Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Marine Science

Entry requirements


A level

A,A,B

including Geography, Maths, Economics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics. Critical Thinking and General Studies not accepted. Where applicable Science A-Levels awarded by an English Exam board require a pass in the practical element.

Access to HE Diploma

D:36,M:9

including 12 level 3 credits in either Geography, Maths, Economics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics

Principal subjects and A-level combinations are considered - please contact us.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

33

including Higher Level 5 in Geography, Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation or Analysis and Approaches), Economics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

in Applied Science, Applied Science (Medical Science), Environmental Sustainability or Countryside Management. Please see UEA website for further information on accepted combinations. Excludes BTEC Public Services, BTEC Uniformed Services and BTEC Business Administration.

Scottish Advanced Higher

B,B,C

including Geography, Maths, Economics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics

Scottish Higher

A,A,A,A,A

including Geography, Maths, Economics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics

Obtain an overall Pass including an A in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism. Acceptable subjects are: Design, surveying and planning for construction, and Science

UCAS Tariff

136-165

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Marine sciences

**Overview**
The ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s surface and contains a huge range of ecosystems, from deep sea hydrothermal vents through to shallow estuaries. It is also a critical component of the integrated Earth system, playing a key role in the moderation of our climate, both now and into the future. Far from being a static pool, the marine environment is a dynamic and inherently interdisciplinary system, with complex feedbacks between physical, chemical and biological processes.

If you’re fascinated by the marine environment, our Marine Sciences degree will take you on a journey through the global oceans, exploring the interconnected physical, biogeochemical and ecological systems. You’ll discover the vulnerability of marine ecosystems to human activity, consider how marine resources may be used sustainably, and investigate the critical role of the ocean in mitigating climate change.

You’ll be studying at the forefront of innovative research in marine science, climate and sustainability. In the 2021 Times Higher Education REF Analysis, the research quality from our School of Environmental Sciences was ranked 4th overall in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences.

**About This Course**
What drives ocean currents? Why do phytoplankton bloom? How is ocean acidification linked to climate change? Where does all the plastic in the ocean go? How can marine energy be harnessed? If you’re fascinated by these sorts of questions, this is the degree for you.

During our Marine Sciences degree, you’ll explore the physical, biogeochemical and ecological systems that make the seas and oceans around the world such a rich and diverse environment. Throughout the course, you’ll develop a wide range of professional and transferable skills, such as analytical problem solving, computing, scientific communication and collaborative research. These skills are highly sought after by marine industry employers for careers in the blue economy, including offshore wind, marine renewables, shipping, fisheries and aquaculture, but also for education, research, environmental consulting and other professional occupations.

UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences is at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary marine and environmental research, and you’ll be taught by world-leading scientists in these fields. Through the Collaborative Centre for Sustainable use of the Seas, UEA has strong links with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), who advise industry and the UK government on marine science and policy. Cefas lecturers are embedded in many of our modules and provide further insight into real-world applications of marine science.

The seas and oceans around the world must be effectively managed to ensure sustainable use of marine resources into the future. This requires an overarching understanding of all the interconnected marine systems and UEA’s Marine Science degree will put you in the unique position to be part of the solution.

**Disclaimer**

Course details are subject to change. You should always confirm the details on the provider's website: www.uea.ac.uk

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
International
£26,100
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of East Anglia UEA

Department:

School of Environmental Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

76%
Marine sciences

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Earth sciences

Teaching and learning

74%
Staff make the subject interesting
90%
Staff are good at explaining things
68%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
62%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

79%
Library resources
94%
IT resources
79%
Course specific equipment and facilities
64%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

86%
UK students
14%
International students
59%
Male students
41%
Female students
84%
2:1 or above
6%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
B
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Earth sciences

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£20,000
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

15%
Conservation and environment professionals
10%
Other elementary services occupations
8%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers

This is quite a specialist degree and although graduates are more likely to go to work in the environment and conservation than anything else, it can be dependent to an extent on securing funding and so the jobs market can be competitive. This is also one of those subjects where graduates don’t usually go to London to work, so if you want to work in the south-west — or overseas — this might be a good subject. Graduates tend to get jobs in the environment, and as lab technicians. They can also be targeted to fill our serious gaps in recruitment in surveying. Like a lot of other subjects, if you want a job in research, start planning to take a doctorate. The stats also include a small number of oceanographers and meteorologist who are often in demand.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Earth sciences

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£20k

£20k

£26k

£26k

£27k

£27k

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.

Explore these similar courses...

Share this page

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here