The new two-year master’s programme is split across 19 subjects grouped into three modules and a master’s thesis (TFM). The full programme comprises 120 credits: 73 mandatory credits, 17 expanded external placement credits and 30 master’s thesis credits. At the end of the degree, and after passing the relevant assessment, students will be awarded a Master’s Degree in Biodiversity and Conservation in Tropical Regions

The programme combines subjects aimed at inventorying and in-depth discovery of biodiversity in a region—at organism and genetic level—and subjects that use this information to promote conservation strategies. This new syllabus includes schedule changes, as well as reorganised and restructured subjects. In short, the syllabus is now split into the following five modules:

• Module I: Instrumental Techniques (46 credits): This module aims to provide the core instrumental techniques for studying biodiversity and analysing its patterns. It comprises ten subjects (46 credits) taught in the first, second and third semesters.

• Module II: Techniques Applied To Conservation (20 credits): This module focuses on techniques used in species and ecosystem conservation. It comprises five subjects taught in the first, second and third semester.
• Module III: Conservation Management (7 credits): This module covers specific conservation management issues. Two specific subjects on conservation management are taught that require inputs from the skills acquired in other modules. Both subjects are taught over the second and third semesters. Moreover, the problems in tropical countries are looked at where territory management includes specific features.
• Module IV: External Placements (17 credits): The credits for this module have been expanded, leading to a change in the hours allocated to training activities. This module complements Module II. Techniques Applied to Conservation and comprises a single subject called ‘Field Course: Applied Techniques in the Tropics’. It is scheduled for the second semester.
• Module V: Master’s Thesis (TFM - 30 credits) The master’s thesis aims to integrate the knowledge acquired throughout the programme to coherently develop a quality project whose topic is covered on the programme in biodiversity and conservation in tropical regions. Students must demonstrate that they have sufficient independence to develop a project or research work by applying the knowledge and tools provided by the master’s programme.

Training Programme

Students must take 60 ECTS credits per aacademic year.

   First Year (60 credits)

 - Subject 102605 - Design and Methodology for Quantitative Biodiversity Inventories (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102606 - Writing and Presenting Work: Projects, Reports and Articles (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102607 - Design of Experiments (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102608 - Molecular Tools (6 ECTS)

-   Subject 102609 - Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Species: Analysis Techniques (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102610 - Techniques for Identifying and Defining Species (6 ECTS)

-   Subject 102611 - Ecological Interactions (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102612 - Threats to Biodiversity (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102613 - Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102614 - Participatory Management and Biodiversity Assessment for Protected Nature Areas (3 ECTS)

-   Subject 102615 - Field Course: Applied Techniques in the Tropics (17 ECTS - External Placements)

  Second Year (60 credits)

-   Subject 102616 - Using Geographic Information Systems Biodiversity  Management (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102617 - Statistical Techniques (6 ECTS)

-   Subject 102618 - Distribution Modelling (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102619 - Tools for Designing Protected Nature Areas (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102620 - Biology and Conservation for Habitat Fragmentation (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102621 - Ecological Restoration (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102622 - Use Plan Design and Participatory Management (4 ECTS)

-   Subject 102623 - Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)

AF1. Theory and/or practical classes

AF2. Case studies

AF3. Preparing materials (reports, projects, articles, book chapters, etc.)

AF4. Self-managed work

AF5. Practical workshops

AF8. Tutorials

The three modules (instrumental techniques, techniques applied to conservation and conservation management) complement one another without any repeated content and make for a coherent whole.

The subjects are designed to familiarise students with different methodologies and train them in data analysis and interpreting results. They have been structured as an introduction to professional and advanced research techniques.

In this sense, each subject includes a small research project with the corresponding topic and hypothesis, and data collection methods are set out to be later analysed and serve as a basis for conclusions.

Preparing reports in the format of scientific articles or advanced professional reports will be required on all subjects and be submitted within the set deadline; this work will not be accepted after the course has ended. Thus, students are trained in how to publish the results of their work. These articles may be written as a group although the assessed discussion shall involve all authors so that all students can benefit from the work of colleagues. Many projects will logically not turn out in line with expectations: many data will be difficult to interpret and many conclusions will look like new hypotheses rather than actual conclusions. The projects aim for student to learn how to undertake research rather than producing a complete piece of research fit for publication in Science. Where appropriate, some of the work undertaken during the master’s programme may be compiled and published in book form.

The assessment procedure will develop students’ skills in envisaging, designing, implementing and adopting an academically rigorous research process, as well as producing critical analysis, assessment and summaries of new and complex ideas. In turn, students will be trained in how to publish the results of their research in renowned different media (journals, books, etc.).

SE1.- Personal Work Assessment

SE2.- Fieldwork and/or Laboratory Work Assessment

SE3.- Final Report Assessment

SE4.- Oral Presentation Assessment

SE5.- Master’s Thesis Assessment.

During recent decades, conservation biology has become more and more relevant in the field of applied sciences. Considered a "crisis discipline", it attempts to integrate lines of research as varied as economics, law, education, botany, zoology, taxonomy, genetics, ecology and biogeography in order to find strategies which allow the long-term conservation of biodiversity as well as promote sustainable social development over time. Although this last aspect has largely been addressed by countries around the world through international agreements and conventions, the characteristics unique to different ecosystems and their state of conservation as well as available economic resources have given rise to strategies which in some cases are very different and which at times are not adapted to the needs of each country. Tropical areas are home to the largest biodiversity on the planet, but few postgraduate programs train students explicitly for the study of biodiversity in these areas or how to manage their use and conservation while at the same time considering their particularities, such as those territories that have special statutes such as indigenous nationalities, communal lands, etc.

This master's program aims to:

• Train highly-qualified specialists in the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources as well as spatial management and planning, especially in terms of the future development of these regions..
• Offer companies qualified professionals to implement means of protecting biodiversity related to their productive process and the associated decision-making.

• Train specialists with suitable knowledge to efficiently migrate productive processes based on extracting low added value resources from higher added value processes.

The academic and scientific relevance is based on the ability to provide university graduates with fundamental and specific knowledge as well as skills which allow them to begin work in the field of applied research in lines coming from the areas of conservation and sustainable biodiversity management.

Its professional relevance is based on the ability to provide university graduates with knowledge and skills which will allow them to begin a professional career in different specialties in the areas of technological development, management and the market, both in business and institutional sectors and in a complex and dynamic professional environment.

CG1 - Acquire fundamental knowledge and tools necessary for applied research in the field of biodiversity.

CG2 - Learn to use new technologies to face problems related to biodiversity and conservation in the most diverse countries in the world.

CG3 - Hold an integrated view which allows better comprehension of the processes for biodiversity loss.

CG4 - Control skills to communicate knowledge and conclusions to specialized and non-specialized publics, in a clear and unambiguous way.

CG5 - Create projects with possibilities for funding from both public and private institutions.

CT1 -Develop critical thinking within professional or research activity.

CT2 - Strengthen social commitment and respect for the environment.

CT3 - Develop professional ethics and responsibility attitudes as well as respect for cultural diversity.

CT4 - Develop the ability to synthesize, organize, argue and analyze information.

CT5 - Learn to work in a multidisciplinary team and assume the role of leadership in collective projects.

CT6 - Learn to design and organize students' own work, fostering initiative and entrepreneurial spirit.

CT7 - Learn group harmony and work under adverse conditions.

CT8 - Organize expeditions and field work.

CT9 - Ability to communicate with social agents in the field of conservation (indigenous communities, authorities, researchers, decision makers, land owners, etc.).

CE1 - Obtain specialized training in the scientific and technical framework of the study of biodiversity in tropical biotas.

CE2 - Learn biodiversity conservation management techniques keeping in mind the current technological, social and cultural context.

CE3 - Mastering the specific fundamental knowledge to design and complete professional and research projects keeping in mind the context of the countries in which they are completed.

CE4 - Control the fundamental and specific knowledge to design and implement land use and management plans which integrate the philosophy of sustainable development.

CE5 - Know how to plan and manage the use of tropical biotas guaranteeing environmental sustainability, balancing use and interests with the preservation of natural characteristics.

CE6 - Acquire the fundamental and specific knowledge to develop professional activity in the field of administrative and company consulting.

The Master's Degree in Biodiversity and Conservation in Tropical Regions is especially directed towards university graduates in the fields of Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Pharmacy, Veterinary Studies, Agricultural, Agronomic or Forest Engineering, and other degrees related to the environment.

The Master's Degree in Biodiversity and Conservation in Tropical Regions aims to train professionals:

• Able to lead actions to appropriately inventory, protect, manage and use the biodiversity in tropical areas.
• Aware of the importance of scientific, teaching and technical collaboration among institutions, administrations, etc., in this case through collaboration with Spanish and Latin American institutions.

To achieve this, the following specific objectives have been proposed:

• Provide methodological tools for the inventory of biodiversity in tropical areas. Learn different survey, inventory and study techniques used in tropical areas.
• Provide methodological tools to analyze available information on biodiversity. Learn the molecular, statistical, distribution modeling, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), etc. based on information obtained from cataloging and inventorying biodiversity as well as that included in natural history collections (primarily the collections of the Real Jardín Botánico and the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales as well as other museums, herbariums and botanical gardens) which will allow this data to be analyzed to infer patterns and form a hypothesis about the aspects related to the study of biodiversity.
• Provide training in the most advanced techniques to evaluate conservation problems. This objective focuses on the specific techniques to study and evaluate conservation problems, such as habitat and population fragmentation, invasive species, emerging diseases, loss of genetic variability, etc.
• Provide methodological tools for the use and management of biodiversity and protected areas. With this objective, we aim for students to be able to design use and management plans for biodiversity in any geographic scope as well as in tropical areas where a large part of protected areas or areas subject to protection are territories with special statutes such as indigenous nationalities, communal lands, indigenous tribes, etc.
• Provide direct practical experience through field work in a reserve located in a tropical area. In this way, students will personally apply tools, instruments and techniques acquired as part of the previously mentioned objectives.

As a result, upon completing the master's program students will have acquired the fundamental and specific tools and knowledge that will allow them to:

• Begin a professional career in companies, organizations and institutions that work in the fields of biodiversity inventorying, developing land plans, environmental auditing, etc.
• Access doctoral studies and complete the doctoral thesis.
• Create and develop research in the field of biodiversity and conservation which suppose an advance in scientific knowledge.

Admission with an official degree from Spain or the European Higher Education Area (EHEA): admission to the Master’s Programme in Biodiversity and Conservation in Tropical Regions requires applicants to hold an official university degree from Spain or from a higher education institution in another EHEA state that enables them, in the issuing country of the qualification, to be admitted to university master’s programmes, with a particular preference for graduates in Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Pharmacy, Veterinary Science, Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy or Forestry or similar official qualifications related to the Environment.

Admission with a non-EHEA university degree: candidates from non-EHEA education systems may be admitted without having to validate their qualifications, providing they accredit a training level equivalent to official Spanish university qualifications that allow them to be admitted to postgraduate training in the issuing country of their qualification.

Admission of these students requires a favourable resolution issued by the Vice Chancellor. The Vice Chancellor’s decision shall in no way imply validation of the previous qualification held by the candidate, nor its accreditation for other purposes except for taking the master’s programme.

Applications for admission must be done through the ‘online pre-registration’ form on the UIMP website: http://www.uimp.es/preins/index.php. When formalising their pre-registration, applicants must attach PDF scans of the required documentation. These documents do not need to be officially authenticated for pre-registration. Nonetheless, it would be advisable to have them authenticated, as this will be required to formalise enrolment in the event that candidates are admitted to the programme.

1. A photocopy of applicants’ DNI (for Spanish citizens) or passport or NIE ID card (for non-Spanish citizens).

2. A photocopy of their degree that qualifies them for admission to master’s studies, or a receipt of having paid the issuance fees for their degree certificate.

3. Personal academic certificate.

4. A passport-sized photo in JPG format; the file name must be the surname(s) and name of the student without any spaces.

5. Curriculum vitae (four pages max.) in PDF format to enable other merits in line with the admission profile to be assessed.

Students who have a foreign degree that has not been validated or is currently being validated shall also provide the following:

6. A certificate from the university where they studied for their degree that states that the qualification provides admission to postgraduate studies in the issuing country.

7. A personal academic certificate that states the official length in academic years of their degree, the syllabus followed, the subjects taken, the marks awarded and the class load for each subject.

N.B: Students who have a foreign degree that has not been validated or is currently being validated shall submit the documents duly authenticated and accompanied by a Spanish translation, where applicable.

Original documentation must ONLY be submitted at the Student Secretary’s Office (C/ Isaac Peral 23. 28040 Madrid, Spain) in the event that the application for admission is approved by the Master’s Academic Commission.

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

8. Motivation letter. The letter must clearly state the reasons why candidates wish to undertake the master’s programme and the aspects they believe will bolster their future professional career. (A more detailed description for writing the letter is reflected in the admission criteria below.)

 INSURANCE

All students taking an official master’s or PhD programme at the UIMP and who are not covered by the school Insurance policy or registered with social security must take out an accident insurance policy. They must submit a receipt for the aforementioned policy at the time of enrolment.

Without any intention of influencing students’ choice of company, the following link may be used to calculate the approximate cost of a policy: Calculate your accident insurance policy

Where students are registered with social security, they must provide a photocopy of their personal health card. Moreover, students on the Master’s Programme in Biodiversity and Conservation in Tropical Regions must, when undertaking the mandatory external placements, be covered for the entire period by a travel insurance policy (which covers the entire course, in addition to the accident insurance).

Once the trip is organised and before travelling, they must submit proof of the aforementioned policy.

Without any intention of influencing students’ choice of company, the following link may be used to calculate the approximate cost of a policy: Calculate your study travel insurance policy

The fees for the Master’s Programme in Biodiversity and Conservation in Tropical Regions do not include the costs for undertaking the mandatory placements. These costs will be managed and paid for by students themselves.

STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Universal access shall be ensured and students with disabilities shall have the necessary resources and support to be able to properly undertake the master’s programme. For this purpose, they shall be asked to indicate their specific needs during pre-registration. 

The UIMP Protocol for supporting students with specific educational needs due to disability may be viewed at this link UIMP Protocol for the attention of students with specific educational needs.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

The admission criteria include weighted aspects and shall be based on applicants’ CVs, as well as the motivation letter, with a particular focus on:

 1. Academic record. The average mark on candidates’ academic transcripts shall be considered (3 points).

 2. Motivation letter. The letter must state the reasons why candidates wish to undertake the master’s programme and the aspects they believe will bolster their future professional career (2 points). The academic commission will assess the following criteria:

 - The candidate’s vision on the status of knowledge about biodiversity and conservation studies (20%)

 - The reasons underlying the need to take training in biodiversity and conservation and the master’s programme (20%)

 - An explanation of the candidate’s academic profile suitability for biodiversity and conservation studies, specifically in the tropics (20%)

  - The focus of the candidate’s academic career, supplementary training and activities geared towards biodiversity and conservation (20%)

  - A description of a required project title for future studies in biodiversity and conservation, specifically in the tropics, where candidates wish to participate (20%).

 3. Participation in other training programmes (2 points).

 4. Mobility during undergraduate training, especially in tropical countries, and professional or research experience in topics related to biodiversity and conservation (2 points).

 5. Knowledge of English. Said knowledge is not a reason for exclusion, although it will be scored as follows: C2=1 point; C1=0.75 points; B2=0.5 points; B1=0.25 points, and no English level=0 points.

The Academic Commission for the master’s programme is the body charged with reviewing and assessing submitted applications and approving proposed candidates for admission, in line with the aforementioned criteria. The commission will publish the admissions list every academic year on UIMP website.

Once enrolled, master’s students will have continuous support from tutors, the master’s programme director, lecturers, etc.

•  An information session will be arranged at the start of the course to explain how the programme is organised.

• The Board of Studies will assign a tutor to each student. The tutor will be a lecturer from the master’s programme or a lecturer, researcher or professional who at least holds an MSc in the field of biodiversity and conservation. Tutors will help students write a study and work plan, and monitor their progress.

• All students will receive professional careers guidance: transitioning to work/PhD studies.

• Tutors will advise students about the most suitable master’s thesis project for their level of training and skills. They will advise students on their professional practice within the fields of biodiversity and conservation management, using the connections lecturers have at institutions dedicated to the field (ministries, NGOs, etc.). Most participants in the initial calls for the programme are likely already working at these institutions with their aim on the master’s programme being to improve their professional skills. These professionals will undoubtedly be the best spokespersons for the programme amongst those who aim to start their professional career in the field.

• Tutors will also motivate students to undertake a PhD based on the foundations provided on the master’s programme. The environment of scientific research on the programme enables students to experience practical content for research.

Director of the Master’s Programme

Javier Diéguez Uribeondo, Lead Scientist, Royal Botanical Garden, CSIC

The lecturers on the master’s programme are mainly instructors from the CSIC. The faculty also includes lecturers from different national and international universities, and other official research centres and bodies.

They were selected for their academic specialisation to ensure their teaching matches their areas of research and CV.

The detailed list of lecturers on the programme can be viewed in the 'Course Guide' section of this website.

Subject Coordinator Lecturers

Leopold Füreder, Professor of Ecology and Conservation, University of Innsbruck, Austria.

José Manuel Serrano Talavera, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Complutense University of Madrid.

Javier Diéguez Uribeondo, Lead Scientist, Royal Botanical Garden, CSIC.

Jesús Muñoz Fuente, Director of the Royal Botanical Garden, CSIC.

Annie Machordom Barbé, Scientific Researcher, National Museum of Natural Sciences, CSIC.

Isabel Sanmartín Bastida, Lead Scientist, Royal Botanical Garden, CSIC.

Maria Calvo Uyarra, Researcher, Marine Research Unit, AZTI Tecnalia, Spain.

Pablo Vargas Gómez, Scientific Research, Royal Botanical Garden, CSIC.

José María Rey Benayas, Tenured Professor in Ecology, University of Alcalá.

Mario Díaz Esteban, Scientific Researcher, National Museum of Natural Sciences, CSIC.

Pilar Santidrián Tomillo, Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station, The Leatherback Trust, Costa Rica.

Inés Álvarez Fernández, Lead Scientist, Royal Botanical Garden, CSIC.

Laura Martín-Torrijos, Contract Lecturer with a Doctoral Degree. United States Department of Agriculture USDA Missouri.

Luis Cayuela Delgado, Contract Lecturer with a Doctoral Degree, Rey Juan Carlos University.