Marine Geography with a Year of Study Abroad

Marine Geography brings together the scientific study of the ocean environment with the analytical tools of human and physical geography, examining the coasts and seas not just as natural systems but as spaces of economic activity, environmental challenge and human significance. The world's oceans are under growing pressure from climate change, overfishing, plastic pollution and coastal development, while also supporting expanding industries in shipping, renewable energy, aquaculture and marine tourism. Marine geographers are trained to understand these pressures and opportunities in an integrated way, combining environmental science with social, economic and policy analysis.

At Cardiff University, this three-year full-time programme develops your understanding of physical oceanography, coastal geomorphology, marine ecology, and the human dimensions of marine and coastal management. You will study how ocean systems work, how coasts change, what the ocean supports in terms of industries and communities, and how governance frameworks attempt to manage competing uses of marine space. Fieldwork is central to the discipline, and Cardiff's location in south Wales, close to the Bristol Channel and the Pembrokeshire coast, provides excellent access to relevant marine and coastal environments.

The title of this programme references a year of study abroad, offering the opportunity to spend time at a partner institution in another country and to encounter marine environments and marine management challenges from a different perspective.

Graduates of Marine Geography programmes work in marine and coastal environmental consultancy, fisheries and aquaculture management, renewable energy development, government and regulatory agencies, NGOs and conservation organisations, and academic research. Many pursue postgraduate study in marine science, environmental management, oceanography or coastal engineering. The combination of scientific understanding and policy awareness makes this degree relevant to some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing the planet.