Explore the depths of marine life from tiny organisms to majestic creatures and get ready for a meaningful career in marine biology, making a difference to the future health of our oceans, addressing critical issues such as climate change and biodiversity losss.
Marine Biology pathway leader - Dr Callum Whyte
In this programme, students study geneal marine science for the first two years and then focus on marine biological topics, completing a marine biology related literature review and dissertation. The programme offers significant hands-on practical experiences, an optional immersive field course as well as immersive fieldtrips around Scotland. Modules are taught by world-class marine biology researchers working at a top UK marine research institute.
Each year, students study six 20 credit (10 ECTS) modules, usually three per semester.
Most modules are assessed through a combination of examination and continuous assessment. Continuous assessment is designed to suit the subject area and mostly includes one or several of these: lab reports, field course reports, essays, talks, poster presentations, research proposals, policy briefings etc
Named qualifications are available to students leaving after any year of successful study.
Marine biology pathways students study first and second year with all marine science students.
Mandatory modules
- >Literature review (topic must be relevant to marine biology)
- >Marine Mammals and Megafauna
- >Marine Microbial Ecology
- >Marine Zoology
Optional modules (choose two)
- >Marine Pollution
- >Marine Instrumentation and Data
- >Marine Conservation
- >Marine Biogeochemical Cycling
- >Marine Robotics
- >Marine Biotechnology
- >Ocean Circulation and Climate
A student who chooses to leave the programme after three years of successful study will be awarded an (ungraded) BSc Marine Science.
Mandatory modules
- >Dissertation (double module in topic relevant to marine biology)
- >Deep Sea Ecosystems
- >Behaviour and Biological Clocks
Optional modules (choose two)
- >Aquaculture
- >Coastal Shelf Sea Dynamics
- >Fisheries Ecology
- >Defining the Carbon Cycle
- >Marine Environmental Impact Assessment
- >Marine Modelling
- >Polar Seas
After successful completion of all four years students are awarded the qualification of BSc (Hons) Marine Science with Marine Biology.
This qualification is graded as first class (70%+), second class (upper) (60-69%), second class (lower) (50-59%) and third class (40-49%).
There is an optional field trip to learn about tropical ecosystems that students can join when it is offered during their studies. This carries an additional cost for the student.
Read about the experiences of former students about the field trip .