Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Ocean Sciences

Entry requirements


A level

A,B,B

Including two sciences Chemistry Pathway: Including Chemistry and Mathematics Physics Pathway: Including Physics and Mathematics Oceanography Pathway: Including two sciences Acceptable sciences: Mathematics, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Geography and Applied Science For applicants from England: Where a science has been taken at A level (Chemistry, Biology or Physics), a pass in the Science practical of each subject will be required.

Access to HE Diploma

D:30,M:15

Applications considered. 45 Level 3 credits in graded units, including 30 at Distinction and a further 15 with at least Merit. 15 Distinctions are required in each of two sciences. GCSE Mathematics and English grade C / 4 also required

Extended Project

A

Applicants who offer the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and meet our offer criteria will be made the standard offer, plus an alternative offer. This will be at one A Level grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ, for example the offer would be ABB or BBB plus A in the EPQ.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Mathematics and English at grade 4/C required. Applicants with equivalent qualifications or who do not meet these GCSE requirements will be considered on an individual basis according to their circumstances.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

33

33 including 5 in two Higher Level sciences, and no score less than 4

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H1,H2,H2,H2,H3,H3

Including H2 or above in two sciences

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

D*DD

D*DD in relevant Diploma

Scottish Advanced Higher

A,B,B

Including two sciences

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

B

Accepted including two A levels at AB (including two sciences)

UCAS Tariff

128-152

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

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Physical geography

The ocean plays a central role in the earth’s climate system by regulating the transfer of heat and carbon over the globe.
The effect of the ocean can only be fully understood by addressing the fundamental physical and chemical processes operating in our environment. This degree route offers three distinct pathways in oceanography, physics or chemistry, combined with an understanding of the ocean and climate system.
Each pathway has its own mix of modules from the School of Environmental Sciences and School of Physical Sciences. Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre in Liverpool provide guest lectures and supervision of projects.
The four-year master’s programme, F710, will provide you with the high-level skills and knowledge required to work in a research environment and address the challenges in ocean science. There is a strong emphasis on numerical skills hands-on laboratory and fieldwork at sea and independent study.
You will have the opportunity to work with scientists from the National Oceanography Centre (Liverpool), who are international leaders in sea level science and shelf sea physics.

This programme is accredited by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Registered Marine Technologist and as partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Marine Technologist.

This programme is available with either a Year in China or a Year Abroad. The Year in China offers undergraduate students the opportunity to spend one year at our joint venture, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), following XJTLU's BA China Studies degree classes. XJTLU is a fully English-speaking university, located in Suzhou. The Year Abroad offers students the opportunity to spend a full academic year studying at one of our partner universities around the world, following a mixture of culture and/or discipline-related modules. If you wish to study this programme with a Year in China or a Year Abroad you will have the opportunity to apply after you arrive at Liverpool.m.

The Uni


Course location:

University of Liverpool

Department:

Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say


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.

Physical geography

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

99%
UK students
1%
International students
41%
Male students
59%
Female students
98%
2:1 or above
5%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
B

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.

Physical geographical 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
98%
med
Employed or in further education
67%
high
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

19%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
15%
Business, finance and related associate professionals
10%
Other elementary services occupations

What about your long term prospects?

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

Physical geographical 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

£29k

£29k

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...

Higher entry requirements
University of East Anglia UEA | Norwich
Geography with a Placement Year
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 128-153
Lower entry requirements
Cardiff University | Cardiff
Physical Geography with a Year of Study Abroad
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112-128
Nearby University
Liverpool Hope University | Liverpool
Geography and Psychology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112-120

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