Marine Biology

By Emma Prest

Published: 13 August 2004

What do you come out with? BSc

Why do it? Because you either like doing things associated with the sea or you realise what an important resource the sea is for our environment. You are a scientists but don't want to specialise in one of the more traditional sciences, you want something more multidisciplinary.

What's it about? Be prepared to study biology, chemistry, physics, geology and maths while examining many marine and coastal environments. Fieldtrips are vital to this degree as is lab work. Some of the firldtrips can be fairly exoyic. The contents of this degree varies from uni to uni. At the University of the Highlands and Islands you will have a large choice of modules in the second and third years covering everything from the behaviour of marine animals to ocean circulation. Studying at UHI means you will be very close to all the research as they are heavily into postgraduate work. At Plymouth you can combine it with coastal ecology and oceanography. Queen Mary have a degree in Marine and Freshwater biology. You will study marine and freshwater invertebrates, fish, algae, river and lake ecosystems, and estuarine and oceanic ecosystems. You will learn about water chemistry, aquatic microbiology, aquatic pollution and resource management. At Heriot-Watt you will be taught to dive off the coast of Scotland.

How long is a degree? Three years in England and Wales. Four in Scotland.

What are the students like? They are scientists who have a real interest in the sea and like the great outdoors. Many of them sail or dive. There are slightly more men than women at both Plymouth and UHI.

How is it packaged? At Plymouth the emphasis is on coursework until the third year when it is one third coursework and the rest practicals and exams. At Heriot-Watt there is mix between the two with plenty of lab work.

How cool is it? Well if you are into the sea then you probably think it is. The rest of us rarely think about this subject.

What A-Levels do you need? Everywhere want A-level biology. Plymouth requires biology and another science A-level.

What grades? UHI requires BCC (250 UCAS points). BBC at Plymouth (280 UCAS points). BBB-BCC (260-300 points) at Bangor and Newcastle. DDD at Heriot-Watt.

Will you be interviewed? Yes at UHI. Plymouth carry out informal interviews on open days and tend to interview candidates with unconventional entry requirements. Not usually at Heriot-Watt.

Will it keep you off the dole? About one half of marine biology graduates go into jobs involving the subject. The possibilties are vast. Previous examples include working with the British antarctic survey or putting together the blue planet series.

What do students say? Pippa Moore, 29, First in BSc Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, Plymouth. "I absolutely loved it! The final year project was great. I looked at the effect of mechanical beach cleaning on sandy shores. All the staff are dynamic and really young. Most staff have open door policies. They obviously enjoy their subjects."

Hannah Wood, first in BSc Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, Plymouth. "The field course was brilliant. We went to South Africa. We watched wales, looked at birds and their natural habitats. It wasn't really hard work because you enjoy what you are doing. The lecturers are young, not old and greying."

Marie Moore, 38, going into 3rd year, BSc Marine Science, UHI. "I didn't want to do straight marine biology. I wanted to do some geology. It was hard work at times, but the highlights included the fieldwork. We stayed out in a boat overnight getting samples from the sea bed. I also enjoyed the biochemistry. We got to do DNA extraction and genetics."

Where can you do it? Aberdeen, Aberystwyth, Anglia Polytechnic University, Bangor, Glamorgan, Heriot-Watt, Hull, Kingston, Liverpool, Napier, Newcastle, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Queen Mary, Belfast, Southampton, St Andrews, Stirling, Swansea, Ulster.

Where's the cutting edge? At UHI it's the application of molecular techniqueas, the development of marine biotechnology and remote sensing technology. At Plymouth it's sustainability and marine pollution and conservation. Heriot-Watt is hot on pollution, conservation and fish pathology and parisitology.

Who are the stars? Professors Malcolm Jones, Richard Warwick, Steve Rowland, Paul Worsfold, Martin Attrill at Plymouth. Professors Peter Wadhans and Graham Shimmield at UHI. Dr. Martin Wilkinson, Dr. Colin Moore, Dr. Hamish Mair, Dr. Paul Kingston and Dr. Brian Austin at Heriot-Watt.

Related courses: Beng in Marine technology, Marine Sports technology, BSc Applied Marine Sports Science, BSc Environmental Science (Marine Conservation), BSc Marine and Composite Technology and BSc Marine Navigation at Plymouth. Navigation and marine technology BSc at LJM. Bangor run degrees in Marine biology and zoology. Marine Archaeology if on offer at Bournemouth while marine geography is available at Cardiff. Marine environmental science at the Southampton Institute.