Postgraduate Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation Practice

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The Course

The Recanati-Kaplan Centre Postgraduate Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation Practice will equip you with the practical skills and theoretical understanding needed to contribute effectively to conservation research and action in the developing world. The course is delivered by our Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) and benefits from collaborations with the Department for Continuing Education and Lady Margaret Hall.

The diploma is suitable for those already working in conservation, and also for recent graduates provided they have gained field experience during the course of their first degree. Although a degree in an appropriate natural science is normally required, we may make an exception if you can demonstrate equivalent accomplishment and aptitude for field-based conservation, and the potential to study at postgraduate level.

The full time, seven month residential course runs from March to September each year, and is preceded by one month of distance learning. The residential component consists of taught courses (4 months) and independent research on two projects (3 months). This unique post-graduate diploma will equip you with the practical skills and theoretical understanding to enable you to contribute effectively to conservation research and action in the developing world.

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You will study the following five modules, under two principles: ccology, population biology, and habitats; & conservation as an interdisciplinary field. Common themes include: use of the scientific method, quantitative analysis, and hypothesis testing in conservation science; statistics and computer-based modelling; & critical appraisal of science and conservation action.

Wildlife ecology and behaviour

  • Predator, prey and community ecology
  • Behaviour and socio-ecology, including radio-tracking and dietary analysis

Species and biodiversity monitoring

  • Species and individual identification
  • Species / population monitoring techniques using sign, audio, and visual recording, including camera-trapping
  • Trapping, handling, and animal welfare
  • Distance sampling

Population management

  • The role of genetics in conservation
  • Emerging diseases
  • The impact and management of invasive species

Habitat assessment

  • Practical skills in habitat assessment, including Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS), creating maps, and analysing spatial data

Human populations / actions and conservation

  • Human-wildlife conflict, wildlife utilisation, and community involvement in conservation
  • Human beliefs, attitudes, and education
  • Conservation as a global problem
  • Biodiversity loss and climate change
  • The ethics and economics of conservation

You will also undertake two projects in the field of conservation research and action. These will be arranged within the diverse family of WildCRU programmes, and will build on the material studied in the taught modules. Projects offer the opportunity to put into practice your newly-acquired skills in an ongoing and applied conservation project, which may be based on your own work, or in a conservation scenario new to you.

The course will be examined through the two project reports and four assignments, one on each of the five taught modules. The project reports will be a maximum of 7000 words, and each worth 30% of the marks.The assignments will be up to 2000 words, and each worth 10% of the final mark.

Most module assignments will be short-answer questions, presenting data to be analysed, scientific research to critique, a problem for which you will design solutions, or information to be synthesised into a brief report/recommendation.

You will be taught all necessary software during the course, including the use of sector-specific professional software such as Presence, Mark and Distance.

Learning

The diploma involves both taught courses and research components. Key features that will help your learning are:

  • Understanding the theory behind a range of robust techniques for data collection and analysis, so that you can independently plan, implement, and assess your own conservation research.
  • Learning to interpret scientific data and reports, draw conclusions, and apply new knowledge to conservation action.
  • Learning through interactive problem-solving and case-studies, to facilitate understanding, application, and adaptation of new skills to a range of conservation scenarios.
  • Developing professional skills such as project management, fundraising, proposal writing, and communication.
  • Using mammalian, and particularly carnivore case-studies – especially emphasising wild felids – as exemplars of conservation issues relevant to wider fauna and flora. Such mammals often function as umbrella species, and by protecting them and their habitat, wider biodiversity conservation goals can be fulfilled.
  • An international team of teachers, and students from all over the globe – you will experience many different perspectives on conservation, and learn how approaches from other countries can be adapted to the conservation problems you face in your own.

The course will give you the scientific, communication, and fundraising skills to make a difference. Your greater knowledge and expertise will also benefit your colleagues, through informal peer-learning, skills transfer, and the encouragement of critical thinking and debate.

Admissions

We will assess all applicants based on your individual merits and potential shown in your CV, a statement of your career plans, and your referees’ statements. To apply, you must have:

  • A minimum of a BSc-equivalent qualification in a biology/natural resources-related field, OR in exceptional cases demonstrated equivalent experience in the field of wildlife conservation practice. If you already have, or are currently studying for, a doctorate in the natural sciences, you would not be considered a priority candidate.
  • Considerable first-hand experience (employment for at least two to three years, or equivalent) of field work and conservation issues in the developing world.
  • An adequate level of spoken and written English (more information in 'How to apply' below).
  • A basic working knowledge of Microsoft Office programmes, in particular Word and Excel, email, and internet.
  • The agreement of your employer to allow you time to attend and complete the course.

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The University requires you to apply online via the Online Graduate Application Form. You need to include the following documents in your application:

  1. Completed application form. Guidance on how to complete this can be found on the University's Graduate Admissions pages.
  2. Statement of purpose detailing why you want to take the course and your subsequent career plans. This should demonstrate your motivation and ability to complete the course, and offer a clear and well argued understanding of the benefits of the course to your current employment and future prospects.
  3. Academic transcript(s) from your degree(s), translated to English.
  4. Evidence of English language skills. If your first language is not English, or it is English but you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, you must provide evidence that you meet the University’s English language standard for graduate level taught courses in the form of a certificate of an English language test (i.e. IELTS; minimum component scores must be met, otherwise UKBA will not issue a student visa). These certificates must be taken within two years of the date of the course start. Further guidance is available on the University’s Graduate Admissions website. In some cases, you may be able to request an English Language Test waiver, further information can be found here: Qualifications and experience, languages and funding | Application Guide | University of Oxford
  5. References from three referees, at least one of whom is qualified to comment on your academic potential.
  6. Scholarship application form, if needed (see 'Fees and Funding' tab for more details).
  7. Application fee. Residents of certain countries may be exempt from this. Please see the University's Graduate Admissions website for more information.

Please note that if your application is incomplete by the deadline it will not be forwarded to the selection panel for consideration.

It is not necessary to request permission before applying. However, if you wish to enquire whether you have the appropriate background to be considered a strong candidate, in particular if you are lacking a relevant first degree, please email your CV to the course coordinator: wildcru.diploma@biology.ox.ac.uk.

For an indication of the kind of candidates we are looking for, please see the webpages of the early-career conservationists who have participated in the diploma in previous years. These can be found at WildCRU's members page.

Student Life

You will be immersed in our interdisciplinary team and have the opportunity to learn from a diverse range of ongoing international conservation projects, including a large number of field projects on wild felids and other threatened carnivores worldwide. The University of Oxford is a world-leader in terms of academic excellence, and our position within the Department of Biology will allow you access to cutting-edge research in a range of conservation-related fields, as well as a comprehensive library and access to a huge range of online journals.

We accept 8-10 students per year – class sizes are kept small to promote learning, facilitate interaction, and enhance integration into WildCRU. The taught modules will be provided by WildCRU experts, supported by external guest lecturers. You will learn through a variety of scenarios, including small group work, individual projects, field sessions, tailor-made tutorials, class lectures, discussion groups, self-study, and peer-learning.

You will also be granted associate membership of Lady Margaret Hall MCR, allowing you to experience all facets of student life at the University of Oxford.

You will be provided with student accommodation for the duration of the residential component in Oxford.

Fees and Funding

The course cost fees are published on our Graduate Admissions page under the Funding and Costs tab.

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External funding is a useful resource to secure for any applicant and will facilitate your studies with us or any educational institution. Funding opportunities for training conservationists are available from 3rd parties. As securing such funds often takes considerable time, it is advisable to explore such funding opportunities over a year before the application deadline. The University of Oxford also provides a Funding and Scholarship search which you can use to see which scholarships you would be eligible for when applying for this course.

The diploma administers a grant from the Recanati-Kaplan Foundation which can provide sponsorship of candidates who attained their qualifications and training from less economically developed countries with financial support during their attendance on the course. If you are eligible, you can apply for varying levels of sponsorship from the course if you are unable to secure funding yourself. For students without their own funding, bursaries will be available to cover the following:

  • Course fees
  • International travel, to and from the UK
  • Accommodation, and
  • Living expenses for the duration of the course.

If you wish to be considered for sponsorship, please complete the Scholarship Application form. Incomplete scholarship forms, or applications submitted without a scholarship form, will not be considered for funding. If you are applying online, via the University’s eVision system, ‘Proposed Funding Arrangements’, select ‘Other source’ as your proposed source of funding, and enter ‘2025CONTWCRUDIP’ in the box below. The period covered is 1 year. You can append your completed scholarship application form to your application using the University Upload form.