Marine Biology

Marine biology is the scientific study of life in the ocean, one of the Earth's most biologically diverse and least understood environments. It encompasses the physiology and ecology of marine organisms, from microscopic phytoplankton and bacteria to whales and sharks, the dynamics of marine ecosystems, the impacts of human activity on ocean health, and the fundamental oceanographic processes that shape the conditions in which marine life exists. As the oceans face mounting pressures from climate change, pollution, acidification, and overfishing, understanding marine life is both scientifically fascinating and practically urgent.

At the University of Southampton, this three-year full-time degree gives you a thorough grounding in marine biology alongside advanced knowledge and practical skills to address environmental challenges. You will explore all forms of marine life, from the cellular level through to ecosystem dynamics, developing the biological and oceanographic understanding that defines expertise in the field. Time spent on research vessels carrying out boat-based fieldwork is a distinctive feature of the programme, giving you hands-on experience of how marine biological knowledge is actually collected at sea.

Southampton's National Oceanography Centre, one of the world's leading oceanographic institutions, provides an exceptional research environment in which to pursue your studies, and the programme benefits from the expertise and facilities that this world-class context makes available.

You will develop skills in biological survey, ecological analysis, oceanographic measurement, and scientific communication, alongside a deep familiarity with the issues facing the marine environment.

Graduates go on to careers in marine conservation, environmental management, fisheries, oceanographic research, aquaculture, government agencies, and environmental consultancy. Many continue to postgraduate study in marine biology, oceanography, or conservation ecology, and some go on to research careers in academia or government science organisations.