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A partnership agreement between two Scottish universities has led to the launch of a postgraduate research degree aimed at tackling urgent environmental problems.

The one-year master of research conversion course is the first concrete example of Dundee and St Andrews universities' "promoting partnership" initiative, backed by more than £300,000 from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

The first students will start in October following a £400,000 award from the Natural Environment Research Council. The award, initially for five years, will support seven students annually, although numbers are likely to increase.