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The Marine Biology element of this Marine Biology and Zoology BSc degree course covers animals, seaweeds, plants and microbial life in the seas and their interactions. The Zoology element covers all animals whether on land or in water. This degree therefore gives a wide overview of the diversity of animal life and ecosystems on this planet, ranging from the mountains to tropical coral reefs and deep sea trenches. On this course you will learn how interactions between animals, such as elephants and sharks, and their environments apply equally to marine, terrestrial and freshwater habitats. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of biology, ecology, and evolution of marine organisms and all animal groups. We also cover more applied aspects such as aquaculture and fisheries, parasitology and immunology.

Why choose Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ for this BSc degree course?     

• This course is unique to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ. 
• Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ’s location makes it an ideal place to study terrestrial and aquatic habitats, with easy access to both the mountains and the sea for field trips. 
• The lectures who will teach you are carrying out research across the planet.
• Facilities include a research ship, workboats, tropical marine, temperate marine and freshwater aquaria, an underground laboratory for the study of soil fauna, and a zoological museum. 
• Our teaching laboratories are a few metres from the sea, enabling you to collect marine animals and study them in the laboratory in the same lab session.

Additional Course Options

This course typically involves up to 30 hours per week of lectures, practicals in the laboratory and the field, private study, tutorials and project work. Many modules include day field trips. In year two there is a day trip and a field course based on the research vessel and in year three you will undertake hypothesis testing exercises during the intertidal field project. These are free and compulsory. 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, laboratory tests and written examinations. The dissertation is assessed by a presentation and a report.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Marine Biology and Zoology BSc (Hons) Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

• We have tropical marine and temperate marine aquaria, analytical laboratories, flow and particle transport simulators and computing capabilities.
• We have unrivalled local access to the ocean and numerous intertidal habitats for undertaking experimental work, including rocky shores, sandy shores and saltmarshes.
• If you are interested in diving then the Students Union have a very active Diving Society which many of our students join.

General University Costs

Home (UK) students

• The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,250 per year (2025/26).
• The fee for all integrated study abroad years is  £1,385 (2025/26).
• The fee for an integrated year in industry as part of a sandwich programme is £1,850 (2025/26).

More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.

International (including EU) students

• International Student Tuition Fees
• International Student Living Costs and Scholarships

Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

• If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
• If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

General University Requirements

To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see .

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy, we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ section of the website.

EU and International Students' Entry Requirements

For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

This course is ideal preparation for careers in research, conservation, fisheries and aquaculture, government advisory bodies, the scientific media, ecotourism and other leisure industries and pressure groups.

Opportunities at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ

The University’s Careers and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. 

Internships

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.

Student Volunteering

Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about volunteering on the .

A 'with Foundation Year' option is available for this course. Apply for Marine Biology (with Foundation Year).