Are you fascinated by the oceans and the rich diversity of organisms that inhabit their depths?

Marine Biology is the study of specialised plants and animals and how they’ve adapted to the challenges of living in a marine environment. It’s also concerned with the impact human activity has on the health of the oceans.

Our course is truly multi-disciplinary. It draws on other Biology disciplines, including Ecology and the physical and environmental sciences, to understand a habitat that covers around 71 per cent of the earth’s surface.

We teach you the dynamics of aquatic systems and the biology of their organisms. You’ll learn about the science of diving and other underwater techniques. Our mix of practical work, fieldwork and research projects will ensure that you’ll be ready for your career working with the oceans.

Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture – which coordinates this course – is the leading international centre in its field, and the largest of its kind in the world, with an excellent international reputation in teaching, research, innovation and consultancy.

The Institute of Aquaculture has received the UK’s most prestigious academic honour – the Queen’s Anniversary Prize 2019. The honour recognises outstanding work that shows quality and innovation, and delivers real benefit to the wider world through education and training. It recognises our pioneering work in the world’s fastest-growing food production sector and our bid to tackle global hunger.

Our graduates are sought after in relevant areas of employment, in both public and private sectors, such as:

• environmental protection
• environmental impact assessment
• environmental and conservation fields
• pollution control
• water companies, tourism
• fisheries management
• governmental regulatory departments
• the fast-growing aquaculture sector.

In addition, there is a wide range of more general graduate employment, which includes:

• biotechnological companies
• bioinformatics
• health and clinical sciences
• forensic science
• medical sales and marketing
• science journalism
• teaching

We include an aquaculture module as the aquaculture sector is a major Scottish industry and employer of marine biology graduates.

A second degree (MSc or PhD) is often needed if you want to advance your career to more senior research posts, and many of our graduates go on to pursue further study at Stirling or other UK and overseas universities.

Students benefit from their close association with a strongly research-led department in the aquatic sciences, particularly in the more advanced and project modules.