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Marine Biology with a Year Abroad

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B-A,B,B

To include Biology or Human Biology

Pass with Distinction overall to include 24 distinctions (3 in Biology), plus 15 Merits. Only Science based Access course considered (excluding Health Sciences)

We recognise the EPQ as an excellent indicator of success. If you are predicted a grade B or above in the EPQ, you will receive an offer with a one grade reduction, to include your EPQ with a grade B.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

32-33

To include 5 in Higher Level Biology or Human Biology

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

From Science based BTEC Extended Diploma (excluding Animal Management and Health Science) plus at least one grade B in GCSE Science

ABBCC to include Biology Grade B

Requirements are as for A levels where you can substitute the same non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Level Core Grade

UCAS Tariff

120-128

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time with time abroad | 2024

Subject

Marine biology

Marine biology is a fascinating subject involving the study of life in the sea, and this course will give you the opportunity to explore a diverse and stimulating range of modules such as marine plankton and oceanography, marine ecosystems and marine and terrestrial ecology. You will spend the third of your four years at one of our partner institutions abroad.

Our coastal location gives easy access to a wide range of study habitats including exposed rocky shores, steep cliffs enclosing sandy sheltered bays, salt marshes and estuarine mudflats, and you will undertake boat work on our custom-designed 18m catamaran-class survey vessel equipped with state-of-the-art survey and research equipment.

**Our Biosciences facilities include:**
A £1.6m purpose-built 18m catamaran-class survey vessel equipped with state-of-the-art survey and research equipment based in Swansea Marina, a centre for sustainable aquatic research, a £1.3m visualisation centre and a £4.m laboratory facility.

The BSc Marine Biology course is **accredited by the Royal Society of Biology**, and covers themes including animal and marine welfare and conservation, the biological control of invertebrate pests, microbiology, and ocean and climate.

**All of our courses are available with a Year in Industry or Year Abroad**

These placement years increase our students confidence and communication skills as well as help them to gain valuable experiences that will ultimately enhance their employability. To find out more go to www.swansea.ac.uk/science

**We guarantee that you will be made a conditional offer for a course at Swansea University. Subject requirements will apply. Please come along to our next Open Day or get in touch for further information.**

Modules

Year 1: Areas studied typically include: animal diversity, form and function; cellular and microbial biology; marine and terrestrial ecology and animal behaviour; molecular and evolutionary biology; plants and algae – diversity, form and function; and core skills for Bioscientists.

Year 2: Areas studied typically include: marine ecosystems; ichthyology; marine biology field course (Pembrokeshire); marine invertebrates; marine plankton and oceanography; marine techniques.

You will spend Year 3 at one of our partner institutions abroad. This is a marvellous opportunity to experience a different culture and, depending on the destination, to develop valuable language skills.

Year 4: Areas studied typically include: diseases of aquatic animals; ecology of marine animals; fisheries and aquaculture; oceans and climate; polar biology; tropical marine biology field course (Puerto Rico); tropical marine biology and conservation; field and laboratory professional skills.

Assessment methods

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars and discussion groups supported by practical classes and field courses. You will be assessed through a variety of methods, including examinations, coursework and a practical research project.

The Uni


Course location:

Singleton Park Campus

Department:

Biosciences

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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.

90%
Marine biology

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.

Ecology and environmental biology

Teaching and learning

90%
Staff make the subject interesting
90%
Staff are good at explaining things
86%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
90%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

85%
Library resources
80%
IT resources
86%
Course specific equipment and facilities
67%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

92%
UK students
8%
International students
45%
Male students
55%
Female students
72%
2:1 or above
4%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
B
B

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.

Ecology and environmental biology

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.

£17,200
low
Average annual salary
98%
high
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

14%
Natural and social science professionals
6%
Business, finance and related associate professionals
6%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Ecology and environmental biology

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£18k

£18k

£23k

£23k

£26k

£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.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
University of Plymouth | Plymouth
Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time with time abroad 2024
UCAS Points: 120-144
Lower entry requirements
University of Chester | Chester
Marine Biology (including a Foundation Year)
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time with time abroad 2024
UCAS Points: 72-84
Same University
Swansea University | Swansea
Marine Biology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time with time abroad 2024
UCAS Points: 120-128

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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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