International Marine Science

Entry requirements

Masters (MSc) level entry applicants must have one of the following:

Minimum of 2:2 honours degree or equivalent academic qualification in a related subject area

For postgraduate conversion courses, non-related degrees will be considered

Corporate (or chartered) membership of relevant professional institutions will also be considered

PG Diploma level entry applicants must have an ordinary degree in a related subject area and relevant post qualification industry experience.

Candidates who do not meet the above entry requirements or have no formal academic qualifications will be considered individually based on their CV and possibly interview. Admission via this route will be at the discretion of the Director of Recruitment.

Recognition of Prior Learning

We are committed to providing study opportunities to applicants who have a wide range of prior experiences through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). For more information on RPL, please contact the Admissions Team (studywithus@hw.ac.uk) ahead of application. We can only consider requests for RPL at the time of application to a course of study.

Months of entry

September

Course content

MSc International Marine Science provides those of you with a bachelor-level graduate degree in Biology the opportunity to build your marine science knowledge and expertise. For those of you from a different academic background, the programme offers you the opportunity to prepare for employment in the wider international marine management and planning sector, through studying a range of relevant topical issues within this area. You’ll gain a broad knowledge of the fundamental principles, interdisciplinary nature, and innovative international practices in the global marine science field.

You’ll explore marine resources and their sustainable exploitation, and how to use this theoretical knowledge in real-world practical applications. You’ll also consider strategic environmental assessment, policy, legal, ethical and health and safety issues of concern in the marine environment.

The career-focused master’s programme will develop your technical, scientific, and managerial abilities, relevant for a marine science career in academia, industry, government and non-governmental organisations.

You will learn at our Edinburgh campus or at our specialist campus situated in Orkney, itself a living laboratory, and a thriving hub for marine, oil and gas, and fisheries sectors.

We work closely with industry to ensure our course content is up-to-date and reflects the current and emerging needs of industry and employers. You’ll gain the right blend of knowledge, practical skills, and soft skills to set you up for life after graduation.  

Information for international students

If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.

The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.

If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.

Please see our detailed English language requirements.

Fees and funding

See University website