Conservation and Management of Fish and Wildlife

MSC WITH A MAJOR IN BIOLOGY

Would you like to contribute to the sustainable conservation and management of the world’s fish and wildlife resources? This Master’s programme will prepare you for a career in both the public and private sector.

Programme information

Welcome to a unique programme that covers interactions between fish, wildlife and humans. To be able to preserve biodiversity, we need more knowledge about ecology and ways of conducting animal inventories and measuring biodiversity. By combining both theory and practical methods, this Master’s programme provides you with an extensive knowledge of ecology, management and conservation of fish and wildlife, as well as knowledge of local and international laws and conventions.

With a Master’s degree majoring in biology, you will be prepared for a career in governmental and non-governmental organisations, as well as being able to continue your studies towards a PhD. The lectures are held by world-leading researchers and the programme attracts a mixture of both Swedish and international students.

As a student at the program you have the opportunity to apply, in competition, to the exchange program TRANSFOR-M for your second year of program studies. Within TRANSFOR-M, you have the opportunity to study for a year at one of three partner universities; University of British Columbia, University of Alberta or Lakehead University. After completing your studies, you meet the requirements to apply for a double degree, one from SLU and one from the Canadian university.

After graduation, your specialist knowledge will make you an attractive employee in the animal and nature management sector, as well as in the field of conservation. You will also be well-prepared for a career in research.

Facts and requirements

Name: Conservation and Management of Fish and Wildlife (MSc)

Level: Master

Language: English

Programme scope: 2.0 year , 120.0 credits

Next start: HT 2026

Tuition Fees: Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland are required to pay application and tuition fees.

First semester: 80000

First semester half time: 80000

Total: SEK 320000

Application deadline for international students: 2026-01-15

Application deadline for Swedish students: 2026-04-15

Study location: Umeå

Pace of study: Full-time

Teaching form: On-campus

Application code for Swedish students: 81170

Application code for international students: 81171

Selection: Högskolepoäng

Requirements:

To be admitted to the Master’s Programme in Conservation and Management of Fish and Wildlife, the following criteria must be met:

general entry requirements: first-cycle (Bachelor’s) qualification comprising a minimum 180 credits or equivalent degree from a higher education institution abroad;

specific entry requirements: a minimum of 60 credits from specialist study within one of the following subjects or main fields of study:

Biology
Forestry Science
Forest Management
Forest Science
Environmental Science
Natural Resources Governance.

And 15 credits in Ecology

In addition, knowledge equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6 is required. This requirement is met by those holding a Degree of Bachelor (180 credits) from a Swedish higher education institution. There are specific rules for applicants from certain English-speaking countries.

The specific entry requirements stated above can also be met by someone who has obtained equivalent knowledge through a corresponding qualification from abroad, or in some other way.

There are specific entry requirements for each course included in the programme. These are described in the relevant course syllabus.

Degree:

Degree awarded upon completion of the programme

The Master's (120 credits) programme Conservation and Management of Fish and Wildlife leads to a Master of Science with biology as the main field of study. A Degree of Master is a general qualification.

Students who fulfil the qualification requirements for a Degree of Master (120 credits) in the main field of study will be issued a degree certificate on request. The degree certificate will specify the qualification as Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Biology.

Other qualifications may be awarded provided that the requirements for them are fulfilled. See SLU’s system of qualifications.

The programme contains courses which, depending on choice of courses and combination with previous studies in forestry at first-cycle level, may enable students to fulfil the requirements for the professional qualification Degree of Master of Science in Forestry, 300 credits. The outcomes for a Degree of Master of Science in Forestry are stipulated in the Ordinance for the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The requirements for a Degree of Master of Science in Forestry are defined in SLU’s system of qualifications.

Degree requirements

The Degree of Master of Science with biology as the main field of study will be awarded once 120 credits have been obtained, of which 90 must be from second cycle courses that meet the following requirements:

a minimum of 30 credits with biology as the main field of study (A1N; A1F);
a minimum of 30 credits from an independent project (degree project) with biology as the main field of study (A2E).

Additionally, students must have successfully completed a Degree of Bachelor, a professional qualification comprising a minimum of 180 credits, or have an equivalent qualification from abroad.

The Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) may contain a maximum of 30 credits from first-cycle courses, provided these credits were not included in a Degree of Bachelor or its equivalent. All courses included in a degree must be at university level, have been successfully completed and may not overlap/have similar content.

More information about what supporting documentation is required

Admission: There are two admission rounds for this Master's programme. The first admission round is open to all international applicants at www.universityadmissions.se. SLU strongly encourage all international students to apply in this first admission round.

Content

The programme covers different aspects of fish and wildlife management and conservation. It includes scientific theory and methods, as well as the relevant international laws and conventions.

The programme is offered by the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies and is aimed at both Swedish and international students. The department is home to approximately 60 researchers and doctoral students who research in the fields of fish and wildlife management, human dimensions, and biological conservation.

Welcome to SLU Campus Umeå

SLU’s campus in Umeå offers an inspiring and picturesque learning environment. Surrounded by deep green forests, scenic parks and clear blue lakes, it is easy to see why Umeå is the fastest growing city in Sweden. Known for its youthful and lively atmosphere, Umeå is highly ranked among Swedish students.

Career

Upon completion of the programme, students can continue onto doctoral studies or establish careers in the fish and wildlife management sector. It is possible to work for local, regional and national authorities responsible for natural resource management, as well as environmental non-governmental organisations dealing with national or international conservation issues.

Graduates of the programme have also established careers within associations of hunters or fishermen, landowner associations, private companies active in natural resource management (e.g., forestry and hydropower companies), and nature tourism enterprises.