Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)

Marine Environmental Science

There is no substitute for fieldwork in the Environmental Sciences, and as such the MES course is a 'field-based' degree, offering a wide range of fieldwork experience.

The ultimate aim is to deepen your knowledge of the environment, introduce you to a new way of looking at the natural world, and provide sought-after practical experience which will be invaluable when looking to move on to a career after your degree.

Our fieldwork programme is based around three residential field courses at levels 1, 2 and 3, together with a research project at level 3. This is supplemented by a range of short outings which are linked to particular units, some compulsory and others optional. The level 3 project is a major component of the course, and you will be encouraged to choose a field-based topic for your research.

Residential field courses

Level 1

Somerset field course - compulsory

Level 2

Malta field course - compulsory

Level 3

Belize (Central America) Study Tour - This optional 2-week fieldtrip to Belize provides students with a unique opportunity to study terrestrial watershed and marine ecology in a fascinating country. Belize is culturally and biologically diverse, and has extensive tropical forests and associated wildlife, a wealth of Maya archaeology sites and the second largest cave system and barrier reef in the world.

Other Field work

Short courses

These include trips to Portsea Island, the Isle of Wight, the Dorset Coast, Eastney Beach, Sellafield, the New Forest, Langstone Harbour, Farlington Marshes and other local sites.

Boat work

We use a variety of chartered vessels, including the National Oceanography Center's M/V Bill Conway.

Note: there are now opportunities for 2-3 students to undertake their project at the University of the Algarve, in Faro (Portugal). There are also possibilities in Belize, Sri Lanka and elsewhere.