Studying ocean sciences abroad

Dive into the fascinating world of ocean sciences as an international student and explore how the Earth's oceans shape our climate, ecosystems, and future - while gaining skills for impactful careers in marine conservation, environmental management and global sustainability.

Ocean Sciences, sometimes referred to as Oceanography or Oceanology, is a scientific discipline that is comprised of the study of the oceans. It is usually considered an earth science, and looks at topics such as ocean currents, waves and plate tectonics, among others.

As an ocean scientist, you will be interested in furthering your knowledge of the oceans of the world, including the chemistry, biology, geology and hydrology of the water environment.

Oceans are an interesting and integral part of the general world ecology, and a better understanding of them could be useful for a variety of reasons.

When studying in this field, your modules are likely to cover topics such as:

Marine Ecosystems
Ecology and Conservation
Climate Change
Marine Pollution
Coastal Environments

As a graduate of ocean sciences, you may find work in a range of scientific disciplines, such as:

Marine Conservation
Hydrographic Surveying
Coastal Erosion Management
Environmental Science and Management

Undergraduate programmes in Ocean Sciences are commonly available at universities around the world as:

Foundation degree (FdSc), which typically take 1-2 years to complete when studied full-time
Bachelor of Science (BSc), which typically take 3-4 years to complete when studied full-time

Entry requirements for undergraduate degrees in ocean sciences will usually include academic achievements at the level required by your chosen university in a related subject area, such as biology or chemistry.

If applicable, you may also be required to provide evidence of your English language proficiency in IELTS, TOEFL, or other accepted language tests.

Postgraduate programmes in Ocean Sciences are most commonly offered at universities around the world as a Master of Science (MSc/MS), which can typically take 1-2 years to complete when studied full-time, and could include an industrial placement year.

Entry requirements for a postgraduate programme in ocean sciences will usually include a bachelor/undergraduate degree in a related discipline such as ecology, marine biology or physics.