MA in Wildlife Economy
(with a PG Certificate option)
Vinson Centre, University of Buckingham
Planned launch: September 2027
Interested in enrolling in the MA or the PG Certificate?
Interested in offering bursaries for students?
Interested in speaking on a webinar or suggesting learning materials?
Please email the Programme Director here.
Programme aim
According to the Wildlife Trade Report (2022), “Legal trade in wildlife, which includes both wild animals and plants…, involves thousands of species from across the taxonomic spectrum, traded for a vast array of purposes and products, by millions of producers and consumers across the globe… The annual revenue generated by the global legal trade in wildlife… has been estimated at USD 220 billion per year.”
Despite wild species representing a major global economic asset, academic training on the economics and business of wildlife use remains extremely limited. The MA in Wildlife Economy (with a PG Certificate option) is designed to address this gap. Drawing on the classical liberal perspective of the Vinson Centre, the programme advances understanding of economics, entrepreneurship, and commercial practice relating to the harvesting, use, and trade of wild species.
Programme overview
The online research programme begins with 16 webinars delivered across two terms. These sessions are led by academics and practitioners and introduce core themes in wildlife economics, policy, entrepreneurship, and trade. Students are expected to participate actively and to engage with curated learning materials, including readings, videos, and recommended online resources.
The webinar series forms the foundation for students’ independent research. MA students progress to a research proposal and dissertation, while PG Certificate students complete an essay.
Supervision and academic support
In the second term, each student will be assigned a supervisor aligned with their chosen topic area.
- MA students will receive detailed guidance on developing and refining their research proposals.
- PG Certificate students will receive structured feedback on their essays.
Optional campus visit
Students may choose to visit the University of Buckingham for a short residential stay. This provides access to the Hunter Street Library, the Hayek Library, and events and programmes hosted by the Vinson Centre.
Details
Programme
| Term | Modules | Title | MA | PG Cert |
| 1 | Webinars | Wildlife economics & policy | 30 | 30 |
| 1 | Project | Proposal | 30 | – |
| 2 | Webinars | Wildlife entrepreneurship & trade | 30 | 30 |
| 2 | Project | Research | 30 | – |
| 3 | Project | Dissertation | 60 | – |
| Credits | 180 | 60 |
Assessment
| Term | MA | PG Cert | MA | PG Cert |
| 2 | Proposal linked to material covered in the webinars (5,000 words) | Essay linked to material covered in the webinars (5,000 words) | 60 | 60 |
| 3 | Dissertation and defence (15,000 words) | 120 | – | |
| Credits | 180 | 60 |
Term dates 2027/28
Term 1 : 13 Sep – 10 Dec
Term 2 : 17 Jan – 14 Apr
Term 3 : 08 May – 04 Aug