Climate Change: Managing The Marine Environment

Entry requirements

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree or non-UK equivalent in a science subject with evidence of maths/numeracy courses passed at C or experience from a work environment can also be considered. Please include your CV as part of your application.

We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.

The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.

If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.

Please see our detailed English language requirements.

Months of entry

September

Course content

There is a global need for an interdisciplinary approach to combat the effects of climate change on the marine environment. MSc Climate Change: Managing the Marine Environment provides those of you with a bachelor-level graduate degree in biology the opportunity to build your marine biology knowledge and expertise with emphasis on challenging climate change and solving maritime environmental issues. For those of you from a different academic background, the programme offers you the opportunity to prepare for employment in the marine management and planning sector. Through studying a broad range of relevant and topical issues, you’ll gain an understanding of the causes, impacts and management measures involved in dealing with issues in the marine environment.

You’ll learn fundamental knowledge of the main disciplines and associated technologies in managing impacts of climate change in the maritime environment, the ethics and standards relevant to professional scientific and engineering practice, and the social, economic, and environmental impact of change to marine ecosystems with an international context.

The career-focused master’s programme will develop your technical, scientific, and managerial abilities, relevant for a marine science career in academia, industry, government and non-governmental organisations.

Your Student Experience

Our expertise

Your learning will be informed by experts in marine science, renewable energy, economics, and transition engineering from our Institute of Life and Earth Sciences (ILES). The Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology (CMBB) is based at the Edinburgh campus and the International Centre for Islands Technology (ICIT) in Stromness, Heriot-Watt University’s Orkney campus. These research facilities are part of Heriot-Watt’s School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS), which is one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity.

The research relevance of this postgraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused. 

Your learning environment

The MSc Climate Change: Managing the Marine Environment is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratory practicals and field work, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.

During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, software and laboratories. You will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems at a range of locations within the United Kingdom and abroad, and work across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact.

Outside of the classroom, you can get involved with the Heriot-Watt Student Union, based at the Edinburgh campus, by participating in student groups, becoming an Academic Rep, and joining societies.  

You may be particularly interested in joining the Marine Biology Society. Societies provide a great opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects.  

You’ll have the opportunity to engage in field work in Malaysia through the optional fully credited Tropical and Coral Reefs: Monitoring and Management course. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the marine environment whilst learning different techniques for surveying and monitoring coral reefs. Take a look at our experiences during our Malaysia field trip in 2024.

Customise your learning

You’ll take five mandatory courses that will provide you with knowledge of marine environmental monitoring, marine resources and sustainability, and climate change. You’ll gain skills in geographical information software (GIS) for marine scientists and environmentalists, and you’ll increase your applied research, design, and analysis skills. You can customise your learning to match your specific interests or desired career pathway by choosing three optional courses from a range of over ten environmental, marine, and energy transition specialist courses, including oceanography, environmental processes, marine biotechnology, and transition engineering.

In semester three, you’ll undertake an extensive and specialised investigation into your chosen area of marine science through your dissertation. You’ll be required to demonstrate your mastery of the subject area by researching, investigating, and reporting on a specialist topic relating to the subject area, and you’ll be required to do this within the time and resources available.

You can choose whether to study the programme full time or part time at our Edinburgh campus. This flexibility allows you to fit your postgraduate studies around your lifestyle. The programme begins in September and the course will last 12 months full time or 24 months part time.  

You’ll have the opportunity to engage in field work in Malaysia through the optional fully credited Tropical and Coral Reefs: Monitoring and Management course. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the marine environment whilst learning different techniques for surveying and monitoring coral reefs. Take a look at our experiences during our Malaysia field trip in 2024.

Employability

Below are just a few examples of the wide breadth of employment or PhD positions our recent graduates have secured: Blair Easton (2018) is a researcher at St Abbs Research Station, Allan Cochrans (2016) has secured a PhD at Stirling University, David Hill (2015) is Strategic Business and Finance Manager, Scottish Government, Theofilos Sidiropoulos (2015) has secured a position at Gardine Geosciences Ltd, Tetrienne Box (2013) is now Underwater Noise Advisor at JNCC, Melodie Hermier (2010) is now clinical data manager with Aptiv Solutions, Kerri Gardiner (2010) initially worked for Jacobs engineering and is now a senior scientist with Intertek involved in developing EIAs (risk/toxicity) for drilling and pipelines for the oil industry as well as subsea cable projects, Cella Carr (2010) has secured an internship with the Zoological Society of London, working on their Biodiversity and Oil Palm Programme in Indonesia, Renier (Dutch) Zoutenbier (2011) is an Environmental Consultant with Royal Haskoning at their Exeter Offices, responsible for Industry, Energy and Mining, Charles-Eric Deplanck (2010) works as a fisheries observer for Oceanic Développement, based in Concarneau (Brittany).

Information for international students

IIf your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.

The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.

If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.

Please see our detailed English language requirements.

Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries