University of Essex
Marine Biology (Including Placement Year) BSc (Hons)
University of Essex

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 150 graduates of Marine Biology (Including Placement Year) BSc (Hons) and other courses in biosciences (non-specific) at University of Essex for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in biosciences (non-specific).

Overall student satisfaction
82 /100
150 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in biology (non-specific)

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of biosciences (non-specific) at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25000 £23000 £26500
25-75 percentile range £22500 - £25500 £15500 - £27500 £22500 - £33500


Salary of all UK Graduates of biology (non-specific)

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24287 £22054 £26100
25-75 percentile range £20646 - £27492 £16667 - £27293 £20500 - £33508

Course Description

The majority of life on earth is found under the sea, but most of it remains to be explored. Tropical reefs, deep-sea trenches, seagrass meadows and frozen polar seas are all individually unique and complex environments, but connected within Earth’s single, vast ocean. By joining our BSc Marine Biology course you will be immersed in this fascinating ocean world.

At Essex you will begin your journey through diverse marine ecosystems from day one. Our team of internationally renowned academic staff will introduce you to ocean systems and marine ecology through their own research on topics as varied as coral reef conservation, fisheries management, animal behaviour, marine biotechnology and microbiology. These are taught alongside key scientific skills including data analysis and interpretation, literature research and presentation skills to give you a concrete foundation for your scientific career.

You will develop the concepts introduced in lectures through extensive, practical, hands-on experience in the laboratories of our STEM Centre, as well as in the field. Our local estuaries and coastal ecosystems are a natural laboratory on our doorstep. You will investigate the diversity of beautiful Essex salt marshes and interact with key people working to improve our coastline, including Essex Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency and Colchester Oyster Fisheries. Later in your degree there will be opportunities to travel to field locations in Scotland, Greece and Indonesia (subject to additional costs) to apply what you have learned. During a trip to Indonesia, in the heart of the Coral Triangle, you will learn to dive and participate in unique underwater research surveys and lectures.

After completing core modules, you will move on to more advanced and specialised modules that are driven by our departmental research expertise.

In the final year you will have the opportunity to select an independent research project through which you can further develop your own interests. Previous topics have included studies on oyster fisheries and water quality with local industry, fieldwork on sea turtle ecology in Greece and identifying coral reef conservation strategies in the Caribbean and Indonesia.

During the field trip to Wakatobi Marine National Park in Indonesia, our students are able to participate in underwater lectures.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Marine Biology (Including Placement Year) BSc (Hons) at University of Essex

20% Business and public service associate professionals
15% Media Professionals
10% Artistic, literary and media occupations
5% Elementary occupations
5% Business and Financial Project Management Professionals
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
5% Welfare and housing associate professionals
5% Managers, directors and senior officials
5% Business and public service associate professionals
5% Administrative occupations

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for biosciences (non-specific)

Qualification requirements

31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.

In addition all applicants require GCSE Mathematics at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.0
    • Undergraduate Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Marine Biology (Including Placement Year), BSc (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Marine Biology (Including Placement Year) BSc (Hons)

England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1
Ireland £9250 year 1
EU £22100 year 1
International £22100 year 1

Additional fee information

Fees displayed are for 2024-25 entry. Fees may increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)
  • year 2

University Rankings

Positions of University of Essex in top UK and global rankings.

See all 27 university rankings of University of Essex

About University of Essex

The University of Essex, is a public, research university where curiosity prevails and thinking outside the box isn’t just encouraged, it’s expected. Based in the county of the same name, Essex, the main campus is located in Wivenhoe Park, near Colchester. It is home to the university’s three faculties, Humanities, Science & Health and Social Sciences, as well as a very large community of local rabbits, and other small fauna typical of the English countryside.

List of 921 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Essex - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Essex

undergraduates:
12070
postgraduates:
3690
Total:
15760
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Where is this programme taught

Colchester Campus
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