Program Overview

MSc Marine Biology

The MSc Marine Biology programme aims to train graduates in multiple areas of marine biology and includes the acquisition of necessary field skills in sea survival, powerboat handling, and marine radio.

Course Outline

This popular course includes modules in fisheries and aquaculture, genetics, marine ecology and conservation, marine mammals, and ecological aspects of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). In addition, the course has a significant fieldwork component including ship work as well as survey and sampling techniques training.

Course Practicalities

The course includes ship-time experience aboard the Irish State research vessel, RV Tom Crean, and fieldwork day trips to various locations in County Cork as well as a week-long residential field course in the West of Scotland in March. In addition, students undertake professional certificate courses in January at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy, Cork, and the Kinsale Outdoor Education Centre.

Why Choose This Course

Students graduating from this course are equipped with both academic and practical skills in a range of subjects relevant to employers' requirements both here in Ireland and the wider world. In particular, the compulsory professional certificate courses in Sea Survival, Powerboat Handling, and Marine Radio are a significant addition to any marine biology graduate's CV, making you immediately employable with no delay in having to do these courses at significant additional expense elsewhere.

Requirements

• A candidate for the MSc in Marine Biology must have obtained at least a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ Level 8) in any Biological Science or relevant equivalent area.
• In addition, under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), NFQ Level 8 graduates with relevant professional qualifications or relevant experience but not the relevant degree classification may also apply for entry and each case will be judged on a case-by-case basis as to their suitability for the programme, subject to the approval of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science.

Fees and Costs

The EU fee for this course is €8,000. The Non-EU fee for this course is €27,000. There is an additional bench fee of €2,500 to cover the costs associated with undertaking the professionally certified courses (Sea Survival, Boat Handling, and Marine Radio Use) as well as an introductory fieldwork first aid course and all field work (including a residential course in Scotland) undertaken as part of the taught component of the course.

Programme Structure

This programme consists of two parts:

• Part I consists of eight taught modules to the value of 60 credits involving lectures, practical work, seminars and fieldwork.
• Part II comprises a substantial Research Dissertation to the value of 30 credits for those meeting progression requirements of Part I of the programme.

Modules

• BL6012 Marine Megafauna (10 credits)
• BL6013 Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture (10 credits)
• BL6014 Marine Fieldwork and Survey Techniques (10 credits)
• BL6015 Practical Marine Workplace Skills (5 credits)
• BL6016 Marine Ecology and Conservation (10 credits)
• BL6019 Ecological Applications of Geographical Information Systems (5 credits)
• BL6020 Genetics and the Marine Environment (5 credits)
• BL6026 Introductory Quantitative Skills for Biologists using R programming (5 credits)
• BL6017 Dissertation in Marine Biology Research Project (30 credits)

Career Opportunities

Many transferable skills are also fostered through different learning approaches, including critical thinking, problem-solving, report writing, oral presentations, statistical analysis, independent research, and time management. As well as a number of professionally certified courses that will be provided throughout the course, students will also gain a variety of technical skills associated with research and computer skills (GIS in particular).