A field-driven conservation master's from one of Latin America's strongest research universities, taught in English across 58 credits, four semesters and a summer session — with access to some of the planet's richest living laboratories: the Galápagos, Tiputini in Yasuní National Park, and the Andean Chocó. Built to turn biologists into researchers who can both understand tropical ecological processes and design conservation strategies grounded in real data.
Key facts
Duration
24 months (2 years)
Language
English
Format
Full-time
Tuition
14,729 USD total
Intake
August
Application deadline
International applicants: Aug 2026 – Mar 2027; Ecuadorian citizens/residents: Oct 2026 – May 2027; classes start 17 Aug 2027 (verified Sep 2026)
USD 14,729 total (USD 13,390 tuition + USD 1,339 fees) per the official page; reduced to about USD 11,500 for Ecuadorian citizens and residents with scholarship eligibility. Ecuador uses the US dollar.
Curriculum modules
Biostatistics I & II — Quantitative methods for ecological data.
Conservation Genetics — Genetic tools for species and population conservation.
Terrestrial Ecosystems — Ecology and conservation of terrestrial habitats.
Aquatic Ecosystems — Ecology of tropical freshwater and marine systems.
Behavioral Ecology — Behaviour in ecological and evolutionary context.
Conservation Biology — Theory and practice of biodiversity conservation.
Global Environmental Change — Drivers and ecological impacts of global change.
Field Research — Supervised fieldwork at the Galápagos, Tiputini and Chocó stations.
Thesis Advance 1–3 — Thesis research carried through the second year.
Admission requirements
Bachelor's degree in Biology, Genetics, Biodiversity, Ecology or a related field
English proficiency at B1 (CEFR); USFQ graduate admission exam plus a program knowledge exam
CV with research experience, statement of purpose (in English), two academic references, SENESCYT degree registration
Fees and deadlines change every year: always confirm them on the official page before applying.
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