Marine Biology with a Year in Applied Research, BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

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This Biological Sciences program provides a comprehensive understanding of life on Earth, from cellular biology to marine ecosystems. Students gain hands-on research experience through a year-long placement, developing advanced skills in data analysis, experimental design, and scientific communication. The program prepares graduates for careers in ecology, conservation, biotechnology, and other fields related to the study of living organisms.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

A deep academic understanding of life on earth is now more important than ever. Studying living organisms in all their epic variety helps us to identify critical threats and major opportunities, from the smallest scale to the biggest. The Year in Applied Research provides an opportunity for students to spend a period of 9- 12 months (minimum of 40 weeks) in a research organisation in order to gain first-hand research experience. During the placement, students work within a research group and carry out the day-to-day research-based activities relevant to the discipline within that specific research area. Students should expect to be involved in multiple research projects, often being undertaken consecutively. Throughout the placement, students develop advanced research skills, such as mastering appropriate technology, analyses, surveying, while learning to use and apply relevant methods of experimental design, data collection and analysis. Students may also be involved in writing technical reports, searching for and synthesising relevant literature and communicating technical information via a range of modes. While on the research placement, there should be opportunities to network and build a professional profile.

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Outline:

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Year 1 (Level 4)

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FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

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Compulsory Modules

• Cellular & Microbial Biology (20 credits)
• Core Skills for Biological Sciences (20 credits)
• Botany and Ecology (20 credits)
• Evolution and Genetics (20 credits)
• Life in the Oceans (20 credits)
• Animal Diversity and Behaviour (20 credits)

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Year 2 (Level 5)

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FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

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Compulsory Modules

• Professional Development and Careers Planning (0 credits)
• Marine Invertebrates (15 credits)
• Boat Based Marine Biology (15 credits)
• Ecological Data Analysis (15 credits)
• Marine Biology Field Course (15 credits)
• Ichthyology (15 credits)
• Oceanography (15 credits)

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Optional Modules

• Guidance: Choose exactly 15 credits from the following modules:
• Molecular Ecology (15 credits)
• Ecological Microbiology and the Cycles of Life (15 credits)
• Population and Community Ecology (15 credits)

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Compulsory - Choose Welsh or English module

• Guidance: Choose exactly 15 credits from the following modules:
• Year 2 Biological Sciences Literature Review (15 credits)
• Adolygiad Llenyddiaeth Bl 2 (15 credits)

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Year 3 (Level 5S)

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FHEQ 5 Undergraduate Sandwich Year

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Compulsory Modules

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Teaching:

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students. Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching. Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study. This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

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Careers:

Graduates of biological sciences are set on course for a range of stimulating opportunities. These are a small number of their recent destinations.

• Ecologist (Jacobs Engineering & CSA Environmental)
• Delivery Officer (Biotechnology & Biological Science Research Council)
• Project Officer (Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Trust)
• Hydrometry and Telemetry Officer (Natural Resources Wales)
• Benthic Taxonomist (Oceanology Ltd)
• Wildlife and Education Officer (Ipswich Borough Council)
• Crop Technician (Humber Growers)
• Animal keeper (All Things Wild)
• Quality Control Associate (Amgen Biovex Ltd)
• Royal Navy Officer (Britannia Royal Navy College)
• Research Assistant (TRP Research)
95% of Graduates are in employment, study and/or study, or doing other activities such as travelling, 15 months after leaving Swansea University. (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023)

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

UK International September 2023 £ 9,000 £ 19,950 September 2024 £ 9,000 £ 20,950