EVERYTHING You Need to Know About Studying Marine Science (incl. Survey)

When you hear the term marine science, what comes to mind?

Glorious tropical beaches fringed by vibrant coral reefs teeming with colourful fish?

The moods of the surging currents as they power past the continents?

The fascinating array of organisms that can be found in the icy cold waters of the Antarctic?

If any of these make you tingle with excitement, then a career in marine science may be just the thing for you. By embarking upon a study in marine science, you will open the door to a highly interdisciplinary field where you will learn all about the world's oceans. You will investigate the intricate dynamics of this huge ecosystem, how they interact, and how they influence our planet. You will also have opportunities to make a valuable contribution to conservation by focusing on such pressing issues as climate change, threats to marine biodiversity and pollution.

Whether you are looking to follow in the footsteps of Jacques Cousteau and research the wonders of the underwater world, you want to help predict the increasingly unpredictable weather, or you want to play your part in keeping the oceans clean, your journey will begin with a degree in marine science.

Education in Marine Science

How to become a marine scientist

Marine scientists must have a good foundation of knowledge in fields such as biology, chemistry, ecology, physics and mathematics. There are various ways to approach marine science at the degree level, with undergraduate courses being offered in subjects like marine biology, marine ecology, oceanography, and coastal studies.

Which particular you degree you choose will depend on your preferred area of marine science. For entry level job opportunities, a bachelor’s degree in one of the marine science-related areas is essential, be it marine conservation or oceanography. This could see you getting such jobs as a research technician or research assistant or as a program officer at an NGO.

A master’s degree is a must for jobs with a higher salary, like consulting or research jobs, while a PhD is necessary for many research scientist positions.

Marine science via distance learning

There are as yet not many universities offering online marine science courses, mostly because this field requires a fair amount of fieldwork. However, Heriot-Watt University offers the Master’s in International Marine Science, which includes fieldwork options in Malaysia and Orkney. University of St Andrews also offers distance learning in sustainable aquaculture, while Bircham International University runs a variety of online marine science courses.

How difficult is marine science?

As with any natural science, marine science requires speaking and writing skills, problem-solving ability and critical thinking skills and a well-founded knowledge of basic science.

The best thing about marine science is that it contains quite a lot of balance. Yes, there is time spent in the library, crunching statistics at the computer, and perfecting your microscopy skills in the lab. However, there is also the character building – yet intellectually stimulating – joy of fieldwork, where you may find yourself in charge of high-tech scientific instruments or standing at the stern of a boat, hauling in a sampling net.

The general course requirements

Depending on the institution and which particular facet of marine science you are interested in, the requirements differ. However, they generally require good grades in mathematics, chemistry, physics or biology as well as a genuine interest in the marine field.

How do you show this interest?

The best way is to get out there, so see if you can pick up some work experience or volunteer.

Don’t have time to organise an expedition to the Galapagos?

Grab some gloves and a bucket and join the local beach clean-up.

The length of study

Most bachelor’s degrees in marine science last three to four years. Add another year or two for a master’s degree. How long it takes you to get a PhD can vary, but is usually a lengthy process; expect another three to four years to complete a PhD program.

What do you study in marine science?

A marine science curriculum will usually include core subjects like general biology, data analysis and statistics, oceanography and chemistry, with plenty of instruction on research methods, lab techniques, and science writing. You can add additional options such as conservation biology, fisheries science, tropical ecology or marine mammal biology.

Maths in marine science studies

Mathematics is an important part of marine science for two reasons. Firstly, statistics will be with you in one form or another throughout your marine science career. It doesn’t matter if you are gathering data in the field or measuring specimens in the lab, you will need to turn your numbers into results through statistical analyses.

The other form in which you will encounter mathematics in marine science is in fields such as oceanography, where you will be modelling and predicting the physical and chemical (and possibly even biological and ecological) processes occurring in the world’s oceans, which means you will need to have a solid understanding of mathematical modelling and calculus.

Where to study marine science

• Bangor University offers marine biology, also in combination with other fields like zoology and oceanography, as well as ocean science, marine environmental science, marine ecology and marine geography.
• University of Southampton offers marine biology and oceanography, also in combination with subjects like physical geography and French.
• University of Portsmouth offers bachelor’s degrees in marine biology, marine technology, ocean exploration and surveying and ocean science and marine conservation as well as master’s degrees in these fields and in marine sciences, marine renewable energy and applied marine science.
• University of Hull offers bachelor’s degrees in marine biology as well as a number of postgraduate courses in environmental management that have a marine focus.
• University of St Andrews offers bachelor’s degrees in marine biology and postgraduate courses in marine ecosystem management, marine mammal science and sustainable aquaculture.

A brief overview of fields of study in marine science

Marine science covers a broad range of disciplines from across the natural sciences. Therefore, as a marine scientist you can expect to be studying marine-related topics from the fields of zoology, geology, ecosystem dynamics, conservation and even palaeoceanography as well as gaining a solid foundation in basic science skills like data analysis, academic writing and presentation skills

PhD programmes in marine science

A PhD in marine science involves working on original research in a specific field of marine science, be it climate modelling or coral reef restoration or anti-biofouling coatings for marine equipment or the biological and socio-economic drivers of ecosystem change. As a PhD you will be required to write a thesis on a topic in your field and submit papers to peer-reviewed journals.

Tips for studying

Bear in mind that of all the natural sciences, marine science is the one where you are going to get wet. Regardless of whether you might be trying to tag a turtle or conduct a lugworm survey or retrieve a scientific buoy, chances are you will end up soaked and cold and muddy, so be prepared, mentally more than physically.

On those dry days when you get to stay inside, make full of use of the resources available to you. Visit the library. Read extensively from literature on your topic and beyond, because every paper you read will help you improve your own writing skills.

After Graduation

What you do as a marine scientist

There is a variety of occupations within the broad field of marine science.

As a marine conservationist, you may find yourself working to raise awareness and conducting environmental education activities. If you are more focused on marine ecology, you may be consulting on such issues as the human impact on the marine ecosystem. Oceanographers examine the ocean’s physical processes, so you could be investigating how the oceans currents change as they interact with the earth’s atmosphere.

What to do with a marine science degree

While there are job opportunities for those marine science graduates, as with any job in the sciences, you need to prepare to work hard, be willing to travel and make sure that your enthusiasm for all things oceanic shine through. A lot of marine scientists will tell you that they work in this field out of sheer passion and a love for the sea rather than a huge salary.

That being said, the career prospects are very good in some of the marine science fields, such as marine engineering and marine geology, which offer higher salaries.

After graduating

Have a job lined up with the Environment Agency?

Great!

Unfortunately, getting such job prospects won’t be so straightforward for everyone. Those with a bachelor’s degree can try to find an entry-level job at a government agency or with an NGO, but this is a very competitive field.

Experience, especially proven practical experience in the field, is the key to standing and getting yourself noticed, so if you find yourself adrift after completing your study and you can afford to do so, try to get a volunteering or internship opportunity – at home or abroad – for a couple of months to gain that all-valuable practical and multidisciplinary experience.

Occupations in marine science

The job market for marine scientists is incredibly diverse, and it seems that you can be almost anything you could imagine, and a couple of things you couldn’t.

How does coral reef restoration project manager sound? Or a marine life rehabilitation aquarist at a five-star resort? Oil spill response specialist?

When you first embark on your journey in marine science, you may feel overwhelmed by the mind-boggling number of specialisations you could explore, but as time goes by you will come to know where your true passion lies and how you can best follow it.

An overview of marine science career prospects

The opportunities in marine science are shifting. With funding cuts, academic jobs based on research and teaching are declining, but the general marine field is rapidly opening up in new directions, with previously disregarded career paths like marine invertebrate, marine botanist and weather forecaster enjoying new focus and attention.

In particular, large companies have begun taking more interest in various marine sciences as consumer preferences shift towards environmentally friendly and sustainable products and practices.

Future as a marine scientist

The future of marine science is changing, going in ways that no one ever thought of. Renewable energy technology – think tidal power – often requires the expertise of oceanographers to model and predict the flows of water over time.

It is the same with algae-based products, for example as additives in the food and cosmetics industries or as biofuels; revealing the potential of a species of marine algae requires highly skilled marine botanists and algal taxonomists. Did you know that new and highly advanced medical glues are being produced that are based on the sticky secretions of marine organisms?

The marine invertebrate biologists do. The point is that there is no telling where marine science will be going in future, but you can be sure that with the well-rounded skill set and a passionate curiosity, you will well be placed to take advantage of future opportunities.

Unemployed as a marine scientist

If you do find yourself as a fully qualified and yet unemployed marine scientist, do not despair for marine science is one of the best fields to access through the back door. If you are willing and able, you should be ready to seize opportunities where you can in order to gain the skills and the practical experience needed to excel in this field. There are a number of conservation organisations, wildlife trusts, rehabilitation centres and charities that offer internships or volunteer opportunities.

Some of these organisations ask you to pay for the experience, and while there is no problem with that, it is worth bearing in mind that there are many worthy causes out there that don’t.

Salary

How much does a marine scientist earn?

Salaries differ wildly in the marine sciences, depending on your speciality. Excluding internships and unpaid fieldwork positions, the lowest salaries are in entry-level jobs for holders of a bachelor’s degree, at £12,000 a year for research field assistants and a bit more for lab technicians.

PhD holders can expect to get around £30,000 a year, and some of the highest salaries in this field can be found as consultants or in high-level research positions, the latter reaching up to £90,000 a year.

Salaries abroad can be lower in developing economies or higher in more developed economies like the USA. Also, although salaries may be better in the industry, especially in marine-related biotech companies or the renewable energy sector, the academic field offers a more stable employment with better research prospects, as long as you can beat the competition.