ObjectivesThis 18-month taught postgraduate Masters degree programme is a joint European postgraduate degree with the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) and the University of Bordeaux -1 (with the AZTI Foundation and the Oceanographic Foundation of Gipuzcoa, Spain). Students spend one semester in each of Southampton, Bilbao and Bordeaux and study in English. Graduates from the MER programme have experience of mobility across Europe that empowers them in the European job market. The emphasis on environment and resources within the programme provides the specialisation required by the pan-European job and research market. Transferable skills are obtained within each research and learning culture that are invaluable for future careers. The oceans are a large resource, which is fundamental to life; they constitute the largest three-dimensional ecosystem on the plant, varying temporally, most of which is unexplored. As such, there is a need to understand and manage the marine environment and its non-living and living resources. Non-living resources include non-renewable (hydrocarbons, minerals and aggregates) and renewable (tidal, wave, wind and thermal). Living resources include fisheries (incorporating algae collection) and aquaculture. Against this background, there is a need for training in: understanding the marine environment, through field measurement and modelling; data collection and synthesis, including processing and analysis; and the management of resources, including sustainable development. Other topical scientific/ geographical areas of interest, covered by the course include: pollution; climate change; port construction
Entry requirementsA good Honours degree (2.1 or equivalent preferred) in any discipline or a relevant career background which demonstrates the candidate's capacity to assimilate knowledge, to apply critical analysis to environmental issues and which provides evidence of numeracy skills and the ability to analyse scientific data.
Academic titleMSc in Marine Environment and Resources
Course descriptionMSc in Marine Environment and Resources Course Content
Semester 1
-All students must complete five introductory modules:
-Contemporary Topics
-Introduction to Biological Oceanography
-Introduction to Physical Oceanography
-Introduction to Chemical Oceanography
-Introduction to Marine Geology
-In addition, one optional module is selected:
-Applied & Marine Geophysics
-Large Scale Ocean Processes
-Biogeochemical Cycles in the Earth System
-Introductory Remote Sensing of the Oceans
-Geodynamics & Solid Earth Geophysics
-International Maritime and Environmental Law