Anna Nekaris, Reader in Primate Conservation and course tutor on the MSc in Primate Conservation

We're very lucky that we have a number of primatologists in one institute – you very rarely get more than one primatologist at one university.

We're very lucky that we have a number of primatologists in one institute

There are 600 primate species and about 400 of them remain unstudied and there’s a lot of work to be done. So despite attracting 30 students a year for our master’s, we can still find plenty of work for them to do. And that’s one of the highlights of our training here – finding their ecological niche in the conservation world.

One of the parts I teach is how to write research proposals. Most of the master’s students do field work and they’re very successful in research funding. They’ve now been to more than 60 countries to study primates.

Social Sciences

An award-winning master’s programme, and a dynamic, supportive and rapidly growing research community with a successful record of gaining significant funding are distinguishing features of the Social Sciences department at Oxford Brookes.

Why study at Oxford Brookes?

Research is the cornerstone of all our activities (see panel, right), including the course curricula and the broader student experience. You will be joining a supportive department with a growing community of researchers. Read more…

Our strong performance in the RAE 2008 along with our expanding consultancy activities, have enabled us to attract high quality staff and students and helped to generate funding for research projects from bodies such as the ESRC, the European Agency for Fundamental Rights and the Social Science Research Council (USA).

Within the Department of Social Sciences much of our research is interdisciplinary. Seminars, in which members explore and debate leading research in the field, are held weekly.

The Anthropology  Centre for Conservation, Environment and Development brings together a number of research groups such as the Nocturnal Primate Research Group and Human Origins and Palaeo Environments (HOPE), whose focus is on evolutionary anthropology and environmental reconstruction and change. Other research groups comprising staff and doctoral research students from departments across the university are affiliated with the Europe Japan Research Centre and the Centre for Democracy Studies.

We actively encourage all postgraduate students to make the most of their time at Oxford Brookes, building transferable skills and planning for their future career. Primate Conservation students have the opportunity to submit to Canopy, our in-house publication with contributions from staff, students and visiting speakers, helping to develop research skills necessary for higher level study. International Relations PhD student Miguel Otero has been appointed chair of the student branch of the University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES), an international forum bringing together expertise in European affairs.

What are the benefits?

Read more…

  • Opportunity to work alongside leading academics for example Dr Anna Nekaris (see left), Professor Jeremy MacClancy,
  • Professor Adrian Parker (see page 6), Professor Tina Miller and Professor Magnus Ryner.
  • Links with conservation organisations and NGOs internationally and closer to home including the United Nations, World Wildlife Fund and Oxfam.
  • Excellent learning resources at Brookes and Oxford institutions such as the Bodleian Library, Pitt Rivers Museum, Radcliffe Science Library, and the Museum of Natural History.
  • Field trips for primate conservation students for example, to Apenheul Primate Park in the Netherlands.

Research

We are a truly international department, attracting leading scholars from across the globe. Our vibrant research culture is driven by a thriving and collaborative community of academic staff and doctoral students. Read more…

To find out more please see our research degrees pages.

Taught Courses

We offer a flexible and exciting range of postgraduate courses from within the department as well as interdisciplinary opportunities provided though collaboration with our colleagues in the School of Law and the Business School. Read more…

International Studies

This suite of master’s courses enables you to specialise in the area that interests you most, whilst gaining valuable skills in research methods and a strong theoretical foundation for your studies. Course content is strongly linked to the work of our research- active academic staff. Graduates from across the world enjoy careers in management, government, the media and working for development organisations such as the United Nations and Oxfam.

Primate Conservation

First-rate facilities include a sound laboratory, a fieldwork equipment lending service and a wet lab for analysis of hormones and other biological material as well as access to specialist facilities at Oxford’s museums. The course attracts students from around the world, including those from habitat countries, establishing careers as anthropologists, conservation biologists, captive care givers and educators.

International Law and International Relations

Whether you wish to explore the political dimensions of international law, the legal dimensions of international relations, or issues of transnational governance, this new master’s course will enable you to develop the academic and professional skills needed to excel in this expanding and influential field. Course content reflects the breadth of interdisciplinary collaboration taking place across the university and is delivered jointly by experts in international law and politics.

Which courses can I study to start in 2012?

Learn more about the courses you can study to start in September 2012. Read more…