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FAQ - MSc Wildlife Biology and Conservation

  • Why apply to this course?

    • Support from several leading research institutions.

    • Faculty of established scientists and practitioners in wildlife conservation, drawn from institutions in India and abroad.

    • A syllabus that covers biological, ecological, socio-economic, legal and governance issues in conservation.

    • We cover course  fees.

    • Excellent campus facilities at the National Center for Biological Sciences, including access to the latest literature, state of the art laboratories and a vibrant research community.

    The course is offered once in two years. Students from a wide range of academic background are eligible for admission, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of conservation. The written test would assess the analytical and quantitative abilities, knowledge of basic biology, awareness and interest in current affairs and conservation issues and the ability to communicate in English

  • Who can apply?

Indian graduates in any discipline or who are in the final year of graduation with an aggregate of 50% marks (or equivalent) in core subjects. Nationals of South, Southeast and Central Asian countries with similar qualifications are also eligible to apply for a limited number of seats.

  • When is the next admission for the course?

The next round of admission to the program will be in 2024, which will be advertised in September 2023 in leading national dailies, along with admission to other courses in Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. The entrance exam will be held in December 2023, followed by interviews with shortlisted candidates in May 2024.  The course commences in August 2024.

  • What is the question paper format for the entrance exam?

The written entrance test will be for 3 hours and has 4 sections.  The first 3 Sections are multiple choice questions, while Section 4 is an essay. The sections may contain :

  1. General aptitude, knowledge, analytical and english language skills
  2. Basic mathematical and quantitative skills
  3. Knowledge about basic biology, ecology and conservation issues
  4. Essay on a topic in ecology or wildlife conservation.

Past papers are available here for reference

  •  What is the Fee structure for the course?

We cover course fees for all selected students. The course is residential and hostel facilities are available on campus.

  • How many students are enrolled for each batch?

Upto fifteen Indian and two International students are admitted for each batch based on their academic scores at the high school and graduate levels, performance in the entrance exam and a personal interview of shortlisted candidates.

  • How to apply for the course?

Candidates need to register online to write the Entrance Test. The applications will be available for download on the following website: https://www.ncbs.res.in/academic/admissions

  •  Where are the test centres for the entrance exam?

The exam will be conducted in about 50 centers in India. The details of the centers are available on the following website:

https://univ.tifr.res.in/admissions/Centres/Centres.htm

  • What are the job prospects after the course?

There are no guaranteed jobs at the end of the course and no campus based recruitment drives. It is hoped that the students, at the end of course, will have the initiative and motivation to significantly influence wildlife conservation either by working with NGOs, universities and the private sector or as independent researchers. Details of the trajectories of some of  our past students can be found at this link: https://www.ncbs.res.in/mscprogram/alumni

  • Is there any syllabus to prepare for the test?

There is no prescribed syllabus for the entrance test. Candidates can prepare for the test by working on their basic mathematical and quantitative skills, reading widely available textbooks in basic biology and ecology (many of these are available on the internet), books on wildlife and issues relating to the conservation and management of wildlife, watching documentary films on wildlife conservation and reading media articles relating to these issues. Past papers are available here for reference

  • I am interested in applying for the course but do not have enough experience in this field. What can I do?

Candidates interested can get firsthand experience by volunteering or interning with various NGOs that are involved with wildlife conservation.

 
If you have other questions about the program and entrance procedures, please email mscwildlife@ncbs.res.in, and you will receive an answer within a day or two. Please do not call the office directly, we will respond to all enquiries over email.