Program Overview

Master of Oceanography

Overview

The Master of Oceanography is a postgraduate course that provides advanced knowledge of the physical, chemical, geological, and biological interactions applied to coastal and ocean systems. The course is designed to equip students with practical and problem-solving skills, preparing them for careers in the marine sector.

Course Structure

The course comprises a number of units, including:

• Conversion units (up to 24 points) for students who have not completed a bachelor's degree with a major in Marine Science, Marine and Coastal Processes, or Integrated Earth and Marine Science, or equivalent.
• Core units (36 points) that cover topics such as coastal hazards and adaptation, climate geoscience, marine geoscience, coastal dynamics, physical oceanography, and observational methods and modeling.
• Elective units (30 points) that allow students to specialize in a range of oceanography sub-disciplines, including physical, biological, chemical, and geological oceanography.
• Research project or capstone units (24 points) that provide specific advanced disciplinary knowledge and skills.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to this course, an applicant must have:

• A Bachelor of Science, or an equivalent qualification, as recognized by UWA.
• The equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 percent.
• Successfully completed prior tertiary study in marine science, environmental science, engineering, or physical sciences, or a related cognate discipline, as recognized by UWA.

English Competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA, and students must meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place. The minimum overall IELTS score required is 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

Fees and Scholarships

The course is subsidised for Australian residents through Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) as of Semester 1, 2024. The annual course fee for international students is $49,000.00. Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership, and community service.

Career Pathways

The Master of Oceanography has core units that seek to ensure students have strong interdisciplinary knowledge and technical skills to take advantage of diverse career opportunities in government, industry, consultancies, and research institutions. Job opportunities may include:

• Oceanographer
• Coastal Manager/Officer
• Coastal and Oceanographic Consultant
• Coastal Geologist
• Meteorologist
• Fisheries Scientist
• Marine Conservation Specialist
• Marine Geochemist
• Applied Ocean Scientist
• Climate Scientist
• Ocean Data Scientist

Why Study This Course?

• The Master of Oceanography is the only course of its kind in Australia and will leverage Western Australia's position on the Indian Ocean and unique marine environment.
• Graduates will be needed to manage coastal and marine resources, respond to the impacts of climate change, and drive sustainable use of the ocean.
• UWA has well-established teaching and research strength in marine science and engineering, and students will be taught by world-leading researchers.

What You'll Learn

• Knowledge across physical, chemical, geological, and biological interactions applied to coastal and ocean systems.
• Practical and problem-solving skills, including oceanographic field data collection, data analysis techniques, and the use of industry-standard software.
• Skills in using a variety of ocean models and forecasting tools.

Your Teachers

The academics that teach into the Master of Oceanography have expertise spanning coastal and nearshore processes, physical oceanography, remote sensing, marine ecology, marine and climate geoscience, coastal engineering, and ocean renewable energy. They regularly interact and undertake projects with government agencies and industry, providing relevant and applied examples for inclusion in the Master of Oceanography.