MSc Marine Conservation at University of Plymouth

Course Details

The impact of human activity on our marine ecosystems has become more evident and high profile in recent years, such as from overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, coastal development, plastics and climate change. So what do we do about it – how can we preserve and recover marine habitats and species populations while also allow sustainable use and exploitation of our seas?

This new MSc programme, taught by leading experts in the field, focuses specifically on marine conservation in practice and is targeted at producing the next generation of ocean guardians with the skill set to address this question. The MSc Marine Conservation programme does not have any exams within its range of assessments.

Key features

• The only UK MSc programme in existence to focus on marine conservation in practice
• The only marine conservation masters programme in the UK to be delivered in partnership with a suite of regional, national and international marine conservation practitioners.  
• The only such programme where all students, if they wish, can directly gain experience working for their masters project embedded within these potential employers.  
• The 60 credit masters project is not specifically a typical research project resulting in a scientific paper, but allows a diversity of options depending on collaborative work with the partner (e.g. policy review, option appraisal, etc)
• Students will draw on the cumulative knowledge and expertise of one of the largest concentrations of marine conservation researchers in Europe.
• Taught modules are designed to feature dynamic and contemporary content based on both state-of-the-art marine conservation research and current experience and practice of implementing marine conservation in the 'real world'.  
• Unusually for such a programme, there will be a true integration of natural and social science underpinning and skills.  
• Students can choose between two career destinations, policy and advocacy, through taught components, working with relevant partner(s) and option module choice. All students will cover aspects of both themes, however.
• The programme provides opportunities for students to work on marine conservation projects in the UK and abroad.