Apply for a Master's at the Natural History Museum

University courses Geography, Environment & History
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Looking for master’s program to apply to with an environmental science undergraduate degree? Check out the Natural History Museum’s Masters Courses!

The Natural History Museum offers several master’s programs for environmental science/physical geography undergraduates including:

1. MSc Biodiversity and Global Change :seedling:
Learn about how to take on the biodiversity crisis with classes on biodiversity maintenance, behavioural ecology, and computational skills along with a field research trip. Your work culminates in a 5000 word research project. All of this is supported by seminars at UCL, the Natural History Museum, and the Institute of Zoology.

Applications for UK students: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications for international students: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025


2. MRes Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation :seedling:
This programme takes a quantitative approach to evolutionary and conservation science with classes focusing on computational and analytical skills. Your work culminates in two research projects in the second half of the programme. All of this is supported by seminars at UCL, the Natural History Museum, and the Institute of Zoology.

Applications for UK students: 14 Oct 2024 – 4 Apr 2025
Applications for international students: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025


3. MRes Biosystematics :seedling:
Use computer skills to complete classes in bioinformatics, statistics, GIS, genomics and more to learn about taxonomy and systematics. Your work culminates in two research projects at the Natural History Museum and Imperial College London Silwood Park campus, respectively. All of this is supported by Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum.

Applications for all students: Now – 15 May 2025


4. MSc Ecology, Climate Change and Health :seedling:
An interdisciplinary degree on the interaction of ecology and public health with classes on data science, human-environment interactions, and more. Your work culminates in a dissertation with the many UCL departments you will learn from or other partners. All of this is supported by UCL’s People and Nature Lab at the UCL East campus.

Applications for UK students: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications for international students: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025


5. MSc Ecology and Data Science :seedling:
An interdisciplinary degree focused on using technology and monitoring for ecological purposes. Your work culminates in a dissertation with the many UCL departments you will learn from or other partners. All of this is supported by UCL’s People and Nature Lab at the UCL East campus.

Applications for UK students: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications for international students: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025


6. MSc Taxonomy, Biodiversity and Evolution :seedling:
A data science heavy degree that teaches how to use statistics and software to understand evolution, phylogenetics, and taxonomy. Your work culminates in a dissertation research project on biodiversity and/or systematics. All of this is supported by Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum.

Applications for all students: Now – 15 May 2025

Find out more and apply here: Masters courses | Natural History Museum

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This is the first time I know Natural history museum actually provides master degrees as well and I am really curious about how does it actually work---- Is it the museum been collaborated with other institutions or is it simply having classes in the museum? :thinking: Also, thank you posting the link and application dates alongside the instructions, it’s been very thoughtful! :smiling_face:

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It’s a collaboration between the museum and other institutions! The majority of teaching takes places at the main university, but classes can be taken at the Natural History Museum and the Institute of Zoology. Most of the dissertations and research projects let you collaborate with any of the institutions and be supervised by anyone from the institutions.

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Wow, these sound incredible! I love how they blend field research with classes—it must be such a hands-on way to learn about biodiversity and ecology. The interdisciplinary focus on data science in some of the programs is super appealing too; it’s so relevant today!

Have you decided which program you’re leaning towards, or are you still exploring your options?

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I’m not currently thinking of pursuing a master’s, but I did recommend the program to my roommate who is interested in their data science programs. If I was doing a master’s, I would definitely apply to their MSc Ecology and Data Science and their MSc Biodiversity and Global Change programs!

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Do you know if there are any specific projects or research opportunities available within that program? It would be cool to get involved in something hands-on!

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There are hands-on field trips included in some of the programs and whatever you choose as your masters project can be as hands-on (or hands-off) as you like because the universities and museums have the facilities to support lots of different research.

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