The increasing use of the seas and coastal zones presents marine biologists with many challenges. How do we maximise sustainable fishing yields while minimising adverse ecological effects on seabirds, marine mammals and other components of the ecosystem, farm marine species without polluting coastal areas, and manage increasing tourism and industry in the coastal zone while preserving marine biodiversity? This course will give you the training in marine biology needed to consider these important ecological issues. The course differs from single honours Marine Biology in that the emphasis in tutorial material and your final-year dissertation is on applied aspects of the subject, such as fisheries, aquaculture, anthropogenic effects on marine organisms and on natural marine products. There is a placement year in Year 3 in which you have the opportunity to apply your skills in a work environment.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- Our School is one of the largest university centres teaching marine sciences in Britain and is among the biggest in Europe.
- We are situated within a few metres of the sea, ideal for developing your skills in collecting data in estuaries, on the sea shore and at sea.
- We have a £3.5m ocean-going research ship.
- Our excellent facilities include tropical marine, temperate marine and freshwater aquaria, an algal culture unit and specialised nutrition and microbiological laboratories.
- You will be able to investigate practical aspects of applied marine biology through the final-year dissertation and the placement year.
Course Content
The course typically involves up to 30 hours per week of lectures, practicals (laboratory and fieldwork), private study, tutorials and project work. Many modules include day field trips. In year 2 there is a day trip and a field course based on the research vessel and in year 3 hypothesis testing exercises are undertaken during the intertidal field project. You also have the option of an overseas field course in Virginia, USA. Your practical work is continually assessed and examination of each module is by multiple choice questions (MCQ), laboratory tests and written examinations. The dissertation is assessed by a presentation and a report.
What will you study on this course?
Year 1
Compulsory modules:
- Marine Biology Practical 1
- Ecology and Evolution
- Introducing the Oceans
- Environmental Data & Analysis
- Organismal Diversity
- Tutorial 1
Year 2
Some modules are worth 20 credits and others 10. You will study all of the compulsory modules and choose one optional.
Compulsory modules:
- Marine Biology Practical 2
- Marine Ecology
- Marine Physiology and Behaviour
- Prince Madog Cruise
- Communicating Science
Optional modules:
- Estuarine and Shelf Sea Processes
- Tides, Waves and Sampling
Year 3
- Placement
Year 4
Some modules are worth 10 or 20 credits. You will study all of the compulsory modules and choose two optional.
Compulsory modules:
- Dissertation
- Intertidal Field Project
Optional modules (choose 5):
- Coastal Water Processes
- Extreme Marine Habitats
- Air-breathing Marine Vertebrates
- Sharks and their Relatives
- Larval Ecology
- Overseas Field Course (VIMS, USA)*
- Marine Conservation and Exploitation
- Marine Ecosystems & Processes
- Fish Biology and Ecology
You will carry out a research dissertation on topics that have an applied aspect such as cultivation or nutrition of aquaculture species, marine environmental surveys, effects of fisheries on the environment.
Employability and the School of Ocean Sciences
The School of Ocean Science's 'hands on' approach to teaching is well known in the marine science community and we have close links with offshore industries which employ many of our graduates.
Employers know that Bangor graduates have practical as well as theoretical skills.
An Ocean Science degree not only provides sound scientific knowledge of the marine environment, but places strong emphasis on the key skills which are highly regarded by employers.
Depending on their degree and specialist module choices, graduates from the School of Ocean Sciences can apply for jobs in:
- Coastal and water resource management
- Environmental impact assessment
- Environmental toxicology
- Pollution monitoring/treatment and waste disposal management
- Coastal and offshore engineering, hydrography
- Remote sensing
- Sea bed exploration and surveying
- Research institutes
- Universities
- Water companies
- Government laboratories (including Environmental Agency and CEFAS)
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Oil and gas industries
- Aquaculture industries
- Marine conservation
- Fisheries
- Ecotourism
- Fish and shellfish culture
- Oceangraphic institutes
- Marine environmental impact studies
- Hydrocarbon companies
- Marine environmental consultancy
- The Environment Agency
- Policy Making (e.g the European Union)
- Regulatory Authorities
Opportunities at Bangor
The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.
The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)
The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.
The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.
The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.
Internships
Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.
Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.
Student Volunteering
Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.
The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.
Categorías CINE (ISCED)
