MSc DegreeMARINE BIOLOGY

College of Science, Engineering & Food Science

Entry and EligibilityA candidate for the MSc in Marine Biology must haveobtained at least a Second Class Honours, Grade II degreein any Biological Science or relevant equivalent area. Inaddition, level 8 graduates with relevant professionalqualifications or relevant experience but not the relevantdegree classification may also apply for entry and eachcase will be judged on a case-bycase basis as to theirsuitability for the programme, subject to the approval ofthe Head of School of Biological, Earth and EnvironmentalSciences.

The number of places is limited and selection will be madeon the candidate's performance in his/her primary degreeand experience. Where relevant, candidates will have toprove their proficiency in the English language (spoken andwritten).

All EU students wishing to apply for this course must applyon-line at the following website www.pac.ie.

FeesFees for the programme can be seen athttp://www.ucc.ie/en/financeoffice/fees/. There will be anadditional fee of €2000 to cover the costs associated withundertaking the Professionally Certified Courses (SeaSurvival, Boat Handling, Marine Radio Use and First Aid) aswell as all fieldwork (including a residential course inScotland) undertaken as part of the taught component ofthe programme.

University College CorkUniversity College Cork is one of Ireland’s oldest institutionsof higher education. UCC was originally founded in 1845and 150 years later the University is internationallyacclaimed as Ireland’s leading research institution.

Overview of ProgrammeThe MSc in Marine Biology is a full-time multidisciplinarydegree running for 12 months from the date of firstregistration for the programme. The aim of the MScprogramme is to train and educate graduates in multipleareas of Marine Biology and to provide an understandingof the disciplines, which impinge upon these areas in orderto meet the growing demand for such personnel at homeand abroad.

In addition, a number of accredited professionally certifiedcourses will be provided throughout the programme incollaboration with the National Maritime College of Irelandin Ringaskiddy. These courses will include Sea Survival(PST), Marine Radio Use (GMDSS), Boat Handling(Powerboat level 2) and First Aid. Candidates successfullycompleting the module will be equipped with professionalqualifications essential for work in the Marine Environment.

The School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciencesare responsible for the MSc programme. The NationalMaritime College of Ireland (NMCI) and various other UCCdepartments also contribute to the programme.

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MSc Degree MARINE BIOLOGY

Programme Structure

A candidate for the MSc Degree in Marine Biology must:

1. Register full-time for the academic year (Part I October

– April) and Part II (May – September), (total 12 months).

2. Pursue a full-time programme of study comprising

taught modules to the value of 60 credits and a Research

dissertation (30 credits) as detailed below.

3. Achieve an aggregate of at least 50%, with not less than

40% in each module across the taught modules in Part I

to be eligible to proceed to Part II.

4. Achieve at least 50% in Part II of the Programme to be

eligible for the award of an MSc Degree in Marine

Biology.

Modules & Credits

Students will need to obtain 90 credits through the

successful completion of the following Modules (Detailed

Module descriptions can be found in the Book of Modules)

(http://www.ucc.ie/modules/descriptions/BL.html

Part I (60 credits) [September – April]

BL6010 Characteristics of the Marine Environment

(5 credits)

BL6012 Marine Megafauna (10 credits)

BL6013 Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture (10 credits)

BL6014 Marine Fieldwork and Survey Techniques

(10 credits)

BL6015 Practical Marine Workplace Skills (5 credits)

(Professional Certificates)

BL6016 Marine Ecology and Conservation (10 credits)

BL6019 Ecological Applications of Geographical

Information Systems (5 credits)

BL6020 Genetics and the Marine Environment

(5 credits)

Part II (30 credits) [April – September]

BL6017 Marine Biology Research Dissertation

(30 credits)

Career Opportunities

The need to understand and protect the Marine

Environment is becoming of paramount importance on a

global scale. Key employers of our Marine Graduates in

Ireland and the UK are The Marine Institute, Joint Nature

Conservation Committee, Natural Environment Research

Council, British Antarctic Survey, The Department of the

Marine, Environmental Protection Agency, National Parks

and Wildlife Service, Loughs Agency and Bord Iascaigh

Mhara (Irish Sea Fisheries Board). In addition, the marine

environment is going to experience major developments in

the areas of windfarms, mineral extraction, marinas, wave

and tidal barrages over the coming years. The wide-ranging

module content combined with the Professionally Certified

Courses and advanced Fieldwork experience on offer in this

Masters programme will allow graduates to enter a wide

range of Marine orientated careers. The Masters

programme will also be highly relevant to those graduates

wishing to continue with further education programmes

(e.g. PhD or Teaching Training).

Student Testimonial

I undertook the MSc in Marine Biology in 2009 in its first

year. From the outset there was an underlying practical

element including professional courses in boat handling,

sea survival and marine radio to equip us to work

professionally as marine biologists in whatever capacity.

The lecturing staff offered a high degree of support

regarding assignments, the research project, and advice on

future careers. Following completion of the MSc I began a

PhD in the same field as my research project. The skills I

acquired during the masters such as fieldwork, histology

and molecular techniques undoubtedly aided me in

attaining my PhD. As a result of my PhD studies I have had

the opportunity to travel (e.g. Seattle) and it has given me

greater choices in life, which I would not have gotten

without the MSc.

Emer Morgan, PhD student

For further information:School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/what/sefs/masters/appscimarinebio/

or Email Programme Co-ordinator Dr Rob McAllenr.mcallen@ucc.ie

For information on the Application ProcedurePostgraduate Admissions Office Tel: +353 -21 -4902876/3241Email: postgrad@ucc.ie

Web: http://www.ucc.ie/postgraduate

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