Ecological dynamics 15 credits

About the course

The course focuses on mathematical modelling as a tool for the study of ecological dynamics, i.e., the interplay between organisms and their environment. You will learn how biological and environmental information can be translated into meaningful mathematical models, how the behavior of mathematical models can be explored, analysed and interpreted, and how models can be used to derive expectations and hypotheses about the real world.

The teaching methodology is problem-oriented, research-based and learner-centered. Course participants develop published models with the help of a common software, under the guidance of course instructors. The concepts, techniques and practical tasks are all discussed in working groups during seminars.

The course includes the following parts:

Section 1, Methods, principles and concepts in ecological dynamics; 7.5 ECTS

This part gives a solid background in population and community theory from a process oriented, dynamic perspective. The focus is on how interactions between organisms drive the dynamics of ecological systems through feedbacks among various processes - often with unexpected results. The focus of this section is on the dynamics of interspecific interactions such as predation and competition and on how these interactions influence the coexistence of species, the size and stability of populations, as well as the flows of energy and matter through ecosystems. This section gives a thorough introduction to how models are constructed and analysed. This includes exercises in how biological assumptions translate into mathematical models and how the models are subsequently programmed and numerically analysed in Matlab. Matlab is a modelling software with widespread use in both research and the non-academic sector.

Section 2, Research project; 7.5 ECTS

In this part, the students develop their own research project, starting from a published scientific article that models a natural system in order to address questions of practical and theoretical importance. This work is of research-like character, because it aims to expand on the published model. In a first step, the main questions of the article must be described and the published model will be coded up in the modelling software in order to reproduce the results. In addition, the project includes the formulation of one or more new questions, literature search, model formulation and analysis, critical evaluation of results, and the writing of a formal essay. The work is also presented orally.

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Apply

Spring 2026
- Ecological dynamics
  
  Spring 2026 / Umeå / English / On site
  
  Application opens 15 September 2025
  
  Save education at universityadmissions.se
  
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  Starts
  19 January 2026
  
  Ends
  23 March 2026
  
  Number of credits
  15 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On site
  
  Study pace
  100%
  
  Teaching hours
  Daytime
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-50203
  
  Eligibility 90 ECTS Biology, including 30 ECTS Ecology. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English 6.
  
  Selection
  Academic credits
  
  Application
  The online application opens 15 September 2025 at 09:00 CET. Application deadline is 15 October 2025.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 38,075
  
  Total fee: SEK 38,075
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding

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