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Book on an postgraduate open day

    KEY FACTS

    • Title
      MRes Marine Biology
    • Award
      Master of Research - MRes
    • Study mode
      Full-time (Part-time route available)
    • Duration
      1 year
    • Start date
       September 2012
    • Fees
       £4650 (UK/EU)
Skip Navigation LinksPlymouth University > courses > postgraduate > MRes Marine Biology

​hermit crabs

introduction to marine biology

Marine biology is an extraordinarily broad discipline, reflecting the impressive scale of marine ecosystems and the fantastic range of life they contain. Marine organisms have long been important models in biomedical research, while marine processes exert massive influence on the Earth’s climate and the pattern of biogeochemical cycling. The world’s oceans are vital sources of food, but are also the ultimate destination of a large proportion of our waste products. Coupled with our innate fascination with the sea and its creatures, marine biology is thus a compelling subject for study.

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Aim of the programme

This programme is intended to reflect the breadth and excitement of marine biology through its close linkage with the diverse research pursuits of a range of leading scientists in one of the world's foremost locations for marine studies.

The programme aims to broaden the existing skills of marine biology graduates, but also to offer graduates in other relevant disciplines the necessary training for them to apply and develop their particular skills in a marine context. A graduate of this programme is therefore significantly better prepared than a typical bachelors graduate for a career in academic marine research or for working independently within a company or governmental organisation.

​WHY STUDY MARINE BIOLOGY?

  • You will be based in one of the world’s leading cities for the study of marine biology.
  • You will be taught by recognised experts with worldwide links to research organisations and projects.
  • You will experience a specifically designed and topical programme, provided jointly by Plymouth University and the Marine Biological Association (MBA) of the UK, with two pathways to suit different interests.
  • You will undertake an extensive, original and innovative research project, in collaboration with MBA research fellows or with marine researchers at Plymouth University.

Programme highlights

  • Marine biology students on fieldworkTwo routes: biodiversity and ecology or cellular and molecular biology
  • Close links with worldwide research community
  • Excellent training for further research
  • You will be based in one of the world's leading cities for the study of marine biology
  • You will be taught by recognised experts with worldwide links to research organisations and projects
  • You will experience a specifically designed, topical programme provided jointly by Plymouth University and the Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA), with two pathways to suit different interests
  • You will undertake an extensive, original and innovative research project,often in collaboration with MBA Research Fellows, either in the UK or abroad

PROGRAMME LEADER AND TEAM

Dr Mark Briffa is a lecturer in Marine Biology at Plymouth University. His research interests centre on the behaviour of marine invertebrates with a focus on aggression and communication.

The programme team consists of some of the leading experts in the field of marine biology. The MBA Director, Professor Colin Brownlee, teaches on the programme and has wide interests in cellular processes, particularly in algae. The various MBA research groups study a very broad range of topics, including aquatic virology, intercellular signalling, fish behaviour and climate change.
 
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​Translational biomedicine

Simon Jackson (below) talks about the Research Centre for Research in Translational Biomedicine: