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    KEY FACTS

    • Title
      BSc (Hons) Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology
    • Course type
      Full-time
    • Duration
      3 years (optional placement)
    • Award
      BSc (Hons)
    • Faculty
      Faculty of Science and Technology
    • School
      School of Marine Science and Engineering
    • UCAS codes
      Institution P60
      Course C160
    • Location
      Plymouth
Skip Navigation LinksPlymouth University > courses > undergraduate > BSc (Hons) Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology
​Students on the field course in South Africa

​Organisms and ecosystems

Have you ever wondered why certain organisms are found where they are? Or why animals behave in certain ways? This course will challenge you to ask such questions. Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other, and their environment. Coastal regions are rich in diverse habitats that support many different groups of species, these habitats extend from the ocean, to sandy beaches, rocky shores, dunes, mangroves and estuaries, and these varied environments are interconnected in complex and fascinating ways.

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Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology with Plymouth University

This degree course is unique in the UK: it takes a cross-system approach to the study of marine ecology, encouraging students to compare marine systems with other ecosystem types within a global context. It builds an understanding of a diverse range of coastal processes and systems, the impacts of human activities, the behaviour of marine organisms, and the conservation and sustainable exploitation of the marine environment. The course provides an important extra dimension to marine biology by exploring the interaction between the marine and terrestrial environments. Our coasts face many threats including pollution, the exploitation of resources, aquaculture, and global climate change.
 
Much of the teaching is supported by practical lab and field work, with two residential field courses: one in France during the first year, and another currently held in South Africa at the beginning of the second year (read more about the South Africa field course on the dedicated website). Students also undertake their own research project in their third year, with many encouraged to publish their projects as papers in scientific journals.
 

Students on a rocky shore in South Africa

Measuring a shrimp
​Greg Nightingale doing voluntary work in Lyme Bay

"Studying at Plymouth University has given me the opportunity to volunteer in a variety of different areas and has enabled me to gain practical experience whilst studying academically at a university renowned for its research into marine science."

Greg Nightingale, current Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology student 

​What our students say

"What a great place to study Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, not only is the location perfect, with the beautiful beaches of Devon and Cornwall easily accessible, but the lecturers are also really enthusiastic about their subjects, which is inspiring.  Plymouth is also an international centre for marine research, so there are wider opportunities for students to get voluntary experience, or collaborate with other institutions when they do their projects. I liked it here so much I returned to do a PhD." 

Kate de la Haye, Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology graduate


Tabitha Pearman, a graduate of the course, talks about her experiences of studying Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology with Plymouth, and her subsequent career path,  in the video below:

Meet some of the lecturers

Dr David Bilton is the programme leader, and also teaches on a number of modules. He is an aquatic ecologist, particularly interested in large-scale questions, such as why most species are rare, and how species evolve in the first place. He also works on the conservation and biodiversity of aquatic habitats in various parts of the world including the Mediterranean basin. David has published over 100 scientific papers to date, in collaboration with colleagues and students in Plymouth and across the world. He has specialist knowledge of a range of invertebrate groups, mainly arthropods, and a number of new species have been named after him. 

Read more about Dave's research

Dr Mark Briffa teaches several modules for this programme, he is a behavioural ecologist and his special research interests are in aggressive and fighting behaviours in animals, and animal ‘personality’. His studies have included contest behaviour in hermit crabs, sea anemones and wood ants, and the detection of consistent personality traits in invertebrates like hermit crabs. He has published many papers on his own research, and in collaboration with students. 
 
  
Dr Steve Votier, who also teaches on this programme, is a marine ecologist whose research interests focus on seabird ecology. He is interested in how seabirds respond to global change, including the effects of the fisheries industry and climate change on seabird behaviour and population dynamics. One of his studies on a gannet colony in Wales was recently featured on the BBC programme Coast.
 
 

Listen to past graduate of the course, Pip Moore, talking about her experiences on the course, and her subsequent career path, in the videos below: 
Dave Bilton Mark Briffa Steve Votier

The South West - a superb natural environment for field work

The shores and clear coastal waters of Devon and Cornwall provide an unrivalled resource for marine biologists. A diverse range of rich coastal habitats – estuaries, sandy beaches and rocky shores – are readily accessible for field trips and your own projects. A recent World Wildlife Fund Report highlights the South Devon coast as the area of highest marine biodiversity in the whole of the UK. We have rich rocky shores right on the waterfront of the city, five minutes from the campus, and a range of coastal sites with varied ecology just a short drive from the city. Our field work programme is constantly praised by External Examiners who have commented that, “few other universities offering degrees in marine biology have such good facilities.”

​Graduate profile

Emma Sheehan doing field work in Lyme Bay

Emma Sheehan graduated with a first class degree in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology in 2001. She worked for Natural England as a Conservation Officer before returning to Plymouth to do a PhD. She is now a postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University. One of her projects is to monitor the recovery of the seabed in the marine protected areas (MPAs) of Lyme Bay where trawling has been banned.

Read more about Emma's research

 


Career opportunities

Some of our graduates go on to further studies taking Masters or PhD degrees that can lead to research or consultancy careers in marine and environmental-related areas.  Others pursue careers as laboratory technicians, research assistants, teachers, or in other non-related fields where the transferrable skills acquired on the course are invaluable.
 
 
Student with microscope
 


Photo of Paul Reynolds

Graduate profile​

I became a professional diving instructor and underwater videographer, with a PADI qualification, and travelled to Australia. Whilst here I worked as a diving Instructor in Sydney and Whitsunday Islands for 15 months, and some of my footage was used for BBCs Blue Planet series. I then returned to the UK and became a commercial diver.

​The City of Plymouth as an international centre for marine science research

Marine biology staff are members of the Marine Biology & Ecology Research Centre. Besides the University, Plymouth is home to other internationally renowned establishments, that make up the Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership: the Marine Biological Association of the UK, Sir Alister Hardy Foundation of Ocean Science, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the National Marine Aquarium, the Diving Diseases Research Centre, and the University's Marine Institute.

 

PMSP logo


We collaborate in many research projects with these organisations and, as a student, you will have opportunities to benefit from the great intellectual environment this provides through numerous talks, events and activities. Many of our students gain valuable experience whilst working or volunteering, or conducting research for their final year dissertations in association with these organisations.

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Graduate profile

After completing my degrees I moved away from academia and into the conservation sector to work for the Shark Trust, a UK based charity, working hard to improve conservation and management measures for elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays) in the UK, Europe and internationally. 

Al Reeve
Shark Project Scientist, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

Photo of Al Reeve

Diving Science as part of the Marine Biology degrees

Plymouth has wonderful diving opportunities. We are the only university that offers Diving Science linked to an HSE Professional SCUBA course as part of your degree.

Divers in the water


Diving Science is an optional module in Year 2 for students on the Marine Biology, Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, and Marine Biology and Oceanography degree programmes. Parts of the HSE course are taken in Year 1 and during vacations (note that completion of the HSE course is subject to medical and aptitude conditions with limited places; additional costs must be met by the student). Our recent graduates are regularly working as divers on TV documentaries, as well as surveyors for environmental consultancy firms, British Antarctic Survey, and Government agencies. 
 

For more information on the HSE course please visit the Dive and Marine Centre page
 

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Photo of Maya Plass

Graduate profile

The course acted as a springboard for my career and a network of contacts for work in the future.  Through its diversity, it also gave me an opportunity to see what aspects of marine ecology I really wanted to follow.  I never expected my career would be so varied and exciting although I obviously hoped it would be.

Maya Plass
Director, Learn to Sea
​Jellyfish
​Students looking at Fynbos in South Africa
​Coccolithophores