Master Programme in Biology: Ecology and Conservation Biology

The Master Programme in Biology: Ecology and Conservation Biology at Karlstad University is a comprehensive, two-year research-oriented postgraduate degree engineered to educate conservation scientists, terrestrial and aquatic ecologists, and environmental managers. Taught entirely in English within the Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, this programme awards a Master of Science (120 ECTS) with a major in Biology. It directly addresses the urgent global biodiversity crisis, habitat degradation, river ecosystem fragmentation, and climate change impacts through evidence-based ecological theory, applied conservation strategies, and hands-on field investigations. The curriculum is closely integrated with the world-renowned River Ecology and Management (NRM/RivEM) research group at Karlstad University, granting students direct access to frontier river restoration, watershed ecology, and fisheries conservation projects. Coursework covers advanced topics such as Conservation Biology, Ecological Methods and Field Techniques, Landscape and Forest Ecology, Aquatic and River Ecology, Molecular Tools in Ecology, Ecological Modeling and Spatial Data Analysis (GIS), and Environmental Impact Assessment. Students actively conduct field surveys, ecological experimentations, and bio-statistical analysis across Sweden's diverse boreal forests, lakes, and riparian landscapes. The degree culminates in an independent Master’s Degree Project (30, 45, or 60 ECTS), conducting advanced empirical research either embedded within university research teams or alongside external environmental protection authorities.

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