Course name
University name or location
Topic or category
Find a course
Search, shortlist and compare thousands of courses to find that perfect one.
Where to study
See what makes a university special and discover where you belong.
Find a university
Search by name or city.
Get Advice
Get tips, tricks and wise words from students and experts at each stage.
Browse advice
A-level choices
Accounting personal statement examples
Law degree
Revision help
Oxbridge applications
Ucas application
Student life
Student finance
Browse all advice
Popular right now
A-level results day 2026: what to expect
Btec results day 2026: what to expect
Clearing and results day 2025: prepare your back-up plan
Clearing 2025: four things you might not know about Clearing and results day
Finding accommodation after getting a university place in Clearing 2025
A guide to Ucas Clearing 2025: how to find your university place
Clearing 2025: how to call universities
What happens if you miss the grades for your university offer?
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Marine and Freshwater Biology (with integrated foundation year)
Aberystwyth University
Entry requirements
Here's what you will need to get a place on the Marine and Freshwater Biology (with integrated foundation year) course at Aberystwyth University.
Select a qualification to see required grades
UCAS Tariff
Available to candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.
Tuition fees
| Location | Fees |
|---|---|
| England | £9,535 per year |
| Scotland | £9,535 per year |
| Wales | £9,535 per year |
| Northern Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| Channel Islands | £9,535 per year |
| Republic of Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| EU | £20,715 per year |
| International | £20,715 per year |
Course summary
What this course is about
UCAS code: C16F
Here's what Aberystwyth University says about its Marine and Freshwater Biology (with integrated foundation year) course.
This four-year course includes an integrated foundation year, after which the syllabus follows that of the standard three-year course, BSc Marine and Freshwater Biology (C164).
The BSc Marine and Freshwater Biology degree at Aberystwyth University is one of only a few nationally to provide you with an integrated catchment to ocean understanding of the biology, ecology and stressors affecting these intimately interconnected ecosystems. This is crucial, given that they support some of the most threatened species and habitats on the planet.
Situated on the coast of Cardigan Bay, Aberystwyth is one of the best places in the UK to study marine and freshwater biology. You will have easy access to rocky and sandy shores, estuaries of conservation importance, as well as near-pristine rivers and lakes. Cardigan Bay is also home to the largest residential population of bottlenose dolphins in the UK.
On this course you will develop practical skills in the sampling techniques used in the aquatic environment, the critical analysis of data and literature, and the presentation of your findings to a variety of stakeholders. This will ensure you are well prepared for professional roles that seek to understand and address the various challenges facing marine and freshwater organisms and ecosystems.
To support your learning, you will have access to two research vessels enabling you to gain real hands-on experience of the sampling techniques used by professional marine and freshwater biologists as well as use of our aquarium systems for experimental studies of marine and freshwater organisms.
Fieldwork and practical classes form an integral part of the course throughout. An optional residential two-centre field course in your final year, currently based in Portugal and Scotland, will allow you to immerse yourself in the study of marine and freshwater biology further afield.
Source: Aberystwyth University
Course details
Qualification
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Department
Department of Life Sciences
Location
Main Site (Aberystwyth) | Aberystwyth
Duration
4 Years
Study mode
Full-time
Subjects
• Marine biology
• Freshwater biology
Start date
21 September 2026
Application deadline
14 January 2026
Aberystwyth University student reviews
Showing 36 reviews
4th year student
One star: Poor
1 year ago
4th year student
Three stars: Good
1 year ago
4th year student
Four stars: Great
1 year ago
4th year student
Three stars: Good
1 year ago
4th year student
Four stars: Great
1 year ago
4th year student
Three stars: Good
1 year ago
National Student Survey (NSS) scores at Aberystwyth University
The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.
Here you can see ratings from Aberystwyth University students who took the Marine and Freshwater Biology (with integrated foundation year) course - or another course in the same subject area.
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
93%
med
Teaching on my course
93%
med
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
86%
med
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
100%
high
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
92%
med
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
92%
med
Learning opportunities
90%
med
Learning opportunities
90%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
86%
med
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
92%
med
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
88%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
94%
high
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
90%
high
Assessment and feedback
85%
med
Assessment and feedback
85%
med
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
75%
low
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
78%
low
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
86%
high
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
100%
high
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
84%
med
Academic support
96%
high
Academic support
96%
high
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
100%
high
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
92%
med
Organisation and management
91%
high
Organisation and management
91%
high
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
92%
high
How well organised is your course?
90%
med
Learning resources
94%
high
Learning resources
94%
high
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
94%
high
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
94%
high
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
92%
high
Student voice
86%
med
Student voice
86%
med
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
74%
med
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
94%
high
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
90%
med
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
88%
high
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course.
92%
high
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
54%
low
Student information
The Marine and Freshwater Biology (with integrated foundation year) course at Aberystwyth University features content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below to find out about the students taking courses in each of those subject areas at this uni.
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| Biology | B | |||||
| Chemistry | D | |||||
| Mathematics | B | |||||
| Geography | B | |||||
| Physics | C | |||||
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| Biology | B | |||||
| Chemistry | D | |||||
| Mathematics | B | |||||
| Geography | B | |||||
| Physics | C | |||||
Graduate prospects
What graduates do next
Facts and figures about Aberystwyth University graduates who took Marine and Freshwater Biology (with integrated foundation year) - or another course in the same subject area.
Graduate statistics
50%
In a job where degree was essential or beneficial
100%
In work, study or other activity
65%
Say it fits with future plans
35%
Are utilising studies
Top job areas
20%
Elementary occupations
15%
Business and public service associate professionals
10%
Administrative occupations
10%
Animal care and control services
Graduate statistics percentages are determined 15 months after a student graduates
Earnings after graduation
Earnings from Aberystwyth University graduates who took Marine and Freshwater Biology (with integrated foundation year) - or another course in the same subject area.
Earnings
£20.6k
First year after graduation
£23.7k
Third year after graduation
£27.7k
Fifth year after graduation
Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Marine and Freshwater Biology (with integrated foundation year).
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree
Discussions
Discussions
Students are talking about Aberystwyth University on The Student Room.
Aberystwyth University open days
The best way to experience life at Aberystwyth University is by visiting us in person. Join us at our on-campus Open Day to meet our staff and students, learn more about our courses, and discover all the student support services available to you. You'll also be able to tour our campus and accommodation options.
Source: Aberystwyth University
