MSc in Biodiversity and Ecology University of Cyprus

The M.Sc. in Biodiversity and Ecology program has a duration of 3 academic semesters (and up to 8 semesters for part-time study) and requires the completion of 90 ECTS.

It combines a course component of 60 ECTS in total for which each student can choose from a list of Restricted Elective Courses (see Postgraduate Prospectus) as the series of compulsory departmental postgraduate seminars.

Another 30 ECTS derive from laboratory-based or field-based research on which a dissertation is written, presented orally, and assessed. Alternatively, 20 ECTS can derive from a literature-based dissertation and 10 ECTS of coursework can derive from the list of Restricted Elective Courses.

Available Places (Only after prior communication with the head of the Lab)

For the Master's Degree in Biodiversity and Ecology, 90 ECTS are required, which can be fulfilled by either taking 60 ECTS in elective courses and a research-based thesis dissertation (30 ECTS) or by taking 70 ECTS and a literature-based thesis dissertation (20 ECTS) which, is determined during the admission process in the program of study. In addition, seminar attendance (BIO 800 and BIO 801) in two separate semesters is compulsory, along with seminar BIO 805. Course BIO 605 Basic Laboratory Health and Safety Training (Table F) is also compulsory and must be successfully completed during the Fall Semester of the first year of study. The laboratory-based or field-based research dissertation (BIO 831) has a duration of at least one semester and carries 30 ECTS (Table F). Students, who do not complete their thesis research dissertation in one semester can register for BIO 601 Continuation of Master Research Dissertation in Biodiversity and Ecology. Upon completion, the dissertation will be presented in the form of an open seminar, followed by an oral examination, before a three-member Special Examinations Committee. The literature-based thesis dissertation (BIO 681), which has as a prerequisite the successful completion of at least 60 ECTS in elective courses, has a total duration of one semester, involves undertaking a bibliographical study, and carries 20 ECTS.

The duration of study is at least three semesters with a maximum of eight semesters. Students enrolled in this Master's are eligible to apply for a change from a research-based to a literature-based thesis (and vice versa), as stipulated by the Postgraduate Studies Regulations. The application is subject to approval by the Departmental Postgraduate Studies Committee and the Departmental Council.

Elective Courses (Master in Biodiversity and Ecology)

• BIO 650 Special Topics in Bioinformatics - 10 ECTS
• BIO 760 Topics in Genomics and Proteomics - 10 ECTS
• BIO 858 Conservation Biology - 10 ECTS
• BIO 859 Management of Protected Areas - 10 ECTS
• BIO 861 Advanced Issues in Ecology - 10 ECTS
• BIO 862 Biodiversity Patterns - 10 ECTS
• BIO 863 Selected Topics in Behavioural Ecology - 10 ECTS
• BIO 864 Biodiversity of Cyprus - 10 ECTS
• BIO 865 Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing in Ecology - 10 ECTS
• BIO 866 Marine Ecology - 10 ECTS
• BIO 867 Selected Topics in Evolutionary Biology - 10 ECTS
• BIO 868 Fieldwork - 10 ECTS
• BIO 871 Molecular Ecology - 10 ECTS

Compulsory Courses for Research-based Thesis

• BIO 601 Continuation of Master Research Dissertation in Biodiversity and Ecology- 1 ECT
• BIO 605 Basic Laboratory Health and Safety Training - 0 ECT
• BIO 800 Postgraduate Seminar Series I - 0 ECT
• BIO 801 Postgraduate Seminar Series II - 0 ECT
• BIO 805 Search and Management of Bibliographic Sources - 0 ECT
• BIO 831 Master Research dissertation in Biodiversity and Ecology - 30 ECT

Compulsory Courses for Research-based Thesis

• BIO 601 Continuation of Master Research Dissertation in Biodiversity and Ecology - 1 ECT
• BIO 605 Basic Laboratory Health and Safety Training - 0 ECT
• BIO 800 Postgraduate Seminar Series I - 0 ECT
• BIO 801 Postgraduate Seminar Series II - 0 ECT
• BIO 805 Search and Management of Βibliographic Sources - 0 ECT
• BIO 831 Master Research dissertation in Biodiversity and Ecology - 30 ECTS