It is estimated that up to 80% of all life on earth exists in the ocean – it could be even more considering less than 10% of the ocean has been explored by humans.

Forget swimming with dolphins and looking at coral – although there’s every chance you’ll get to do that at some point in your degree – a major in Marine Biology will ensure you develop a detailed understanding of the biota and ecological processes of marine environments. Gain an appreciation of the diversity of marine life, the interactions between species and biota, and the physical environment.

With a strong emphasis on fundamental biological principles and how these underpin successful marine management, you’ll cover topics including fish, wildlife populations and ecology, aquaculture and human impacts, through extensive field work and practical learning.

7 reasons to study Marine Biology at Murdoch

• Five-star rating for student-teacher ratio, overall experience, student support and teaching quality.*
  *Source: Good Universities Guide 2020
• Every unit you study will have laboratory sessions or fieldwork – our majors are much more hands-on than other courses in WA, so you’ll be job ready when you graduate.
• You’ll put theory into context on local and global scales with real-life examples and a holistic approach to teaching.
• Learn in industry standard laboratories, like the marine and freshwater research laboratory, equipped with world class research instruments.
• Benefit from immersive teaching throughout the course, with most units providing extensive hands-on laboratory or field experience, something you won’t experience in other WA courses.
• Have the opportunity to participate in several field camps, including a 5-day research camp to Point Peron in your third year.
• Head to Coral Bay for a 10 day field camp if you choose to study optional third year unit, Tropical Marine Biology.

What you’ll learn

Build the knowledge and skills you need to meet your career or study goals. Here are some of the things you’ll learn:

• animal diversity
• marine ecology
• marine botany
• animal speciation, radiation and evolution
• fish and wildlife populations.

A Marine Biology major will create opportunities in a range of environmental related fields, across industries.

Careers could include:

• Aquatic Ecologist
• Marine Policy and Planning Officer
• Fisheries Biologist
• Coastal Community Officer
• Marine Biologist in marine-based tourism.

You will find jobs in marine policy and planning in government, marine and coastal environmental groups and consultancies, industry sectors such as aquaculture, fisheries and marine-based tourism and University and Government-funded marine research institutions.