Course overview

Study on the first degree to embrace nature positive approaches, developed in collaboration with industry experts in nature recovery, restoration and rewilding.

Benefit from a highly interdisciplinary teaching approach, giving you breadth of knowledge across the social and ecological systems, with the flexibility to specialise to your personal goals by selecting optional modules from across the University.

Engage in a solutions-oriented, forward looking degree that embraces a positive outlook towards conserving and enhancing biodiversity that is valued by all sectors of society.

Study in Manchester and be immersed in an excellent example of the global challenge of sustainable development whilst in close proximity to several culturally and ecologically important National Parks.

Join the world number one for societal and environmental impact (THE Impact Rankings 2024) and a top 20 global university for Geography (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).

Course description

For a detailed overview of this course, including core modules and unique features, you can download our Course Guide (PDF).

Humanity has caused a global biodiversity crisis, with wildlife populations declining and over one million species facing extinction. The UN urges everyone to rethink their relationship with nature and adopt transformative solutions to recover, restore, and rewild ecosystems.

The MSc in Nature Recovery, Restoration, and Rewilding (NR3) equips you with the knowledge, skills, and global best practices needed to address the biodiversity crisis. It also covers the broader benefits of these solutions, including tackling the climate crisis and improving human health and wellbeing.

Through small class learning and field work, this course will equip you with a ‘toolbox’ of knowledge and techniques to transform humanity’s relationship with nature. You will acquire understanding and practical skills relating to nature recovery, a suite of tools that aim to benefit nature not just minimise harm, which are being applied in sectors normally linked to biodiversity declines like agriculture and urban development.

Whilst studying this programme, you will see ecological restoration first-hand in uplands, wetlands and forests, learning about practical restoration techniques that repair natural processes and help ecosystems recover after human-induced damage.

You will also be immersed in the theory and practice of rewilding, an exciting approach seeking to give nature more independence over large areas, including reintroducing organisms that can ‘engineer’ ecosystems. Throughout your studies, you will enquire, debate and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of these different approaches, exploring theoretical, ethical and practical perspectives.

Aside from the University of Manchester being a top ranked Higher Education institution, the city has been at the heart of industrial development since the growth of the cotton trade in the late 18th century. The expansion of Manchester has been the forerunner of global urbanisation, which has prioritised economic growth at the expense of the natural environment.

Career opportunities

Nature Recovery, Restoration and Rewilding graduates will graduate equipped with a critical understanding of the limitations of historical approaches to nature conservation and contemporary and ambitious ideas to transform attitudes, policies and practices through which nature positive solutions may be realised. They will be well versed in social-ecological systems, recognising the critical connections and reciprocity between people and nature. Graduates will be well suited to roles across the public, private and charitable sectors as ecological advisors, environmental planners, environmental consultants, conservation practitioners, researchers, sustainability advisors and environmental educators.