Marine Biology

Marine Biology is the scientific study of the ocean and the extraordinary diversity of life it supports, from the smallest bacteria and phytoplankton to the great whale populations and the complex ecosystems of coral reefs, kelp forests and deep-sea environments. It is a discipline that combines the core sciences of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics with sustained fieldwork and laboratory investigation, asking both fundamental questions about how marine life works and applied questions about conservation, fisheries management and the impacts of climate change on ocean systems.

At Bangor University, this programme benefits from an exceptional coastal location in North Wales, giving you direct access to the marine environments that are central to the discipline. This three-year core degree is available with a foundation year for students who need an additional preparatory period before engaging with degree-level science, and can also be taken with a sandwich year in professional practice and a year abroad, both of which significantly extend the range of your experience. Work placement is built into the programme, ensuring that you develop professional contacts and a practical understanding of how marine biology operates outside the university before you graduate.

You will study marine ecology, physiology, oceanography, taxonomy and the biology of major marine groups, alongside the research methods and data analysis skills that underpin good scientific practice. Field courses and practical work in the marine environment are central to the Bangor experience, and you will develop the technical competence needed to work at sea as well as in the laboratory.

Graduates of marine biology programmes work in conservation and environmental management, fisheries science, marine consultancy, oceanographic research, government agencies, and environmental monitoring. Others move into education, science communication or policy. Postgraduate research is a well-trodden route for those who want to deepen their scientific expertise.