Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Marine Biology

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B-B,B,C

112-120 points to include 3 A levels, with Biology at grade B. For A levels which include a separate science practical component, a pass is desirable and may strengthen an application.

112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma (Science).

Cambridge Pre-U score of 48-50, to include a Principal Subject in Biology at M2.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

5 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English, Mathematics and Science/5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above to include English, Mathematics and Science.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

25

25 points from the IB Diploma, to include 3 Higher Level subjects, with 6 points from a Higher Level in Biology. 4 points from Standard Level English and Mathematics (if not passed at GCSE grade C or above).

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H3,H3,H3,H4-H3,H3,H3,H3,H3


To include Higher Level Biology at H3.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

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

DDM-DMM

Must be in a Science subject.

112-120 Tariff points, to include Biology at grade C.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

UCAS Tariff

112-120

112-120 points to include 3 A levels, or equivalent, with 40 points from A level Biology. For A levels which include a separate science practical component, a pass is desirable and may strengthen an application.

112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 2 A levels with 40 points from A level Biology, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Marine biology

**This is a Connected Degree**
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

**Overview**
Marine biologists are the first line of defence for our blue planet, and are crucial to enhance the ecology and environment of our oceans.

This BSc (Hons) Marine Biology degree, accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), will give you the skills you need to play your part. With conservation projects and world class facilities on our doorstep, Portsmouth is the perfect place to begin a career as a marine scientist.

- Work on active conservation projects – such as the Solent Oyster Restoration Project, the Solent BioHut project, the Isle of Wight UNESCO Marine Biosphere, and the Solent Seagrass Restoration Project

- Access the Solent European Marine Site with its wide range of environments through the Institute of Marine Sciences, our internationally renowned shoreside marine station

- Go on a marine field trip abroad, where you can explore exotic, unique and diverse ecosystems

- Get practical marine skills on our research vessels, including a large experimental raft, a 6-metre high-speed shallow draft launch for inshore work and a suite of sampling systems including dredges, grabs and nets

- Build experience on a one-year work placement, study abroad at one of our partner universities, and learn powerboating with the Royal Yacht Association (RYA) or PADI-certified scientific and technical diving

**Accredited by:**
This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.

**Careers and opportunities**
On this BSc (Hons) Marine Biology degree, you'll learn about a wide array of marine organisms, from phytoplankton to cetaceans, and how to protect the oceans and their delicate ecosystems against the growing threats of climate change, habitat destruction and resource exploitation.

When you graduate, you'll be ready for a career in a range of marine science areas, such as conservation, resource management and aquaculture, or to pursue academic research, lab work, field work or policy making.

You could also continue your studies at postgraduate level. Many graduates go onto study MRes Science or MSc Applied Aquatic Biology.

**What can you do with a Marine Biology degree?**
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work in:
- post-graduate research

- coastal zone management

- environmental toxicology

- marine conservation

- aquaculture

- marine policy

- marine resource management

**Graduate roles**
Roles previous graduates have gone on to do include:
- lab analyst

- field technician

- agriculture supervisor

- radioactive chemist

- extraction scientist

- day yacht skipper

- watersports instructor

- biology teacher

**Placement year**
After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. Placements give you the opportunity to apply what you've learnt so far in a real workplace, boosting your employability and making you attractive to employers after graduation.

You can work for a company or organisation here in the UK or overseas, although our coastal location means there are many placement opportunities nearby.

Our partners include commercial, research and non-profit organisations such as:
- Maidenhead Aquatics

- Field Studies Council

- ORCA

- Blue Marine Foundation

Whichever route you choose, you'll receive support and guidance. Our specialist team of Science and Health Careers advisors can help you with finding a work placement and improving your employability skills. They'll provide you with a database of placement vacancies, support with your job search, and support you throughout your placement year.

Modules

Year 1

Core modules in this year include:

- Biodiversity and Evolution – 20 credits
- Experimental Biology – 20 credits
- Graduate Employability Skills – 20 credits
- Introduction to Marine Ecology and Oceanography – 20 credits
- Introduction to Cell Biology and Biochemistry – 20 credits
- Microbiology and Molecular Biology – 20 credits

There are no optional modules in this year.

Year 2

Core modules in this year include:

- Marine Organisms and Ecosystems – 20 credits
- Research Skills – 20 credits

Optional modules in this year include:

- Animal Adaptations – 20 credits
- Business For Biosciences – 20 credits
- Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology – 20 credits
- Development: How Form and Function Changes – 20 credits
- Genetics – 20 credits
- Introduction to Teaching – 20 credits
- Microbiology – 20 credits
- Modern Foreign Language (Institution-wide Language Programme) – 20 credits
- Oceanography – 20 credits
- Plant Diversity, Development and Evolution – 20 credits
- Practical Boating Skills – 20 credits
- Scientific and Technical Diving Techniques A – 20 credits
- Ecology Skills and Field Course – 20 credits

Sandwich year:

On this course, you can do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in industry.

We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.

You'll have to take one of these optional modules to complete your sandwich year:

- Biology Sandwich Year Work Placement – 120 credits
- Biology Sandwich Year Study Abroad – 120 credits

Year 3

Core modules in this year include:

- Fisheries and Aquaculture – 20 credits
- Honours Project – 40 credits
- Marine Ecology and Conservation – 20 credits
- Marine Ecophysiology – 20 credits

Optional modules in this year currently include:

- Climate Change – 20 credits
- Microbiomes - 20 credits

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment methods

You’ll be assessed through written exams, course work in the form of practical write ups, posters and oral presentations, individual research project.
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£9,250
per year
International
£19,200
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Portsmouth

Department:

Faculty of Science and Health

Read full university profile

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.

73%
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
92%
Staff are good at explaining things
69%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
65%
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

75%
Library resources
91%
IT resources
86%
Course specific equipment and facilities
43%
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?

87%
UK students
13%
International students
45%
Male students
55%
Female students
82%
2:1 or above
3%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
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.

£17,000
low
Average annual salary
98%
high
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

18%
Science, engineering and production technicians
9%
Public services and other associate professionals
9%
Other elementary services occupations

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.

£19k

£19k

£24k

£24k

£27k

£27k

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 2024
UCAS Points: 120-144
Lower entry requirements
University of Plymouth | Plymouth
Marine Biology with Foundation Year
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 96-116
Same University
University of Portsmouth | Portsmouth
Biology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 120-128

Share this page

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here