Masters Degrees in Ocean Sciences in the UK

Ocean Sciences, sometimes referred to as Oceanography or Oceanology, is a scientific discipline that is comprised of the study of the oceans. It is usually considered an earth science, and looks at topics such as ocean currents, waves and plate tectonics, among others.

As an ocean scientist, you will be interested in furthering your knowledge of the oceans of the world, including the chemistry, biology, geology and hydrology of the water environment. Oceans are an interesting and integral part of the general world ecology, and a better understanding of them could be useful for a variety of reasons.

When studying in this field, your modules are likely to cover topics such as:

• Marine Ecosystems
• Ecology and Conservation
• Climate Change
• Marine Pollution
• Coastal Environments

As a graduate of ocean sciences, you may find work in a range of scientific disciplines, such as:

• Marine Conservation
• Hydrographic Surveying
• Coastal Erosion Management
• Environmental Science and Management

Postgraduate programmes in Ocean Sciences are most commonly offered at universities around the world as a Master of Science (MSc/MS), which can typically take 1-2 years to complete when studied full-time, and could include an industrial placement year.

Entry requirements for a postgraduate programme in ocean sciences will usually include a bachelor/undergraduate degree in a related discipline such as ecology, marine biology or physics.