Master of Physical Oceanography

at University of New South Wales

Courses

To complete the Master of Physical Oceanography, you must complete the following four core courses (24 UOC):

• MSCI5004 - Oceanographic Processes (6 UOC)

• MATH5285 - Fluids, Oceans and Climate (6 UOC)

• MATH5231 - Prediction and Inverse Modelling (6 UOC)

• MATH5271 - Environmental Data Science and Statistics (6 UOC)

In addition, students must complete a research project worth 18 UOC. The project is taken after completing at least 36 UOC (typically five courses), with a 65+ WAM entry requirement. 

To enrol in the research project, students will enrol in the following 6 UOC course for three consecutive terms:

• MATH5207 Physcical Oceanography Research Project (6 UOC) 

In addition students must complete a further five courses (30 UOC) from the following:

• BEES5041 - Data Analysis: Env Sc & Mgt (6 UOC; to be replaced with graduate level "Big data in the Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences" once a course code is available)

• DATA9001 - Fundamentals of Data Science (6 UOC)

• MATH5295 - Special Topics in Applied Mathematics D (6 UOC)

• MATH5305 - Computational Mathematics (6 UOC)

• MATH5845 - Time Series (6 UOC)

• MATH5846 - Introduction to Probability and Stochastic Processes (6 UOC)

• MATH5856 - Introduction to Statistics and Statistical Computations (6 UOC)

• MSCI6681 - Topics in Australian Marine Science (6 UOC)

• MSCI5005 - Topics in Marine Biology and Ecology (6 UOC)

And, one of the following only:

• GEOS9016 - Principles of Geographic Information Systems and Science (6 UOC); or

• GEOS9017 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems and Science (6 UOC)

The Master Project

The project is a compulsory part of any master's program.  Each student will complete a large research project (18 UOC).  This will be a major capstone project bringing together aspects of the students coursework. The topic will be negotiated with faculty supervisors and will likely relate to an area of specific research/professional interest to the student.  

Students need to have maintained a 65+ WAM in their program to progress to the research project. The project is taken after completing at least 36 UOC (typically, six courses).

Articulation

The master's forms part of an articulated suite of programs with the 5518 Graduate Diploma in Physical Oceanography (48 UOC) through to the 72 UOC 8518 Master of Physical Oceanography.

Conditional on academic performance (overall average mark over 70%), students may choose not to graduate with the graduate diploma (5518), but instead upgrade to the master's program (8518). Credits accumulated during the graduate diploma are automatically transferred toward the master's degree.  

If students complete the requirements of any of the articulated courses they can exit with that award.  

The minimum entry requirement is a bachelor’s (pass) degree with a minimum weighted average mark of 70% or equivalent in a cognate discipline (oceanography, meteorology, physics, science, mathematics, statistics, engineering etc.) from a recognised tertiary institution.

Students must have a minimum of 12 UOC in Level 2 mathematics (equivalent to UNSW's MATH2018/9 and MATH2089, for example) or equivalent training/experience.

Students currently enrolled in the UNSW Graduate Diploma of Physical Oceanography are also able to apply to articulate into the Master of Physical Oceanography program, subject to meeting minimum academic performance requirements of a 70+ WAM.

The following cohorts may be eligible for recognition of prior learning up to 24 UoC:

• Graduates of an Advanced Mathematics, Advanced Science or Honours degree in a cognate discipline from a recognised tertiary institution.

• Students who have completed a relevant advanced degree in a cognate discipline; for example the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Graduate Diploma in Meteorology.

Indicative First Year Fee

AU $46,830

Potential careers

• Meteorologist

• Hydrographer

• Environmental scientist

• Environmental research scientist

• Environmental consultant

• Data scientist

• Catastrophe risk analyst

• Oceanographer

• Educator/researcher