Program Overview

Marine Biology MMarBiol (Honours) 2025 entry

Overview

The Marine Biology MMarBiol (Hons) involves study at an advanced, research-led level and covers marine molecular ecology, marine microbiology, and the ecology, evolution, development and biology of marine life from invertebrates to top predators. You will learn about marine environments ranging from the deep sea to coasts and estuaries and from the tropics to the poles. You will be introduced to, and gain practice in, cutting-edge methods used to gather and analyse data from marine environments and the organisms inhabiting them.

The MMarBiol allows you to combine undergraduate and postgraduate study into a single five-year programme, graduating with a Masters degree. The course is designed to enhance your research experience, preparing you for a career within the scientific sector.

Entry Requirements

SQA Highers

• Standard entry grades: AAAB, including Biology (or Human Biology) and one other science from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: AABB, including Biology (or Human Biology) and one other science from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
• Gateway entry grades: Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

GCE A-Levels

• Standard entry grades: AAB, including Biology and one other science from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: ABB, including Biology and one other science from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

IB points

• Standard entry grades: 36 (HL 6,6,5), including HL6 in Biology and HL6 in one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL6 in Biology and HL5 in one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

General Entry Requirements

• All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.
• SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing science
  • Geography
  • Applications of Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.
• GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

Course Details

The MMarBiol in Marine Biology is a five-year Integrated Masters course run by the School of Biology. Students are provided with high-tech equipment, laboratories and expertise to facilitate learning and to develop the skillset of a modern marine biologist.

Modules

• First year:
  • Biology 1: provides an introduction to molecular and cellular biology.
  • Biology 2: provides an introduction to the diversity of life on Earth and addresses key elements of organismal, behavioural and ecological aspects of life.
• Second year:
  • Ecology: introduces essential concepts in population and community ecology and how they relate to biodiversity.
  • Research Methods in Biology: develops essential academic and transferable skills, with major emphasis on problem solving.
  • The Oceans: introduces basic concepts in biological and physical oceanography, and provides an understanding of how physical processes such as circulation patterns, waves and tides affect plants and animals living in the different ocean biomes.
• Third year:
  • Biology of Marine Organisms
  • Ecosystems and Conservation
  • Evolution
  • Field Course
  • Methods in Aquatic Biology
  • Statistical and Quantitative Skills for Biologists
• Fourth year:
  • Students undertake an independent 7 to 12-month research placement hosted by an external institute or company.
• Fifth year:
  • Advanced Research Project
  • Advanced Topics in Biology
  • Research-led modules in your chosen speciality.

Teaching

• Teaching format: lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes, field work, research projects.
• Assessment: coursework, written examinations.
• Support: students are given the opportunity to expand on their presentation and IT skills.

Fees

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £9,535
• EU and overseas: £31,670

Joint Honours Degrees

You can also take Marine Biology as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

• UCAS code C761: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Chemistry
• UCAS code F899: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Computer Science
• UCAS code CFC6: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Earth Sciences
• UCAS code CL11: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Economics
• UCAS code CF18: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Geography
• UCAS code CG11: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Mathematics
• UCAS code CV16: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Philosophy
• UCAS code CC18: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Psychology
• UCAS code CG13: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Statistics
• UCAS code F896: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Sustainable Development

Careers

Graduates from the School of Biology have a wide range of skills sought by employers:

• laboratory and field data collection
• data handling and presentation
• problem-solving
• teamwork
• planning
• organisation and communication skills

Biology graduates have secured employment as:

• clinical scientists
• consultant ecologists
• marine mammal scientists
• museum curators
• school teachers

Beyond biology, recent graduates have gained employment in a wide variety of business sectors such as marketing and finance. Others have gone on to study for a wide range of Masters and PhD programmes in the UK and overseas.