University of Essex
MSci Tropical Marine Biology (four-year integrated masters) Msci (Hons)
University of Essex

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 275 graduates of MSci Tropical Marine Biology (four-year integrated masters) Msci (Hons) and other courses in Economics at University of Essex for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Economics.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Economics

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Economics 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 £27000 £29000 £36500
25-75 percentile range £24000 - £30000 £21000 - £36500 £30500 - £48500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Economics

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £30101 £31974 £42762
25-75 percentile range £25019 - £35263 £24892 - £42048 £30343 - £57314

Course Description

Dive into our MSci Tropical Marine Biology course and enter a fascinatingly complex world of whales, coral reefs, fish, deep sea trenches, coastal lagoons, sea ice, and tropical seagrass beds.

At Essex, we believe in a truly immersive experience of research and study. This includes numerous opportunities to go on field trips as part of this course (subject to additional costs). During the field trip to Wakatobi Marine National Park in Indonesia, our students are able to participate in underwater lectures.

Tropical ecosystems provide important resources locally and globally, and coral reefs are the most diverse of marine ecosystems threatened by human activities. Our unique course is designed to deliver advanced tropical marine biology theory and to facilitate the development of a comprehensive range of practical and professional skills required by today’s employers.

The vast majority of life on earth is found under the sea; but exactly how much remains unknown, since there is so much still to be explored. At Essex, we’ll take you on a journey of discovery from the poles to the tropical reef systems of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans. We work on ecosystems from estuaries and coastal environments to oceanic systems, and on conservation and resource management.

You gain an expert knowledge of marine biology through study of essential core modules and the flexibility to specialise in the areas that interest you most, including:

  • The major types of marine communities, including aquatic mammals and fish
  • Direct and indirect human impact on the marine environment
  • Coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove systems
  • Marine and freshwater taxonomy and biodiversity
  • Diving and snorkel-based practices

With our Integrated Masters you’ll be able to fast track your degree and complete your final year in nine months compared to a regular MSc which usually takes twelve months. The course will cover key skills in tropical marine biology and provide you with the knowledge, understanding and hands-on experience required in this exciting and important area of research.

Topics include:

  • The biotechnological ‘treasure chest’ of marine microbes, algae and invertebrates
  • Tropical oceans, seagrass beds, mangroves and coral reefs
  • Coral reef resource management and conservation

When you combine your undergraduate and postgraduate study in one degree you’ll be equipped with a strong theoretical background, specialist expertise through independent research and practical insights into current applications. This combination makes graduates from our course attractive candidates for many employers.

Your independent research project allows you to develop your own interests. Previous topics have included shellfisheries and water quality, turtle ecology in Greece and coral reef conservation strategies in the Caribbean and Indonesia.

Visit our marine biology subject page for more information and content.

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 MSci Tropical Marine Biology (four-year integrated masters) Msci (Hons) at University of Essex

22% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
18% Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations
14% Managers, directors and senior officials
12% Elementary occupations
7% Administrative occupations
6% Business and Financial Project Management Professionals
2% Teaching Professionals
2%
2% Business and public service associate professionals
2% Elementary occupations

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Economics

Qualification requirements

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

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 MSci Tropical Marine Biology (four-year integrated masters), Msci (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees MSci Tropical Marine Biology (four-year integrated masters) Msci (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
  • year 3

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
  • Life at The Towers - University of Essex Accommodation Colchester Campus
  • MA Jungian and Post-Jungian Studies at the University of Essex
  • Interview with Shaun Barbour, Top Undergraduate Law Graduate 2019 | University of Essex Online
  • Let’s Speak to our Modern Languages Graduates at the University of Essex
  • Why Study at Essex Business School in Southend?

Where is this programme taught

Colchester Campus
map marker Show on map

Similar courses

Program University Student satis­faction Unem­ployed Drop­out Tuition (UK) Tuition (Inter­national) UCAS Tariff City
Biology and Marine Biology MSc University of Southampton - - - £9250 £27400 - Southampton On campus Full-time
Marine Biology Msci (Hons) Queen's University of Belfast 68% 0% 5% £9250 £25300 148 Belfast On campus Full-time
Marine Biology Msci (Hons) University of Exeter 83% 5% 0% £9250 £29700 187 Exeter On campus Full-time
Marine Biology with Professional Studies Msci (Hons) Queen's University of Belfast 68% 0% 5% £9250 £25300 148 Belfast On campus Full-time
Marine Biology MSc Bangor University 74% 5% 0% £9000 - 131 Bangor On campus Full-time
Marine Biology and Zoology MSc Bangor University 74% 5% 5% £9000 - 123 Bangor On campus Full-time
Marine Biology and Oceanography MSc Bangor University 74% 5% 5% £9000 - 104 Bangor On campus Full-time
Marine Biology MMarBiol University of Liverpool 76% 5% 0% - - 143 Liverpool On campus Full-time
Marine Biology MMarBiol University of St Andrews - - - £9250 £30160 - St Andrews On campus Full-time
Marine Biology Msci (Hons) University of Southampton - - - £9250 £27400 - Southampton On campus Full-time