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EMBC - Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation – (M.Sc.)
Ghent University
Faculty of Sciences
| Application Deadline: | Non EU & EU-students applying for a grant: January 7; EU-students not applying vor a grant: May 15 | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 3,000 - ≈ € 7,000 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | Ghent / Belgium / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 24 months | Start Date: | September |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Ghent University
The marine environment is a precious asset. Oceans and seas provide 99% of the available living space on the planet, cover 71% of the earth’s surface and contain 90% of the biosphere and consequently a large share of global biological diversity. Marine ecosystems play a key role in climate and weather processes. Indispensable to life itself, the marine environment is also a great contributor to economic prosperity, social well-being and quality of life. However, the marine environment is facing a number of threats including loss or degradation of its biodiversity and changes in its structure, loss of habitats, contamination by dangerous substances and nutrients and impacts of climate change.
The EU-Marine Strategy provides an integrated framework for analyzing relevant Community policies’ contributions to the protection of and the impact on the marine environment. In order to obtain these goals, we need to have well trained people who are able to evaluate, understand and investigate the state of the marine environment, and this at different levels and from different disciplines such as general oceanography, ecology, chemistry, physics, statistics, geology, social sciences, economy, and aquaculture.
The ERASMUS MUNDUS MSc programme EMBC is strongly oriented to the fundamental understanding of the structure and function of marine biodiversity, the acquisition of several kinds of tools required for understanding the complexity of biodiversity patterns and processes, and finally to the application of this knowledge for nature conservation and restoration.
Career Perspectives
The EU-Marine Strategy provides an integrated framework for analyzing relevant community policies' contributions to the protection of and the impact on the marine environment. This EU-Strategy is the basis for the national European authorities and policies at the one hand and is the basis for debate at the global
scale regarding policies for Nature protection and Conservation in general. The EMBC Masters will be well trained to operate immediately within these policy environments. Most of them will use this Master as a basis for PhD research.
Masters and Post-docs specialized in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation can help in the implementation of the strategies for future sustainable use of the natural marine resources taking into account the natural ecological background of the ecosystems. The added value for EMBC Masters will be that they can operate on a global scale since there is no restriction in the programme regarding types of biotopes (going from the coast to the deep sea and from poles to poles).
Contents
The study programme is running for 2 academic years and is divided in 3 thematic modules:
* – Understanding the structure and function of marine biodiversity (at least 24 ECTS) deals with the fundamental aspects of Oceanography (on a multidisciplinary basis, including physics, chemistry, geology, biology, ecology, biogeography, climate change), the structure and functioning of Marine Biodiversity (from genes to habitats) and with Impact studies.
* – Toolbox for investigating marine biodiversity (at least 20 ECTS) provides an advanced training in Statistics and experimental design, Modelling, Taxonomy, Data and Information Management, Field observations and interpretation and Molecular methods.
* – Conservation and Restoration of marine biodiversity (at least 10 ECTS) deals with the application of the above mentioned theories and methods in order to develop a sustainable use of the marine environment.
The EMBC-programme (2 years or 120 ECTS) is complemented with summer schools (6 ECTS) on specialized topics in European Marine Research Stations operating within the EU-Network of Excellence MarBEF. These summer schools are 3-4 weeks activities in the field (marine stations where SCUBA diving, snorkling, and other activities can be performed).
In the second year, a research project (Master thesis) of 30 ECTS is scheduled.
For the development of personal skills and skills in research project implementation (i.e. transferable skills), at least 10 ECTS are required and may include a training in the basic knowledge of the native language of the country of actual study period, training in scientific communication, research management, and this related to one or more of the topics in the thematic modules. Although the courses will be given in English, native language training will enhance social integration of the students in their host countries.
Elective courses (from other disciplines or organized within EMBC) can be chosen for 20 ECTS.
IELTS
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Requirements
For non-Flemish degrees:
The course is open to students with at least a Bachelor (or Master) degree in biology, ecology, environmental sciences, oceanography, marine sciences, geography, geology, or other equivalent degrees with minimum 180 credits.
For Flemish degrees
The exhaustive list of degrees giving access to this master can be consulted in the online course catalogue.
Language
At enrolment for an English study programme you must give evidence of a good command of English by submitting one of the following:
– a TOEFL-TEST, maximum two years old, with a score of 510-559 (paper-based), or van 87-109 (internet-based) or higher (the UGent TOEFL code is 2643);
– an original ‘test report form’ (TRF) from IELTS, maximum two years old, with a minimum score of 6.0;
– a certificate awarded by the UCT confirming proficiency in English (minimum CEF-level B2);
– certificate of practical English 5, Upper-intermediate Academic English, or Preparing for an English Test, awarded by the UCT (University Language Centre).
Under no circumstances will a student be enrolled, if they cannot demonstrate English proficiency by one of the above. The following students are exempted from the language requirement:
– holders of a diploma of secondary education or higher education, awarded by an (recognised) institution in the Flemish Community;
– students who have successfully completed a minimum of 1 year (60 credits), be it secondary or higher education, where the medium of instruction was English (an official certificate must be submitted);
– students who have successfully completed a predoctoral training programme at Ghent University, provided that the majority of the programme were course units in English.
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 6.0 |
| TOEFL Paper-based: | 510 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 87 |
Ask a Question
You can contact Prof. Dr Magda Vincx to ask a question about EMBC - Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Ghent University.
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