The four-year MSci Marine Biology programme mirrors the BSc Marine Biology programme during the first three years, and includes an additional fourth year during which you will undertake an advanced research project. You will also undertake a two-week intensive field course in which your scientific field-research, debating, and presentation skills will be further developed.
The programme provides you with the skills, concepts, and experience required to understand all aspects of marine ecosystems and the pressures they face, ranging from overexploitation to climate change. Our interdisciplinary approach to the study of marine ecosystems, from rocky shores to open-oceans and from shallow surface seas to deep-water habitats, allows you to develop a wide range of theoretical and practical techniques. The interface between research and learning is central to the degree programme and equips our graduates for career opportunities across a wide range of scientific disciplines.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Year 1
Develop a broad knowledge of the biology of the marine environment. Emphasis will be placed on theory underpinned by fieldwork and the development of a suite of techniques appropriate to studying life in the sea.
- Genetics
- Zoology
- Marine Biology
- Evolution
- Skills and Careers
Year 2
Make use of the skills and concepts learned in your first year to study marine life with a particular focus on the interaction between organisms and their environments. Concepts explained in detail in the classroom are brought to life in the field.
- Analysis of Biological Data
- Exploitation of the Sea
- Biology of Aquatic Vertebrates
- Marine Ecology
- Biosciences Penryn Virtual Field Course
- Bio Penryn 2nd Year Field Course
Year 3
- Research Project
- Preparing to Graduate
- Galapagos Islands Field Course
- Yukon-Alaska Field Course
- Azores Field Course
- Northern Spain Field Course
- Tropical Biodiversity and Conservation: Costa Rica Field Course
- Human-Wildlife Coexistence in India Field Course
Final year
Work on an advanced literature review and a research project, both focused on a specialised area. The remainder of your time will be spent on a two-week intensive field course.
- Academic Research Project
- Global Challenges Field Course (MSci)
- Rewilding the United Kingdom
- Literature Review in the Life Sciences
- Applied Data Analysis
