Marine Systems and Policies MSc

Rapid climate change and the global expansion of human activities threaten the world's oceans.

How do we realistically balance development with ocean conservation in a rapidly changing climate? And how do we do this in ways that are also equitable and fair to society?

Our MSc programme places you right at the forefront of the fast-paced interface between marine science and policy that deals with these sustainability challenges. As a student, the programme centres a lot with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water but our programme’s interdisciplinarity will help you find links to all SDGs.

This broad programme is built around the science and policies spanning tropical to polar ecosystems, from wetlands and estuaries to the deep-sea including the abyss.

You can learn how to apply marine science and knowledge to critically evaluate and enrich policies and influence how new policies can be created through science communication.

You will get to learn from real-world practitioners and people with lived experiences through global case studies as well as domestic and overseas field trips. These experiences will be under the guidance of a research-active team of highly supportive and motivated university scientists with decades of experience at the science-policy interface from grassroots to international levels.

The capstone of your programme is an independent marine research dissertation project. It will be designed by you and a supervisor or host on a topic of your choice. You can either conduct an internship or a placement for your dissertation, in either a desk-based, lab-based, or field-based setting.

By the end of your programme, you will be highly equipped with a portfolio of skills employers are looking for and that will support a future academic PhD career, including:

• policy analysis
• applied marine scientific survey and social science skills
• science communication

Is this MSc for me?

Rising up to the challenge of sustainable ocean development requires interdisciplinary solutions.

Interested in doing an MSc that truly respects and integrates interdisciplinarity into your degree program? Ours is for you.

From the outset, you will learn how marine ecosystems are structured and how they function from research-active marine ecologists and oceanographers. You will also learn from local people, social scientists, governments, industry, and experts in marine law how these ecosystems are used, valued, and managed.

Our MSc is also suited for you if you are eager to meet other like-minded people from all over the world with different backgrounds, training, and perspectives. Our students especially value that their peers come from a variety of academic and work backgrounds, for example:

• marine biology
• physical oceanography
• international development
• social and political science
• geography
• law
• science communication

Edinburgh Climate Change Institute

This degree is associated with the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI).

The ECCI brings together consultancy, law, business, social science, technology, and policy experts to help develop a low-carbon society.

Through ECCI, you will have the opportunity to work and network alongside professionals and potential employers within this high-demand field.

• Visit the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute website

St. Abbs Marine Station

You will also benefit from the University's new collaborative partnership with St. Abbs Marine Station.

Situated in an active fishing and recreational scuba diving harbour, St. Abbs offers a complete socio-ecological microcosm from land to shore to the coastal zone. The area is also home to internationally important seabird colonies and protected offshore rocky reef habitats.

In addition to local trips run through our programme, our partnership with St. Abbs provides you with opportunities to undertake your dissertation research project.

• Visit the St Abbs Marine Station website
• Watch a YouTube clip about St Abbs Marine Station

What is it really like to study with us?

No one knows what it is like to study here better than the students themselves.

Our students are sharing their experiences - from studying to living in Edinburgh and everything in between.

Get social with us:

• Student experience blog
• School of GeoSciences Instagram
• School of GeoSciences Tiktok

When to apply

Please note: Due to high demand for this programme, we operate on a series of early application deadlines.

We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

For dates and details, please refer to 'Application Deadlines' on the right panel of this page.

You should also avoid applying to more than one degree. Applicants who can demonstrate their understanding and commitment to a specific programme are preferred.

If you plan to apply to more than one programme, you should discuss your choices with us before you submit your application.

Where possible, we may make an alternative programme offer if you have been unsuccessful in your chosen programme.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in natural sciences or social sciences, but with clear evidence of experience and interest in marine topics.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Employers tell us that they seek candidates with real-world skills and an integrated understanding of marine ecosystems, development and planning, as well as regional and international policies.

Our MSc programme was the first of its kind in the UK and has been running for 10 years. Over this time, we have sustained many strong collaborations with organisations that are also now major employers for our graduates. These include non-governmental organisations (NGOs), governments, advocacy groups, and industry.

As such, we are confident that our MSc programme provides you with the foundation needed to work in a wide range of settings, from grassroots community groups to universities and governments. You can also seek a career with the marine industry, non-government organisations (NGOs) or international agencies.

We also strongly support students in developing pathways to a PhD and offer a high level of support to students interested in presenting, publishing and making an impact in other ways, such as public engagement.

Our graduates

Our graduates are now working around the world at local, national and international levels, with many now working as:

• Ocean Consultants
• Marine Science Officers
• Marine Policy Analysts and Officers
• Sustainability Consultants
• Project Leaders
• Programme Officers
• Marine Mammal Observers
• Marine Education and Communication Leaders
• PhD students

For example, they can be found:

• gathering evidence for the government to support marine protected areas
• conducting academic research and fieldwork
• advising the fishing, offshore renewables, and tourism industry
• working with international conservation agencies to help implement marine policies at the highest level

We are also happy to support many of our graduates to further their pathways as PhD students both in the UK and abroad.

Examples of the organisations our graduates have gained employment with include:

• World Wide Fund for Nature
• Global Fishing Watch
• Blue Ventures
• Blue Marine Foundation
• United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre
• Joint Nature Conservation Committee
• Coral Cay Conservation Philippines
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps USA
• Royal Society for the Protection of Nature Scotland
• International Union for the Conservation of Nature
• Pew Foundation

Networks

We have excellent relationships with various organisations, from local communities to government, industry, and academia. Our networks can give you access to potential employers and decision-makers who may provide employment opportunities or research projects.

Guest experts from government, industries, and non-government organisations (NGOs) from around the world will also support your experience while you are here, giving practical workshops, lectures, or offering work-based or internship-based dissertation project opportunities.

Our Marine Systems and Policies LinkedIn alumni network keeps us on the frontier of job prospects all over the world, and keeps you connected to your peers for career support too.

As a University of Edinburgh student, you are also automatically a part of both the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) and the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (SAGES) consortia, which offer annual symposia, funding, study, and employment opportunities.

Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience at the University, providing:

• tailored advice
• individual guidance and personal assistance
• internships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
• access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network

We invest in your future beyond the end of your degree. Studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success, whatever shape that takes.

• Careers Service