Course overview

Marine biology is concerned with all aspects of marine ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them, from the deepest oceans to the shallowest coastal shores. Ninety-five per cent of the living world exists within the Earth’s oceans and estuaries. In recent years, awareness that marine ecosystems are under increased threat from pollution, overfishing, global climate change and many other impacts have highlighted the importance of understanding ecosystem function at all levels, from the molecular to the global. This degree addresses these issues and will provide you with a knowledge and understanding of the roles of both whole organisms and biological processes in marine systems.

The Institute of Marine Sciences is an internationally renowned marine station for research and teaching. An ongoing multimillion pound refurbishment programme of its research facilities is in place to bring these up to the standard of its lecture theatre and teaching laboratory. Its location, close to examples of most types of temperate marine habitats (such as rocky, sandy and muddy shores, estuaries and the English Channel), provides an ideal location for the study of marine biology. In addition, our proximity to conservation areas protected under international law provides an unrivalled location to study these habitats that are subject to wide-ranging pressures.

The University of Portsmouth's BSc in Marine Biology degree has gained professional recognition from the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology (IMarEST), the leading international membership body and learned society for marine professionals. Graduates of this course will now meet the academic base requirements, in part, for registration as a Chartered Scientist and Chartered Marine Scientist and in full, for registration as a Registered Marine Scientist.

Course content

To provide a well-structured and engaging degree, all three years are unitised, with core units and a choice of options. The strength of the School in cell and molecular biology will enable you to apply state-of-the-art technology to studying marine phenomena. Through the options on offer, you can pursue particular areas of interest related to your degree or other more diverse subjects that complement your course, such as a foreign language. Graduate skills units in your first two years will not only provide you with a firm foundation for subsequent study, but they will also help you gain transferable skills that will be invaluable in the job market.

Year one

To understand the nature of marine environments and how human activity disrupts marine habitats, you will start your studies with a broad foundation in biology. To complement laboratory-based practicals, a number of short field courses embedded within units and a week-long Portsmouthbased field trip will enable you to experience a variety of marine and aquatic habitats, as well as help you begin to develop field techniques. Units available include:

• Cell Biology and Biological Chemistry
• Biodiversity and Evolution
• Marine and Terrestrial Ecology
• Microbes and Molecular Biology
• Graduate Skills I
• Experimental Biology

As you will have followed a common core curriculum that covers a broad range of biological disciplines, it is possible for you to transfer to another pathway (except forensic biology) at the start of the second year.

Year two

In the second year you will specialise in marine biology topics, with an emphasis on coastal ecology. A compulsory week-long residential marine field course will enable you to gain experience in marine organism identification and develop specialised skills in sampling various habitats including sediment and rocky inter-tidal shores, estuaries and man-made structures. Units available include:

• Marine Organisms and Ecosystems
• Ecology and Marine Residential Field
• Trip
• Oceanography
• Marine Animal Science
• Basic and Scientific Diving
• Graduate Skills II
• Microbiology
• Foreign Language (option)
• Plant Science (option)

Year three

In your third year you will apply the skills and knowledge obtained in the first two years. You will undertake an individual research project (worth one third of your final-year mark) related to the research interests of your supervisor’s research team, so that you have the chance to work alongside leaders in specific fields of research. Examples include whole organism investigations, microbiology, molecular, genetic and cellular-based projects.

Taught core units will enable you to develop an advanced understanding of marine systems and organisms including the physiology of marine organisms, impacts of aquaculture and fisheries and management of coastal ecosystems. Units available include:

• Individual Research Project/Dissertation
• Coastal Ecosystems
• Applied Marine Biology
• Marine Ecophysiology
• Aquatic Microbiology
• Applied Ecology and Conservation

Teaching and assessment

Laboratory-based practical work and a number of field trips underpin the theory learned in lectures, seminars and tutorials. In your final year you will experience research first hand, alongside postgraduate and doctoral scientists within the School. If you enjoy the challenge of practical work and are excited by learning new techniques, this course will be of interest to you.

Each academic year is divided into three terms and you will study several subjects during each with assessment at the end of the year. Various assessment methods are used including conventional exams, coursework, practical or project work, posters and oral presentations. You will also be assigned a personal tutor who will provide academic support and guidance throughout your degree.

Study abroad

The Socrates and Erasmus schemes enable you to study in Europe. The School has strong links with many European universities and institutes, particularly in France. Opportunities are also available for you to complete your fieldwork for a project during the second year summer break at other research facilities outside the UK and with various conservation and marine biology research schemes including Operation Wallacea, Global Vision and the Atlantic Whale Foundation. Read more about opportunities for studying and working abroad on our studying abroad page.

Career prospects

A degree in marine biology can lead to a career in:

• aquaculture
• environmental toxicology
• environmental monitoring
• conservation
• ecology
• industrial and medical microbiology
• water pollution control
• academic or industrial research

Degrees in biological science have also become increasingly accepted as an appropriate background to graduate employment in management, accountancy, marketing and IT; in fact, in any area where there is a requirement for logic, experience in problem solving and for the communication and numeracy skills developed in a scientific discipline.

Career development is given high priority in all our degree courses. One full unit in your second year will help you develop professional and career skills. Extensive careers advice is also available at all times and up to five years after you graduate. Read what some of our alumni have gone on to do.

Facilities and features

To provide you with the ideal learning environment to study marine biology, we have added a new 2 million pound aquarium and research laboratory to our current site in 2011. Our facilities now include Home Office approved laboratories for studying fish biology, new quarantine aquariums and a suite of research laboratories that include a dedicated seawater corrosion laboratory.

We also have:

• temperature and photoperiod controlled growth rooms
• quarantine facilities for non-native species
• histology laboratory
• microscopes and image analysis
• a herbarium
• facilities for ecotoxicology studies

A purpose-built seawater system pumps water from Langstone Harbour to the site. Over 50 tanks are run from this system and can be circulated with either ambient or temperature-controlled filtered seawater for experimental research. In addition, electron and confocal microscopes, together with our molecular and cell biology facilities, are often used by marine biologists.

Due to high external investment in the School for research and development work, you will also have access to research vessels and a range of sampling systems including dredges and grabs for inshore and offshore work. A large research raft is permanently moored in the centre of the harbour and provides a facility for longterm studies requiring constant submersion of experimental materials. Facilities also include networked computers and a student common room.

Entry requirements

View all the entry requirements for BSc (Hons) Marine Biology for the academic year 2013/14 (opens in new window).