Marine Biology and Oceanography
Marine biology and oceanography together provide a comprehensive scientific understanding of the ocean and the organisms that inhabit it. Oceanography examines the physical and chemical properties of the sea, including its currents, waves, tides, temperature gradients, and the ocean-atmosphere interactions that drive global climate. Marine biology studies the extraordinary diversity of life that the sea supports, from microscopic plankton and coastal invertebrates to deep-sea fish and large marine mammals, examining the physiology, ecology, and behaviour of marine organisms and the ecosystems they form.
Together, the two disciplines offer an integrated view of the marine environment that is essential for conservation, fisheries management, and understanding how the ocean will respond to climate change.
The University of Plymouth offers this three-year full-time Marine Biology and Oceanography degree with a foundation year option, a sandwich year, a year abroad option, and work placement opportunities. Plymouth is one of the UK's most prominent marine science institutions, with close ties to Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the National Marine Aquarium, and the coastal environment provides direct access to the habitats and organisms you will study. The typical entry tariff is 136 points.
You will develop skills in field survey, laboratory analysis, data collection and interpretation, and the scientific reasoning and communication abilities that a career in marine science demands.
Graduates work in marine conservation organisations, environmental consultancy, fisheries research and management, government environmental agencies, offshore industries, research institutions, and academic settings. Many continue to postgraduate study in marine biology, oceanography, or conservation, and doctoral research in the marine sciences is a natural pathway for those seeking research careers. The fieldwork skills and scientific literacy developed in this degree are directly applicable to the growing range of careers in the blue economy and environmental science.