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The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, T +44 (0)1227 764000
MSc in Conservation & Primate Behaviour
Enhance your understanding of primate behaviour and primate conservation.
The high extinction rates of wild non-human primates, their increased occurrence in sanctuaries around the world and their characteristic behavioural flexibility, which enables some species to thrive alongside their human relatives, render today their conservation a top priority. The relationship between humans and non-human primates is often one characterized by intense resource competition over space, food and water, yielding serious conflict concerns and challenges to their conservation. How can we in essence help prevent and/or mitigate current trends and threats to non-human primates?
At its core, the MSc in Primate Conservation and Behaviour will provide you with a forum for understanding not only the behaviour of NHPs but also the current issues and hot topics in NHPs conservation and management. You will also become familiar with a range of methodologies employed in the study of the behavioural ecology of NHPs and in the survey and monitoring of NHP populations. An additional suite of modules offered within DICE, including topics concerned with social science approaches to conservation, GIS skills, protected areas' management, will further equip you with a rich and diverse toolkit and theory-base to pursue future research and/or a career in primate conservation.
This program offers collaborations with international NGOs around the world from the neotropics to Africa and South-East Asia, with zoological institutions across Europe (e.g. Howletts and Port Lympne Animal Parks, Kent) and primate sanctuaries across Africa.
The Academic Programme
Qualifications in Primate Behaviour and Conservation are:
- MSc (normally taken over one year full-time, but is also available part-time over two years)
This programme is a modular degree comprising of six months of coursework, followed by a five-month research project. In the autumn term, students take a suite of modules that present an overview of different disciplinary perspectives on conservation, together with dedicated modules on methods and research design in the natural and social sciences. In the spring term, students take two core modules on current issues in primate conservation and primate behavioural ecology*, plus two additional specialist modules from a list of optional modules. The options available include both conservation-focused modules within DICE and also a selection of other relevant modules from different Schools and Departments within the University of Kent. Students can therefore design a programme of learning to suit their individual needs, interests and career aspirations.
The Primate Behaviour and Conservation programme will encourage students to:
- acquire a thorough understanding of the current status of and threats to non-human primates in the wild.
- critically engage with the practical and multidisciplinary challenges, approaches and dimensions of conserving non-human primates in and outside protected areas.
- demonstrate familiarity with a range of techniques and methodologies aimed at evaluating, monitoring and addressing relevant conservation issues concerning non-human primates.
- understand current debates and challenges to primate conservation, rehabilitation and reintroduction.
- demonstrate an ability to study, evaluate and improve the social and environmental welfare and management of non-human primates in captivity.
- critically appraise the ecosystem service potential and value of wild non-human primates.
The programme is relevant to the work of research institutions, international and national NGOs, consultancy firms and/or contractors, international agencies and donors.
back to topCore Modules
The core modules for all DICE MSc Programmes are:
- DI884 Research methods for natural sciences
- DI876 Research methods for social sciences
- DI998 Dissertation project - Conservation
Plus for Conservation and Primate Behaviour:
- DI892: Current issues in primate conservation
Entry Requirements
All entrants must comply with the standard University of Kent entrance requirements, including the English language requirements (see University prospectus for current requirements). In addition, entrants must meet one or more of the following:
- A first class or good second class honours degree in a relevant discipline.
- A good honours degree in other subjects together with relevant practical experience.
- Applicants may also be admitted without a first degree if their professional career has been such as to allow them to pursue the course and study and achieve the necessary academic standard.