MSc Taxonomy, Biodiversity and Evolution

Our unique MSc course provides a broad training to prepare you for a career in biological diversity.

Taxonomy and systematics provide the foundation for studying the diversity of the living world. This course will give you a broad background in these disciplines and their power for our understanding of biological diversity.

This taught course is based mainly at the Natural History Museum, where you will attend lectures, together with computer and laboratory-based practicals. The Natural History Museum is in South Kensington, just a five-minute walk from Imperial’s main campus.

The programme will equip you with quantitative and analytical skills in computing, morphological and molecular techniques in systematics, taxonomy and biodiversity research.

As well as a one-week field course at Imperial’s Silwood Park Campus, you will also have the opportunity to specialise in your chosen subject during an independent four-month research project, based either at the Museum or the Silwood Park Campus.

You may choose to undertake fieldwork carrying out biodiversity surveys, work in the molecular laboratories, or use the Natural History Museum’s world-renowned collection of natural history specimens.

The unique location of this course enables you to attend regular seminars given by top researchers and to have important networking opportunities for future PhDs and careers.