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Image from Marine Environmental Science
Image from Marine Environmental Science
Image from Marine Environmental Science
Image from Marine Environmental Science
Image from Marine Environmental Science

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Marine Environmental Science

University of Portsmouth

(4.1)
133 reviews

Entry requirements

Here's what you will need to get a place on the Marine Environmental Science course at University of Portsmouth.

Select a qualification to see required grades

A level

B,B,B

112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, with 32 points from a Science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics).

Tuition fees

LocationFees
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£9,535 per year
International£19,200 per year

Course summary

What this course is about

UCAS code: F912

Here's what University of Portsmouth says about its Marine Environmental Science course.

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Overview Marine environments cover 70% of the Earth's surface and represent more than 95% of the world's biosphere. On this BSc (Hons) Marine Environmental Science degree course, accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), you'll develop your understanding of this vital resource and learn how to protect its delicate ecosystems from climate change, overfishing and pollution.

  • Investigate marine ecosystems in our environmental laboratories and Institute of Marine Sciences, our internationally renowned shoreside marine station packed with expert staff, a floating research platform and purpose-built 318m2 aquatic centre

  • Make the most of our coastal location with marine excursions on the Solent, and learn powerboating with the RYA or scientific and technical diving certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)

  • Have the chance to conduct research in places such as Somerset, Isle of Wight, Malta, Portugal, Malaysia and Belize

  • Build experience on a one-year work placement, or study abroad at one of our partner universities in Spain, France or Poland

Accredited by: This course is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).

Careers and opportunities The world's oceans and seas are one of its most precious and biodiverse resources. Ongoing threats to these marine environments – such as waste dumping, climate change, dredging and overfishing – mean the world needs people with the specialised scientific knowledge to safeguard marine resources for future generations.

When you graduate, you’ll be primed for a career anywhere in the world in areas such as marine environmental consultancy, marine conservation, coastal management, and underwater exploration and conservation.

You'll be able to apply for Associate Membership of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and with more experience, you could work to become a Chartered Scientist (CSci) or Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv). Chartered Membership of the IES is required in many environmental careers.

You could also continue your studies at postgraduate level, such as with our MSc Coastal & Marine Resource Management.

What jobs can you do with a marine environmental science degree? Roles our graduates have taken on include:

  • marine scientist

  • marine environmental consultant

  • environmental chemist

  • geographic information scientist

  • fish health inspector

  • marine conservation officer

  • environmental policy officer

  • coastal management officer

  • wildlife protection officer

Placement year After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. Placements give you the opportunity to apply what you've learnt so far in a real workplace, boosting your employability and making you attractive to employers after graduation.

You can work for a company or organisation here in the UK or overseas, although our coastal location means there are many placement opportunities nearby.

Previous students have completed placements at Dover Harbour Board and Portsmouth Water.

Whichever route you choose, you'll receive support and guidance. Our specialist team of Science and Health Careers advisors can help you with finding a work placement and improving your employability skills. They'll provide you with a database of placement vacancies, support with your job search – including help with applications and interviews – and support throughout your placement year.

Course details

There are a few options in how you might study Marine Environmental Science at University of Portsmouth.

Check the

2 course options available.

Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Department

Faculty of Science and Health

Location

Main Site | Portsmouth

Duration

3 Years

Study mode

Full-time

Subjects

• Environmental sciences

• Ocean sciences

Start date

September 22, 2025

Application deadline

January 29, 2025

The modules you will study

Year 1

Core modules in this year include:

  • Analysis of the Earth and Environment (20 credits)
  • Ecology, Plants and Human Impact (20 credits)
  • Environmental Processes and Hazards (20 credits)
  • Global Environmental Challenges (20 credits)
  • How the Earth Works (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Marine Ecology and Oceanography (20 credits)

There are no optional modules in this year.

Year 2

Core modules in this year include:

  • Environmental Chemistry and Monitoring (20 credits)
  • Environmental Fieldwork and Professional Skills (20 credits)
  • Marine Organisms and Ecosystems (20 credits)
  • Oceanography (20 credits)
  • Research Skills (20 credits)

Optional modules in this year include:

  • Developing Professional Skills (20 credits)
  • Energy Resources and the Science of Zero Carbon (20 credits)
  • Environmental Change (20 credits)
  • Gis and Remote Sensing (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Teaching (20 credits)
  • Overseas Study (Environment and Life Sciences) 60 credits
  • Practical Boating Skills (20 credits)
  • Scientific Diving Techniques (20 credits)

Placement year

Boost your employability by taking an industry-based work placement year with a relevant organisation or immerse yourself in another culture by studying for a year at one of our partner universities worldwide.

This is an amazing opportunity to either put everything you’ve learned so far into action in a real workplace or expand your horizons and set yourself up for your future career by studying abroad and becoming a student ambassador for our university." Depending on what you choose, we’ll help you find and secure an exciting placement opportunity within an appropriate company or organisation, or you’ll expand your global perspective and develop additional skills to boost your future career during a study abroad year.

This is a Connected Degree

We're the only university that gives you the flexibility to choose when to take a work placement. Take it after your 2nd year, before returning to finish your studies. Or after your final year, connecting you into the workplace.

If you're not sure if or when to take your placement, don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to settle into your studies and explore your options before making your choice.

Year 3

Core modules in this year include:

  • Marine Ecology and Conservation (20 credits)
  • Research Project (40 credits)

Optional modules in this year include:

  • Analytical Methods for Earth and Environmental Sciences (20 credits)
  • Climate Change (20 credits)
  • Coastal Recreation - Planning and Management (20 credits)
  • Conservation in a Changing World (20 credits)
  • Environmental Assessment and Management (20 credits)
  • Environmental Pollution and Waste Management (20 credits)
  • Fisheries and Aquaculture (20 credits)

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

How you will be assessed

You’ll be assessed through:

  • field work or lab notebook recordings
  • reports
  • essays
  • site surveys
  • computer-based exercises
  • posters
  • oral presentations

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

The way you're assessed will depend on the modules you select throughout your course. Here's an example from a previous academic year of how students on this course were typically assessed:

  • Year 1 students: 52% by written exams, 8% by practical exams and 40% by coursework
  • Year 2 students: 43% by written exams, 12% by practical exams and 45% by coursework
  • Year 3 students: 26% by written exams, 8% by practical exams and 66% by coursework

University of Portsmouth reviews

(4.1)
Based on 133 reviews from University of Portsmouth's students and alumni
5 star
37%
4 star
41%
3 star
17%
2 star
4%
1 star
1%
All reviews

Showing 123 reviews

1st year student

Good facilities, could be open more and advertise their role better

(4)

1 year ago

1st year student

The uni life is really good, good environment and lots to do

(4)

1 year ago

1st year student

It has significantly impacted me as I have find myself running out of money often

(3)

1 year ago

1st year student

The support is excellent, they are willing to do anything to help your studies

(5)

1 year ago

1st year student

Workload is super manageable, not many lectures so plenty of free time

(4)

1 year ago

1st year student

The facilities are top tier and help are studies. Teachers are approachable

(5)

1 year ago

National Student Survey (NSS) scores

The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.

The Marine Environmental Science course at University of Portsmouth features content from more than one subject area. Using the options below, you can see ratings from students who took courses in each of these subject areas at this uni

Environmental sciences
Earth sciences

Select an option to see a detailed breakdown

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?

82%

med

How often is the course intellectually stimulating?

92%

med

To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?

91%

med

How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?

82%

med

How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?

93%

med

To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?

87%

med

To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?

82%

med

How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?

79%

med

How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?

87%

med

How often does feedback help you to improve your work?

75%

med

How often have you received assessment feedback on time?

89%

med

How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?

91%

high

How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?

93%

med

How well have teaching staff supported your learning?

87%

med

How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?

83%

med

How well organised is your course?

79%

med

How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?

92%

med

How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?

95%

high

How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?

82%

low

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?

93%

med

To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?

89%

med

How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?

66%

low

During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?

96%

high

How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?

85%

med

Select an option to see a detailed breakdown

How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?

90%

med

How good are teaching staff at explaining things?

98%

med

How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?

96%

high

How often is the course intellectually stimulating?

91%

med

To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?

94%

med

How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?

91%

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?

87%

med

To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?

88%

med

How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?

86%

med

How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?

91%

high

How often does feedback help you to improve your work?

82%

high

How often have you received assessment feedback on time?

87%

high

How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?

94%

high

How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?

96%

high

How well have teaching staff supported your learning?

93%

med

How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?

86%

high

How well organised is your course?

83%

med

How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?

89%

med

How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?

96%

high

How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?

89%

med

How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?

75%

med

To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?

93%

med

To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?

92%

high

How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?

55%

med

During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?

94%

high

How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?

82%

med

Student information

The Marine Environmental Science course at University of Portsmouth 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.

Environmental sciences
Ocean sciences
Gender ratio
Female45%Male55%
Where students come from
International9%UK91%
Student performance
2:1 or above76%
First year dropout rate12%
Number of students350
Most popular A-levels studied
SubjectGrade
GeographyC
BiologyC
PsychologyC
MathematicsC
Environmental StudiesD
Gender ratio
Female52%Male48%
Where students come from
International7%UK93%
Number of students60
Most popular A-levels studied
SubjectGrade
GeographyC
BiologyC
Environmental StudiesB
GeologyD
MathematicsC
Source: HESA

Graduate prospects

What graduates do next

We have no information about graduates who took Marine Environmental Science at University of Portsmouth.

Earnings after graduation

Earnings from University of Portsmouth graduates who took Marine Environmental Science - or another course in the same subject area.

Geography, earth and environmental studies

Earnings

£21.5k

First year after graduation

£25.2k

Third year after graduation

£29.9k

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 Environmental Science.

Source: LEO

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

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