Are you a current student? For the programme of this academic year, check the course guide.
Curriculum of Conservation and Restoration Ecology
The Master’s specialisation in Conservation and Restoration Ecology has a course load of 120 EC (two years). It comprises of compulsory courses, supplemented by electives. The biggest part of your programme consists of your Master's internship(s), which includes practical work and reporting, as well as a literature thesis or a field course abroad.
About this study curriculum
The course overview is an indication of the study programme of the academic year 2025-2026. If you are a current student, please consult the online course guide for your course overview.
Course overview
Below you can find an overview of the structure of the programme:
- Compulsory courses (15 EC)
- Electives (21 EC)
- Review article (6 EC)
- Research proposal (6 EC)
- Two internships (72 EC)
- P1
- P1
- P2
- P3
- P4
- P1
- P2
- P3
- P4
- P1
- P2
- P3
- P4
Your core curriculum is supplemented by electives. The elective programme consists of Natural Science electives, a Philosophy elective and Free electives. You’re free to compose this programme as you wish, provided that the level and coherence is sufficient for the Examination Board.
Natural Science electives (12 EC)
You need to choose at least one course from a list of selected electives for Biology. The remaining EC can be filled with academic courses within the field of natural sciences. You can also choose to use 6 EC as extension of your internship.
Philosophy elective (3 EC)
Choose one Philosophy course from a set list of Science Philosophy electives.
Free electives (6 EC)
6 EC of the total electives can be used to take any course taught at Radboud University, another Dutch university or abroad.
- P1
- P2
- P3
- P4
- P1
- P2
- P3
- P4
During your internships, you’ll be responsible for your own experiments, under the supervision of one of our top researchers at the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES). Most students choose to perform their first internship at Radboud University and their second internship abroad, or at a Dutch governmental organisation, NGO or company. Recent examples are; the Netherlands Institute for Ecological Research, NatuurPlaza, B-Ware, Wageningen University and the University of Western Australia.
It is also possible to apply for a grant to perform an internship at the Max Planck Gesellschaft, one of the world's most renowned research institutes. There are also possibilities to do a research internship abroad. For suggestions, you can contact the teaching staff or the student advisor.
Either Review Article or Research Proposal can be replaced by one of the field courses:
- Field Course Alpine Ecology (NWI-BM040B)
- Field Course (NWI-BM048B)
The field courses are offered in alternating years.