Program Overview

The impact of human activity on our marine ecosystems has become more evident and high profile in recent years, such as from overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, coastal development, plastics and climate change. So what do we do about it – how can we preserve and recover marine habitats and species populations while also allowing sustainable use and exploitation of our seas.

The programme starts in the first semester with background information on research methodology and the science behind marine conservation, while also focusing on marine conservation in practice through a module that spans 2 semesters. This will involve day workshops, often with external conservation organisations, to gain experience of the hurdles, issues and barriers faced in the 'real world' and solutions to marine conservation issues that our external partners are developing. We will also be exploring key methodologies from assessing the health of sea floor ecosystems to how marine conservation charities are run and you get the opportunity in teams to develop and present issues and solutions for a topic of your choice. In semester 2 we will also look more closely at how we manage marine ecosystems, and you have a choice of modules either focusing on environmental economics or conservation of small populations. The final semester is spent with an external partner undertaking your marine conservation project, which you have developed with the partner over the previous two semesters.

Key features

• Ranked top 15 in the UK and top 100 globally for Earth and Marine Sciences in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
• Ranked UK top 5 for life below water in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024.
• The only UK MSc programme in existence to focus on marine conservation in practice, delivered in partnership with a suite of regional, national and international marine conservation practitioners.
• The only such programme where all students, if they wish, can directly gain experience working for their masters project embedded within these potential employers.
• Taught by the leading experts in the field. Draw on the cumulative knowledge and expertise of one of the largest concentrations of marine conservation researchers in Europe.
• Taught modules are designed to feature dynamic and contemporary content based on both state-of-the-art marine conservation research and current experience and practice of implementing marine conservation in the 'real world'.
• The 60 credit masters project is not specifically a typical research project resulting in a scientific paper, but allows a diversity of options depending on collaborative work with the partner (e.g. policy review, option appraisal, etc).
• Unusually for such a programme, there will be a true integration of natural and social science underpinning and skills.
• Students can choose between two career destinations, policy and advocacy, through taught components, working with relevant partner(s) and option module choice. All students will cover aspects of both themes, however.
• The programme provides opportunities for students to work on marine conservation projects in the UK and abroad.
• MSc Marine Conservation does not have any exams within its range of assessments.