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

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.

In the national Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (2019), we received a 92% satisfaction rating from our students that we believe reflects the quality of the experience we strive to provide.

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:

• Postgraduate online learning

The MVetSci Conservation Medicine programme is delivered part-time by online learning over a maximum period of six years.

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

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.

• View our list of elective courses

You are required to complete a sufficient number of course credits to be awarded:

• the certificate (60 credits)
• the diploma (120 credits)
• the MSc (180 credits)

Intermittent study

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

Certificate

For students wishing to study for the Certificate, the maximum time period for this is 2 years.

Diploma

For those undertaking the Diploma as well, the maximum time period for this is 4 years.

Dissertation

You have 12 months to complete the final written dissertation element.

In summary, times for completion are as follows:

• Masters in Veterinary Science: 36-72 months.
• Postgraduate Diploma: 24-48 months.

• Postgraduate Certificate: 12-24 months.

• Read more about the programme structure

Postgraduate Professional Development

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

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PPD scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit. Alternatively, after one year of taking courses you can choose to transfer your credits and continue on to studying towards a higher award on a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme. Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year, currently, you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September. Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.

• Further information on Postgraduate Professional Development

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.

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 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

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

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

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

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.
• 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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English 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

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.

• Scholarship applications - success rates

Other funding opportunities

• Online Learning Scholarships

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding