Biodiversity and Ecosystems, MRes

MRes Programme Director: Dr Nicole Esteban Our Bioscience Department MRes programme gives you expert research training embedded in our world-class research groups. The first term is all about advanced skills training at postgraduate level with guidance for research project selection and refinement. Students start their 9 month research project phase at the end of January. The formal teaching structure during the 1st semester ensures that students improve their skills in writing, analytical approaches and critical thinking to postgraduate level. Students also select two additional modules in line with research interests (e.g., GIS, biodiversity and health ecology, endangered species, biodiversity assessment). After module assessments, students are then ready to conduct an independent research project that is guided by a supervisory team in the department. We expect students to produce a research thesis that is of publication standard and many MRes projects are published after award of MRes. Students do not need to have a pre-defined project to apply to the MRes course and we provide a list of potential projects to select during the first term. It is possible to switch from one programme to another during the first term because each of the four MRes courses in the Bioscience Department follows the same module pathway. The programme title reflects the nature of the research project: students can change the MRes Biosciences Department programme of study at any time during the first term once they have confirmed selection of a project.

Qualifications

MRES: Applicants for the MRes Biodiversity and Ecosystems must normally hold an undergraduate degree at first or upper second class honours degree level in Bioscience or a related subject (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). See - Country-specific Information for European Applicants 2019 and Country-specific Information for International Applicants 2019.

English Language

IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) or equivalent English test.

As well as academic qualifications, Admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Requirement

Non UK/EU applicants are required to obtain ATAS clearance for this programme of study. Successful applicants are sent ATAS application details by the University PGR Admissions team. Further details on the ATAS scheme can be found at on the government Academic Technology Approval Scheme webpage.

Reference Requirement

As standard, two references are required before we can progress applications to the College/School research programme Admissions Tutor for consideration.

Applications received without two references attached are placed on hold, pending receipt of the outstanding reference(s). Please note that any protracted delay in receiving the outstanding reference(s) may result in the need to defer your application to a later potential start point/entry month, than what you initially listed as your preferred start option.

You may wish to consider contacting your referee(s) to assist in the process of obtaining the outstanding reference(s) or alternatively, hold submission of application until references are sourced. Please note that it is not the responsibility of the University Admissions Office to obtain missing reference(s) after our initial email is sent to your nominated referee(s), requesting a reference(s) on your behalf.

The reference can take the form of a letter on official headed paper, or via the University’s standard reference form. Click this link to download the university reference form.

Alternatively, referees can email a reference from their employment email account, please note that references received via private email accounts, (i.e. Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail) cannot be accepted.

References can be submitted to pgradmissions@swansea.ac.uk.