Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Conservation Medicine (Online Learning) MVetSci, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev

Awards: MVetSci, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev

Study modes: Part-time Intermittent Study

Online learning

Funding opportunities

I wanted something that looked at a global approach - what are they doing, what are their policies, what are their protocols? So this course is going to help me a lot to design my strategies to work better for my animals, in my country.

Nidhi Rajput MVetSci Conservation Medicine student
Nidhi Rajput               MVetSci Conservation Medicine student

Conservation Medicine is an established field that continues to evolve as we develop our ability to study the complex relationships and interactions between animal health, human health and ecosystem health. It emerged in the 1990s as a response to the need for a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach to the conservation of biodiversity. In particular, the importance of health in many conservation issues was widely recognised. With its foundation in the principles of conservation biology, Conservation Medicine incorporates contributions from:

  • the health sciences
  • ecology
  • the social sciences

It may be regarded as the application of One Health to the conservation of biodiversity.

How will I learn?

This programme provides veterinarians with the skills, knowledge and global networks required to become effective practitioners of Conservation Medicine.

It is an online programme and the flexible and part-time format allows participants to achieve a world-class award while maintaining busy professional and personal commitments.

Suitable applicants will be qualified veterinarians with an interest in:

  • conservation
  • wildlife health
  • ecological health

It is suitable for veterinarians without any wildlife experience as well as those already working in conservation.

Participants will gain enhanced career opportunities in:

  • academia
  • non-governmental organisations
  • government veterinary positions
  • captive or free-ranging wildlife conservation projects

You will also be better able to drive the development of novel career pathways as this field continues to evolve in response to the complexity of the conservation challenges we face.

As an online programme, the flexible and part-time format allows participants to achieve a world-class award while maintaining busy professional and personal commitments.

Our online learning technology is supported by our investment in our Digital Education Unit who have extensive experience of pedagogy in today’s age of digital connection. They work closely with the teaching staff to deliver a fully interactive, award-winning experience that enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.

Our online students not only have access to the University of Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.

The teaching provides a blend of theoretical and practical education to provide the foundation for a career in conservation. A variety of innovative techniques and approaches to teaching are used including:

  • online lectures
  • case studies
  • discussion forums
  • personal or group activities

Participants will have a unique opportunity to learn from internationally recognised specialists, both within the University of Edinburgh and from local and international organisations.

Studying online at Edinburgh

Find out more about the benefits and practicalities of studying for an online degree:

The degree programme is structured to allow sequential progression from individual courses to Certificate, Diploma and MVetSci phases. Students may also exit the programme on completion of each phase.

The programme is designed to be taken part-time over three years at 20 hours per week, with the option to complete in up to six years if required.

The programme is modular in structure, offering a flexible student-centred approach to the choice of courses studied.

The completion times are as follows:

  • PgCert: 1-2 years
  • PgDip: 2-4 years
  • MVetSci: 3-6 years

You may undertake the programme by Intermittent Study (flexible progression route), accruing credits within a maximum time limit of six years for the MVetSci.

Elective courses

There are compulsory courses at each level of study within this programme. In addition, you may tailor your selection of elective courses according to your needs, interests and career ambitions.

These courses can be chosen from across a number of programmes offered across the University of Edinburgh, providing you with a breadth of options.

Postgraduate Professional Development

Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through postgraduate-level learning, without the time, or financial commitment, of a full award.

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses from within this degree over two years and gain a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit.

It may also be possible to continue your studies after one year and put credits towards a postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or full Master's degree. Any time spent taking courses through the PPD scheme will be deducted from the amount of time you have left to complete the higher award.

Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MVetSciConservation MedicineUp to 6 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2023/24
PgDip (ICL)Conservation MedicineUp to 4 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2023/24
PgCert (ICL)Conservation MedicineUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2023/24
PgProfDevConservation MedicineUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2023/24

Graduates can expect to enhance their career prospects in:

  • academia
  • research
  • governmental and non-governmental organisations
  • consultancies
  • government veterinary positions
  • captive or free-ranging wildlife conservation projects

You will be better able to drive the development of novel career pathways as this field continues to evolve in response to the complexity of the conservation challenges we face.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A degree in veterinary medicine (BVM&S, Veterinary Medicine or equivalent).

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Application fee

None.

Deposit

None.

Additional programme costs

None.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MVetSciConservation MedicineUp to 6 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgDip (ICL)Conservation MedicineUp to 4 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgCert (ICL)Conservation MedicineUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees
PgProfDevConservation MedicineUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees

The University of Edinburgh offers a small number of scholarships to outstanding candidates. These are very competitive. We publish data on the success rate for scholarship applications to help you understand the level of demand.

(Revised 18 March 2024 to remove 'Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships' information) 

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
  • Easter Bush
  • Edinburgh
  • EH25 9RG
Programme start date Application deadline
9 September 2024 23 August 2024

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
  • Easter Bush
  • Edinburgh
  • EH25 9RG