Marine BiologyandOceanographyBSc Honours

UCAS code CF173 Years

www.ncl.ac.uk/ug/CF17Printed from the web page above on 19/06/2019

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Marine Biology andOceanographyBSc HonoursUCAS code CF173 Years

This degree explores the physical and chemicalenvironments in which marine organisms live.

The last intake for this course is for 2019 entry, we willnot be accepting applications for this course after2019.

You gain a deep understanding of ocean currents, waves,and the fluxes of various chemical substances and physicalproperties within the ocean and across its boundaries.

You also study the role of biological organisms in theseimportant processes, and in energy and biomass transferthrough the ocean system. This is a crucial topic in an era ofclimate change.

You will enjoy high levels of practical experience - using ourcoastal laboratory and research vessel – and develop skillsfor a range of careers in the marine sector.

Our location near the coast provides fantastic fieldworkopportunities.

Highlights of this degreeQuality and rankingWe rank 8th in the UK in the Earth and Marine Sciencescategory, The Guardian University Guide 2019.

Professional accreditation*This degree is accredited by the Institute of MarineEngineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) on behalf ofthe Science Council for the purposes of fully meeting theacademic requirement for registration as a charteredscientist and chartered marine scientist.

*All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly bytheir professional body.

Boost your employability with a work placementApply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optional workplacement between Stages 2 and 3. You can apply tospend your placement year with any organisation and willreceive University support to do so.

You’ll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector,putting your learning into practice and developing yourprofessional expertise.

It will extend your degree by a year and is subject toavailability.

Find out more about Work Placements.

FieldworkThe degree is very hands-on and you gain practicalexperience through laboratory classes and fieldwork.

You will enjoy high levels of seagoing experience on ourbrand new research vessel, with a series of North Seaoffshore practicals. These train you in essential skillsrequired by marine biologists and zoologists including:

• plankton sampling• fish and benthic trawls• analysing the physical and chemical properties of

seawater• undertaking seabed surveys• experimenting with the latest oceanographic technology

You will also take part in a number of field trips throughoutthe course, including an overseas residential field course inStage 3.

Opportunities abroadYou undertake an overseas residential field courseduring your final year – we offer a choice between aEuropean and non-European location each year. Recentlocations have included:

• the Bahamas• Bermuda• Portugal

You may also undertake your final-year dissertationoverseas at a location of your choice and we willsupport you in setting up this project. This is an opportunityto explore your personal interests, and past projects haveincluded scuba-diving-based research and observingdolphins and whales.

These are exciting opportunities to experience new cultures,to network with scientists in other marine institutions, and tosee the diversity of marine science on a global platform.

They will also broaden your appreciation of the spectrum ofmarine careers available to you around the world.

Industry linksStudying marine sciences at Newcastle equips you withskills for a profession in a growing sector, and we arehighly respected in this area.

You will see marine management in action through theUniversity's collaboration with a wide range of organisationsthat monitor, assess and devise policies on some of the keyissues affecting the marine environment.

This includes the Marine Management Organisation inNewcastle, whose role is to regulate and manage the seasaround England and Wales.

We also have staff representation on the regional fisheriescommittees, on the regional biodiversity committee, and onother prominent national organisations.

Facilities and supportYou will be part of the School of Natural and EnvironmentalSciences. This is one of the largest marine schools inEurope, attracting more than 300 students each year.

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FacilitiesThe Dove Marine Laboratory is equipped with researchaquaria to study live organisms and is located just 20minutes from campus on the beach at Cullercoats.

You will benefit from our on-campus controlled-environmentaquaria, which provide a contrasting research environmentto our beach-based field station, and marinebiology research laboratories.

You'll also have access to our twin-hulled research vessel,The Princess Royal, giving you the chance to develop yourseagoing skills.

SupportTo support you in your studies, all new students enteringyear 1 or year 2 will receive a tablet. This enables you todownload the online learning resources you'll need for yourcourse and helps us to make our campus more sustainable.

You will have an academic member of staff as a personaltutor throughout your degree. They can help with academicand personal issues. 

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellowstudents who can help you settle in and answer anyquestions you have.

In addition, the University organises an annual careers fairso that you can meet potential employers and get an insightinto the range of marine-related careers.

Social activitiesThe student-run society, WetSOC, organises social eventsthroughout the year. 

Students using a group study space in our RobinsonLibrary.

Course Details

Modules for 2019 entry

Please noteThe module and/or programme information below isfor 2019 entry. Our teaching is informed by research andmodules change periodically to reflect developments inthe discipline, the requirements of external bodies andpartners, student feedback, or insufficient numbers ofstudents interested (in an optional module). To find outmore read our terms and conditions.Module/programme information for 2020 entry will bepublished here as soon as it is available (end of May2020).Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts foran academic year and you need to complete modulestotalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage. Furtherinformation, including the credit value of the module, isavailable in each of the module descriptions below.

Stage 1

Compulsory modulesMST1101  Marine BiologyMST1102  Diversity and Behaviour of Marine AnimalsMST1103  The Marine EnvironmentMST1104  Marine Study Skills

Stage 2

Compulsory modulesMST2101  Marine EcologyMST2103  Marine Processes and CyclesMST2104  Marine Research and Employability SkillsMST2105  Marine Practical SkillsWork Placement (optional)You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optionalwork placement between Stages 2 and 3. You can applyto spend your placement year with any organisation andwill receive University support to do so. It will extend yourdegree by a year and is subject to availability. Find outmore about Work Placements.NCL3000  Careers Service Placement Year

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Stage 3

Compulsory modulesMST3101  Advanced Marine BiologyMST3103  Advanced OceanographyOptional modulesYou take one of the following modules:MST3106  Research Project: Marine Biology andOceanographyMST3107  Research Project: Overseas

Teaching and assessment

Study at the cutting edgeResearch-informed teaching plays an important role atNewcastle. It shapes the content of our undergraduatedegrees and makes sure that you have chance to cover themost up-to-date theories and discoveries in your subject. 

Our research covers two main areas: marine organismsand ecosystem research and coastal processes andmanagement.

Teaching methodsThe course is taught through:

• lectures and seminars to introduce you to newknowledge

• laboratory sessions in our modern labs that help youdevelop essential investigative and analytical techniques

• visits to offshore sites on the University’s research vesselto give you practical skills and experience

Assessment methodsAssessment involves written examinations at the end ofeach semester, as well as course work associated withpracticals submitted during the year. You will also carry outyour own research project in Stage 3 in the UK or abroad.

Find out moreVisit our Teaching and Learning pages to read about theoutstanding learning experience available to all students atNewcastle University.

Careers

Marine Biology careersThe seas are key to the UK's economy and quality of life.Through its contribution to primary energy supplies,ship-borne trade, fisheries, marine aggregates, tourism andrecreation, the UK's marine environment plays a large part inour nature conservation heritage.

Concern for the environment means that employers areincreasingly seeking graduates with Marine Science training.Graduates from our degrees have gone into careers asaquarists and marine biologists, in marine research, wildlifemanagement and conservation work. Others have continued

their studies in areas such as clean technology andrenewable energy.

Studying Marine Science equips you with some very specificskills according to your particular course or specialism butalso encourages the development of a broader set oftransferable skills. These specific and the generic skillsprepare you for a variety of jobs both highly related andtotally unrelated to the marine environment. Careers inteaching and law, are also very popular with our graduates.

Further study at university offers training for careers inresearch. Research skills and the ability to solve problemsare useful in both environmental andnon-environmental-related jobs. It is possible for MarineScientists to progress to Senior Research Scientist andmanagement level positions.

Qualities such as self-motivation, teamwork ability andleadership may also be gained through non-academicactivities and work experience and prepare you for a rangeof careers.

Find out more about the career options for graduates fromProspects: The UK's Official Careers Website.

What our graduates go on to do:employment and further studychoicesSee what our recent graduates went on to do and viewgraduate destinations statistics. These statistics are basedon what graduates were doing on a specific date,approximately six months after graduation. Take a look atthe most recent data available for our graduates.

The destination data is available in varying levels, beginningwith the University and moving through Faculty and Schooldown to individual course reports. This final level may giveyou some useful ideas about possible options after yourcourse or a course you are considering.

Careers and employability atNewcastleNewcastle University consistently has one of the bestrecords for graduate employment in the UK.

96% of our 2017 UK-domiciled UG/PG graduatesprogressed to employment or further study within sixmonths of graduating.

85.5% of our graduates are in graduate level employment orfurther study within six months of graduating.

We provide an extensive range of opportunities to allstudents through an initiative called ncl+. This enables youto develop personal, employability and enterprise skills andto give you the edge in the employment market after yougraduate.

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Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest andbest in the country, and we have strong links withemployers.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees (UK students)

2020 entry:Tuition fees for 2020 entry are not yet available.2019 entry:£9,250For programmes where you can spend a year on a workplacement or studying abroad, you will receive asignificant fee reduction for that year.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.Please note:The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for UKstudents is set by the UK government.As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee toincrease in each subsequent academic year of yourcourse, subject to government regulations on feeincreases and in line with inflation.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.

Tuition Fees (EU students)

2020 entry:Tuition fees for 2020 entry are not yet available.2019 entry:£9,250 You will pay the same tuition fees as UK studentsfor the duration of your course.For programmes where you can spend a year on a workplacement or studying abroad, you will receive asignificant fee reduction for that year.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.Please note:As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee toincrease in each subsequent academic year of yourcourse, subject to government regulations on feeincreases and in line with inflation.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.

Tuition Fees (International students)

2020 entry:Tuition fees for 2020 entry are not yet available.2019 entry*:£22,110*Please note:

Tuition Fees (International students)

You will be charged tuition fees for each year of yourdegree programme (unless you are on a shorter exchangeprogramme).The tuition fee amount you will pay may increase slightlyyear on year as a result of inflation.If you spend a year on placement or studying abroad aspart of your degree you may pay a reduced fee for thatyear.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.

Scholarships and Financial Support (UKstudents)

You may be eligible for one of a range of NewcastleUniversity Scholarships in addition to government financialsupport.Newcastle University ScholarshipsGovernment financial support

Scholarships and Financial Support (EUstudents)

You may be eligible for one of a range of NewcastleUniversity Scholarships in addition to government financialsupport.Newcastle University ScholarshipsGovernment financial support

Scholarships and Financial Support(International students)

We offer a range of scholarships to eligible internationalstudents:Vice-Chancellor's International ScholarshipsVice-Chancellor’s Excellence ScholarshipsVice-Chancellor’s Global ScholarshipsWe also offer International Family Discounts which areavailable for all international students with a close familymember who has graduated from or is now studying atNewcastle University.Some of our subject scholarships and sportsscholarships are also available for international students.

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Apply

Applying to Newcastle Universitythrough UCASTo apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle you mustuse the online application system managed by theUniversities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

UCAS codes for Newcastle University

• institution name - NEWC• institution code - N21

UCAS buzzwordAsk your teacher or adviser from your school or college forthe UCAS buzzword. You need the buzzword when youregister on the Apply system. This makes it clear whichschool or college you are applying from.

All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU andinternational establishments are registered with UCAS.

If you are applying independently, or are applying from aschool or college which is not registered to manageapplications, you will still use the Apply system. You will notneed a buzzword.

Making your applicationOn the UCAS website you can also find out more about:

• application deadlines and other important dates• offers and tracking your application

Application decisions and enquiriesFind out more about our admissions process and who tocontact if you need help with your application.

King's Gate, our student services building