting and explore the relevance of genetics to animal conservation.

Final project

Compulsory modules

• Final project (60 credits)

We’ll encourage you to build on your strengths and interests throughout the course, culminating in a final research project that has an outcome of use to the broader public and conservation community. All projects are accompanied by a written component to integrate and explain the work including in the form of a traditional thesis.

We aim for you to produce work that has a lasting impact. Examples include:

 the production of a film or exhibition
 one or more articles/chapters for publication
 a broadcasting project
 an education handbook
 design of a practical project relating to primate conservation (eg eco-tourism, habitat management or conservation education).

Entry Criteria

ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.

IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

You will normally be required to have, or be expecting, a good honours degree in anthropology, biology, ecology, psychology or an acceptable related discipline.

If you are not a graduate, or if you have graduated in an unrelated discipline, you will be considered for entry to the course if you can demonstrate in your application, and at an interview, that you are able to work at an advanced level in the discipline. You may also be asked to write a short essay and/or present evidence of original work in support of your application.

We will consider appropriate credits obtained elsewhere. Accreditation of prior learning (eg a conversion course or an advanced research training course) will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the course manager.

Transfer between part-time and full-time modes, transfer from the diploma to the MSc, or deferral of study may be possible in certain circumstances at the discretion of the examination committee.

Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:

 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

If English is not your first language then you will need to show that your English language skills are at a high enough level to succeed in your studies.

The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.

The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:

Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.

Assessment

ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Learning and assessment

You’ll examine conservation biology and explore strategies for primate protection and welfare. You’ll also explore issues like:

 Human-primate interactions
 Environmental decline and habitat loss
 Captive management and translocations
 Genetics and population management

You’ll be able to carry out captive studies or fieldwork, which you can shape around your interests. As a long-established course, we have strong relationships with field sites, zoos and rescue centres in over 40 countries - many of which are run by our alumni. You’ll be able to join well-established projects, with expert staff and professional equipment. You need to apply for funding for optional international fieldwork - but we’ll support you with grant applications and fundraising.

You’ll learn from renowned tutors, many of whom are internationally celebrated. Our teaching staff sit on the IUCN Primate Specialist Group and on editorial boards for major journals - like Folia Primatologica. We also have a rare specialism in nocturnal primates - that includes lorises, lemurs, galagos, tarsiers and night monkeys.
Learning and teaching

You’ll experience a range of teaching methods, that include:

 Lectures
 Seminars
 Training workshops
 Tutorials
 Case studies
 Site visits
 Independent reading
 Supervised research.

You’ll also be able to carry out an outreach project that brings primate conservation issues to a wider, public audience. In a scientific, university society or school environment, you might deliver:

 Academic posters
 Artistic exhibitions
 Presentations

You’ll take part in group discussions, which are a regular part of the course. You’ll constantly examine conservation issues, and share perspectives in a group. You’ll also have the option to write your dissertation specifically for scientific publication.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed by methods such as:

 written coursework and scientific articles
 presentations
 quizzes
 practical assignments or projects, including grant writing

You’ll tackle your coursework with growing knowledge and skill, supported by your tutors. And your assignments can reflect your interests and play to your strengths.

You’ll also work on a final research project, in an area of primate conservation that you're passionate about. You’ll be supported all the way through by a tutor with specialist expertise in your chosen topic.

Research

Our vibrant research culture is driven by a thriving and collaborative community of academic staff and doctoral students.

Our Research clusters include:

 the Nocturnal Primate Research Group (NPRG)
 Environment Research Group
 the Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group (OWTRG)
 the Europe Japan Research Centre
 the Human Origins and Palaeoenvironments.

Research in the department is carried out in the following areas:

 anthropology of art
 anthropology of food
 anthropology of globalisation
 anthropology of Japan
 Basque studies
 culture and landscapes
 environmental archaeology and paleo-anthropology
 environmental anthropology
 environmental reconstruction
 human origins
 human resource ecology
 human–wildlife interaction and conservation
 organisational anthropology
 physical environmental processes and management
 primate conservation
 primatology
 quaternary environmental change
 social anthropology of South Asia and Europe
 urban and environmental studies
 wildlife trade.

Career Opportunities

Career prospects

You’ll graduate with the skills and knowledge to launch or accelerate your career in animal conservation - as a practitioner, advocate or researcher.

You’ll benefit from our close links with conservation organisations and NGOs, in the UK and globally, including:

 Borneo Nature Foundation
 Monitor
 Twycross Zoo
 Sumatran Orangutan Society

Our graduates progress to careers ranging from starting their own NGOs, to Education Officers in zoos or researchers at universities. And during your course, you’ll be able to connect with leading specialists and alumni from organisations like the BBC Natural History Unit, Great Apes Survival Partnership, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

When you finish your course, you’ll join a supportive network of Oxford Brookes graduates who work across all areas of conservation. You’ll also have the option to continue your studies by enrolling on our own PhD programme, or others in the UK or globally.

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