Program Overview

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Sustainable Aquaculture - online 2025 and 2026 entry

Overview

Designed to develop students’ critical understanding of environmentally and economically sustainable practices in aquaculture productions and is aimed at those seeking professional development while working in or aspiring to work in the global aquaculture sector.

Application Deadline

Monday 1 September 2025 for September entry

Program Options

• MSc (September 2025 entry)
• PGDip (September 2025 entry)
• PGCert (September 2025 entry)
• MSc (January 2026 entry)
• PGDip (January 2026 entry)
• PGCert (January 2026 entry)

Program Details

Starts

January or September

Duration

Between one and five years depending on the level of study

School

School of Biology

Fees

• MSc: £18,000
• PGDip: £12,000
• PGCert: £6,000

Why Study This Course?

The Sustainable Aquaculture online course will teach you contemporary approaches to marine and land-based aquaculture, including operational best practice, engineering solutions, health and safety, animal welfare, and sustainability.

The programme will help you to understand how to embed sustainability in all aspects of aquaculture, from production to markets.

The modular course structure will allow you to tailor the learning material to your professional needs and main interests.

The content will be distributed over multiple weeks, granting you the flexibility to tailor your learning experience to your existing schedule.

Discussion forums will provide opportunities for discussion and exchange of ideas with your peers and tutors.

Key Information

• Modular, PGCert, PGDip and MSc options are available for self-paced study
• An adaptive learning approach lets you focus on either or both vertebrate and invertebrate aquaculture production
• Start in September (PGCert, PGDip, MSc and Modular study) or January (PGCert and Modular study)

Teaching

Delivered using a combination of video lectures, online presentations, handouts, tutorials, guided reading, online discussions, self-assessment, and problem-solving tasks.

Resources

All the course resources and reading material will be available through the University's online learning platform, Moodle.

Dissertation

Students on the MSc course will complete a dissertation. Projects with an employer or sponsor are welcomed (subject to eligibility).

Modules

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module.

To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements.

To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.

For more details, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue. The modules are examples from previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course.

What It Will Lead To

Careers

• Develop an understanding of best practice in sustainable aquaculture
• Cultivate your leadership skills and your ability to reflect on feedback, manage projects, and persevere in the face of challenges
• Improve your understanding of aquaculture production, while learning to think creatively and to use your knowledge to formulate, design and develop innovative approaches to sustainable best practice

We are committed to supporting your career aspirations, whatever stage your career is at. Our Careers Centre can help connect you to our extensive global alumni community for advice and mentoring, as well as offering career coaching, bespoke workshops, employer connections, experiences, and application support.

Our International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute can also support you with academic and professional skills development. The University's Entrepreneurship Centre offers start-up support for those looking to freelance as well as create their own business.

Why St Andrews?

Wherever you are, you can take St Andrews with you. Online Masters at the University of St Andrews combine all the benefits of studying at one of the world's oldest and best universities, with all the advantages of flexible, personalised learning.

Alumni

Whether you join us online or in person, when you graduate you become a member of the University's worldwide alumni community. Benefit from access to alumni clubs, the Saint Connect networking and mentoring platform, and careers support.

Entry Requirements

• A 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree in a relevant biological science. Entry will also be offered following successful completion of the Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainable Aquaculture in conjunction with additional evidence of relevant professional experiential learning. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
• English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application Requirements

• CV that includes your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date
• Two original signed references (at least one academic)
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Personal statement

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

If You Do Not Have a Degree

We will consider applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree. In these circumstances we expect candidates to have at least five years of relevant professional learning. The Admissions team will holistically assess your application and determine the best route of entry for you. In some cases, this may be onto the PGCert in the first instance where students will have the opportunity to progress and graduate with a full Masters degree.

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

English Language Proficiency

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Fees and Funding

• MSc: £18,000
• PGDip: £12,000
• PGCert: £6,000

Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.

Scholarships and Funding

We are committed to supporting you through your studies, regardless of your financial circumstances.

• St Leonard's funding opportunities
• Graduate discount (15% off tuition fees)