BSc Marine Biology ,with Placement Year

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 are 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 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
• identifying coral reef conservation strategies in the Caribbean and Indonesia.

Visit our course pages for BSc Ecology and Environmental Biology and BSc Global Sustainability to explore our other environmental science undergraduate degrees.

Sustainability at Essex

We're proudly ranked 95th (10th in the UK) for promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for life below water (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025).

To learn about the initiatives and actions the University of Essex is taking to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises, visit our sustainability page.