Marine and Freshwater Biology

Marine and freshwater biology is a discipline that addresses the most interconnected and threatened ecosystems on Earth. Rivers, lakes, estuaries, coasts, and oceans are not isolated: they form a continuum from upland catchments to the deep sea, and the biology that inhabits them is shaped by how water, nutrients, and organisms move through that entire system. Understanding these ecosystems in an integrated way is essential if conservation science is to address the genuinely complex threats that face freshwater and marine biodiversity.

At Aberystwyth University, this five-year MBiol degree is designed to provide exactly that integrated perspective, from catchment to ocean. You will study the biology, ecology, and environmental stressors affecting freshwater and marine ecosystems in an approach that is rare nationally and which reflects the genuine scientific importance of understanding these systems as a whole. Aberystwyth's location on the west coast of Wales, close to diverse freshwater habitats and the rich marine environment of Cardigan Bay, gives the programme a distinctive sense of place and access to field sites that are genuinely exceptional.

You will develop research skills at the master's level, preparing you for careers or doctoral study that require genuine scientific depth. The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points.

Graduates of marine and freshwater biology programmes find careers in conservation organisations, environmental consultancy, fisheries management, water quality monitoring, research institutions, government environmental agencies, and international bodies concerned with the health of aquatic ecosystems. The MBiol qualification provides an excellent foundation for doctoral research, and many graduates pursue that route, contributing to the scientific knowledge base on which evidence-based conservation depends. Science communication, policy work, and education are also paths that appeal to those who want to share their passion for aquatic life more widely.