General description

Passionate about environmental research and conservation? The Master’s Program in Biodiversity offers students the opportunity to acquire specialized knowledge in the field of biodiversity research, with a strong emphasis on ecology and evolutionary biology, as well as related fields. Building on a solid foundation in fundamental natural sciences, students will acquire the expertise necessary to address environmental challenges that hold both scientific and societal significance on a global scale. Graduates of this program will be well-prepared to conduct independent scientific research, from project planning to execution, and to proficiently communicate their findings to expert audiences through scientific publications.
Core Principles:
Biodiversity is a multifaceted domain, bridging the study of life's variety, the intricate dynamics between living organisms and their environments, and the evolutionary processes that have shaped life on Earth. Our programme delivers an in-depth education in biodiversity by merging theoretical underpinnings, a variety of methodological approaches, and tangible applications of ecological and evolutionary research. Students develop expertise across various scientific fields, such as genetics, biostatistics, and conservation biology, to meet the challenges in biodiversity conservation. With this comprehensive skill set, they are well-prepared to undertake robust ecological and evolutionary research and to inform conservation strategies with robust scientific insight.

Admission requirements

Candidates with a Bachelor's degree in Biodiversity or Biology from UZH's Faculty of Science are eligible for the MSc in Biodiversity program. Equivalent qualifications from Swiss and international universities are also recognised.
Conditions or additional requirements may be applied by the faculty based on academic merit.

Branch of studies

Biology, Environmental Sciences

Educational goals

MSc in Biodiversity graduates exhibit a versatile skill set, enabling them to understand and articulate the scientific underpinnings of both global and local biodiversity and environmental science issues. They independently conduct research in fields like biodiversity science, ecology, evolutionary biology, behavioural biology, and environmental science. Graduates employ interdisciplinary perspectives, incorporating insights also from the social sciences. They excel in collecting, evaluating, and interpreting data independently, critically scrutinising the validity and reliability of their own and others' data and methods. With these skills, graduates are well-positioned for success in academic and non-academic sectors.

Career possibilities

Job opportunities are available in institutions actively involved in biodiversity-related activities. Various sectors provide potential job positions, including nature conservation organizations, zoos, museums, environmental consulting firms, public administrations like BAFU, Grün Stadt Zürich, cantonal departments, and research institutions such as WSL, EAWAG, Agroscope, Vogelwarte. Opportunities also exist in national and international private sector companies.

ECTS credits

90 ECTS Credits

Program structure

The Biodiversity mono study program, accredited with 90 ECTS credits, spans three semesters of full-time studies. The curriculum is structured around specialized lectures, block courses, a Master's thesis, optional project work, colloquia, and seminars. These components are tailored to each student through individually adapted "learning agreements," a collaborative process facilitated by the Master's coordinators. For more details, please refer to: https://www.biodiversitaet.uzh.ch/de/master.html

Part-time studies

The Master’s degree course is usually done full-time. Exemptions must be applied for in advance and require the consent of the Faculty of Science.

Major/minor subject combinations

The Master's study program in Biodiversity 90 can be taken as a single major or be
combined with a minor study program 30 at Master's level.

Examination and assessment regulations

The student's achievement is assessed at the end of each module.
Achievements
are graded on a scale from 1 to 6, whereby 6 denotes the highest grade of
achievement and 1 the lowest. A grade below 4 is insufficient.
Achievements can
also be graded with 'passed' or 'failed'.

Language of instruction

English