Ocean Sciences with Foundation Year
Entry requirements
32 to 48 UCAS points to include minimum 2 A Levels include Grade E in relevant subject: Biology/Human Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Geography/Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Geology.
Considered in combination
Pass Science Access overall
Considered in combination
Considered in combination
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
24 points to include relevant science subject: Biology/Human Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Geography/Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Geology. English and Maths accepted within
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H5,H5,H5,H5,H5-H5,H5,H5,H6,H6
32 to 48 UCAS points to include a relevant science subject: Biology/Human Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Geography/Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Geology.
Considered in combination
Considered in combination
Considered in combination
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
In a relevant science subject
Considered in combination
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
In a relevant science subject
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
In a relevant science subject
Considered in combination
32 to 48 ucas points to include minimum 2 Advanced Highers and a Pass in relevant science subject: Biology/Human Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Geography/Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Geology.
Considered in combination with Advanced Highers
T Level
Pass - Science pathway, plus GCSE Maths grade 4/C or above.
UCAS Tariff
To include minimum 2 A Levels include Grade E in relevant subject: Biology/Human Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Geography/Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Geology.
Considered in combination
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
Expand your knowledge of the oceans with the BSc (Hons) Ocean Sciences with Foundation Year. During this new four-year degree route you will explore the diverse range of open ocean, coastal, hydrographic and conservation specialisations this course offers. If your current qualifications don’t allow you direct entry to degree level or if you have been out of formal education for some time, this course is for you.
- Ranked top 15 in the UK and top 100 globally for Earth and Marine Sciences in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
- Study the physical, biological, chemical and mathematical principles that underpin the marine sciences.
- Build your confidence as an independent learner as you develop research, analytical and scientific reporting skills throughout the year.
- Learn about current issues in marine sciences from research active staff who are passionate about their subjects.
- Study under the guidance of a personal academic tutor from the School of Biological and Marine Sciences.
- Subject to successful completion of the foundation year (Year 0), choose from progression routes that will help you gain a sound knowledge base across all areas of ocean science with options to develop specialist skills in marine conservation, oceanography or hydrography.
- Experience the university life right from the start, being taught by staff who teach on the degree courses.
- Practical sessions are held in our well-appointed laboratories.
- Excellent mathematics support via SUM: UP drop-in centre.
- The foundation year is an integral part of the extended degree. Completion of the foundation year will not lead to a separate award or qualification its own right but will provide access to Year 1 of your degree.
Modules
During the foundation year, we introduce the fundamental physical, chemical, biological and mathematical concepts needed for further study in the marine sciences and provide a flavour of current research topics in the ocean sciences.
The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry and up to date information can be found on our website.
Assessment methods
For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.
The Uni
University of Plymouth
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
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.
Earth sciences
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
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.
Earth 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.
Top job areas of graduates
This is quite a specialist degree and although graduates are more likely to go to work in the environment and conservation than anything else, it can be dependent to an extent on securing funding and so the jobs market can be competitive. This is also one of those subjects where graduates don’t usually go to London to work, so if you want to work in the south-west — or overseas — this might be a good subject. Graduates tend to get jobs in the environment, and as lab technicians. They can also be targeted to fill our serious gaps in recruitment in surveying. Like a lot of other subjects, if you want a job in research, start planning to take a doctorate. The stats also include a small number of oceanographers and meteorologist who are often in demand.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Earth 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.
£19k
£25k
£26k
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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Course location and department:
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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?
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