Marine Biology BSc Honours

The planet cannot survive without its oceans. Our mission is to nurture and train you as a marine biologist with the skills to solve global challenges. You’ll enjoy a unique experience at Newcastle University and develop the skills and knowledge for a successful career.

A career in Marine Biology is perfect if you are passionate about the environment, love the ocean, want to make a difference in the world and are driven to stand out in a competitive industry.

You will address key challenges of today including:

• loss of marine biodiversity
• marine conservation
• climate change
• marine pollution
• sustainable use of our marine resources

You’ll explore all marine life, from invertebrates, fish, seabirds and marine mammals to plants, algae and bacteria. You’ll also investigate the chemical and physical properties of the world’s oceans and their impact on marine life.

You'll have access to outstanding facilities. You’ll be out at sea on our research vessel, Princess Royal and conducting practical workshops at our coastal laboratory, the Dove Marine Laboratory. You’ll investigate out in the field and analyse findings in the lab, putting theory into practice.

Professional accreditation and recognition

Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)

This degree is accredited by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) on behalf of the Science Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a chartered scientist and chartered marine scientist.

Work placement

Get career ready with work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. Placements are subject to availability.

A Global Top 125 university (QS World University Rankings 2023), Newcastle is home to 29,000 students from 140 countries.

A founding member of the Russell Group, we are one of only 19 universities in the world – and just three in the UK – to achieve a five-plus QS Star rating for overall excellence (2022).

We can trace our origins back to the School of Medicine and Surgery, established in 1834.

Today, we combine world-leading research with a world-class academic experience.

A global leader with strengths in ageing and health, data, energy, cities, and the creative arts, we’re pioneering solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing the world. In the UK’s Research Excellence Framework 2021, 42% of our research was scored as world-leading.

Through 5-star teaching (QS Stars 2022), we educate for life. Students are challenged and supported to learn from world-class experts across more than 185 undergraduate and 300 postgraduate degrees.

Student experience

Students are supported to reach their full potential by our Student Health and Wellbeing services that provide counselling, mental health, disability and specialist learning support, as well as financial support and faith and spirituality support.

We’ve developed an online Academic Skills Kit to support students in becoming effective independent learners.

Our Students' Union is at the heart of the Newcastle experience, offering more than 180 student-run societies and over 60 sports clubs.

A top student city

Multicultural, vibrant and friendly, Newcastle is the capital of North East England – the University’s city-centre campus is at its heart.

A global top 50 and UK top 10 student city, it’s also one of the most affordable in the UK (QS Best Student Cities, 2023).

Newcastle offers top-class sports, a vibrant arts scene, great shopping and exciting nightlife. It’s also close to beautiful countryside and award-winning beaches.