Bachelor of Marine Science and Master of Oceanography

Program Overview

This accelerated combined Bachelor and Master program in Marine Science and Oceanography equips students with an interdisciplinary understanding of marine and oceanographic processes. Through a focus on scientific data analysis and field work, graduates gain technical skills for careers in government, industry, consulting, and research institutions. Ranked highly in Australia and globally, the program leverages Western Australia's unique marine environment for practical learning experiences.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This combined Bachelor and Master (CBM) is a four-year accelerated program for those with an ATAR of 90 or above. The Bachelor component will provide you with a strong academic foundation in marine science, covering both physical and biological aspects and their interactions. The master’s component will delve into the physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes in coastal and deep marine environments. The Bachelor of Marine Science emphasizes building essential knowledge and skills in collecting, interpreting, analyzing, and synthesizing scientific data in marine settings. The Master of Oceanography focuses on technical and interdisciplinary teaching, with a strong emphasis on both field and lab work. The program leverages Western Australia's position on the Indian Ocean and its access to unique marine environments, such as pristine coastal areas and ocean processes shaped by the Indian and Southern Oceans.

Careers:

The combined bachelor’s and master’s has core units that seek to ensure students have strong interdisciplinary knowledge and technical skills to take advantage of diverse career opportunities in government, industry, consultancies and research institutions. The need for marine and coastal management, marine renewable energy, safe use of the ocean and aquaculture will require graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge of marine science and oceanography. Career options include:

• Oceanographer
• Coastal Manager/Officer
• Coastal & Oceanographic Consultant
• Coastal Geologist
• Meteorologist
• Applied Ocean Scientist
• Climate Scientist
• Ocean Data Scientist

Other:

• The program is available full-time or part-time.
• The program starts in Semester 1.
• The program is available for domestic and international students.
• The program is ranked 3rd in Australia and 26th in the world for Oceanography (ARWU 2023).
• The program is ranked 2nd in Australia and 29th in the world for Earth and Marine Sciences (QS 2023).
• The program is ranked 1st in Australia and 17th in the world for Marine/Ocean Engineering (ARWU 2023).
• The program is offered through the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (IOMRC) and the UWA Oceans Institute.
• The program includes fieldwork opportunities in Western Australia and beyond.
• The program is designed to prepare students for a rewarding career across a range of growing marine career areas spanning private industry to government.
• Students will gain knowledge across physical, chemical, geological, and biological interactions applied to coastal and ocean systems as well as important practical and problem-solving skills.
• Students will become proficient in marine field data collection, data analysis techniques, including the use of industry-standard software.
• Students will integrate knowledge of marine and coastal processes, and their links to biological processes, to address real-world problems.