About the programme
The Master of Bioprotection is an NZQF level 9 programme at Lincoln University in New Zealand that trains specialists in invasive pest management and ecosystem protection over 18 months of full-time study and 180 credits.
New Zealand faces many threats from invasive pests, and it needs skilled experts who can strengthen bioprotection and safeguard natural areas. The programme teaches students to design, run and monitor science-based pest management systems that keep ecosystems safe.
Students specialise in either plant pest management or vertebrate pest management. They learn how to build environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable programmes for specific pest problems, how to measure outcomes and detect emerging physiological and behavioural resistance to control tools, how adaptive management works and how to communicate new research so it changes practice. The curriculum also covers biometric analysis, the ecological theory behind wildlife management, and landscape-scale GIS analysis using GPS and remote sensing data in ArcGIS.
The degree is coursework-only — 180 credits over three semesters. Students can spend a semester on a research placement with a relevant organisation or work alongside industry. Those who keep an A- average over two semesters may be invited to replace some courses with a 60-credit dissertation as a pathway to a PhD. Teaching is on the Lincoln University campus.
The programme suits graduates in biology, agriculture or environmental science who want to work in plant protection, pest control and conservation.
Entry requirements
- A relevant New Zealand level 7 bachelor's degree or recognised equivalent with at least a B average in 300-level and final-year courses
- Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the university's English language requirements
What you study
- Vertebrate Pest Management stream: Research Methods in Ecology, Advanced Geographic Information Systems A, Wildlife Management (core)
- Plant Pest Management stream: Integrated Plant Protection (core)
- ECOL 631 — Animal Behaviour
- PLPT 613 — Plant Pathology
- ECOL 609 — Conservation Biology
- ENTO 612 — Advanced Entomology
- MAST 603 — Mana Kaitiaki (Māori Resource Management)
- AGRI 601 — Future Ethical and Sustainable Agriculture
- Research Placement / Research Essay / Research Issues
- PhD Pathway — a 60-credit dissertation for students with an A- average
Careers after graduation
- Roles in the primary production sector
- Government organisations working on pest control and border biosecurity
- Agricultural consultant advising on pest control and plant protection
- Progression to PhD study
Post-study work visa
Up to 3 years
Depends on the qualification, the length of study and other Immigration New Zealand requirements.
This description is based on the official programme page, checked on 09/09/2026. Ask an NIU adviser about fees and intake dates — the programme page on the Lincoln University website