Marine Science

Marine science is the study of the ocean in all its dimensions, from the physical and chemical processes that govern ocean circulation and climate to the biology of the organisms that inhabit marine environments, and the geological structures of the seafloor. It is an inherently interdisciplinary field, requiring students to draw on oceanography, ecology, chemistry, physics and geography in order to understand a system that covers more than seventy per cent of the Earth's surface. The ocean regulates climate, produces oxygen, supports fisheries that feed billions of people, and contains ecosystems of extraordinary complexity and fragility.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands you will study marine science across four years of full-time study, in a setting that offers unique proximity to some of the most ecologically significant coastal and oceanic environments in Europe. The Scottish Highlands and Islands provide direct access to diverse marine habitats, from sea lochs and tidal systems to open Atlantic waters, and the university's location makes fieldwork a realistic and regular feature of the programme. You will develop skills in data collection, laboratory analysis and the interpretation of complex environmental datasets, alongside a conceptual understanding of how marine systems are structured and how they respond to human pressures including climate change, pollution and overfishing.

The typical tariff of 136 reflects a programme that welcomes students with a genuine interest in the natural world and the sciences that help us understand it.

Marine science graduates work in environmental consultancy, fisheries management, conservation organisations, government agencies, hydrographic surveying, aquaculture and research. Many go on to postgraduate study, including research degrees that focus on specific aspects of oceanography, marine ecology or environmental management. The combination of field skills, scientific literacy and environmental awareness is well suited to careers working on the intersection of marine science and policy, a domain that is growing in importance as pressures on ocean ecosystems intensify.