Undergraduate + Postgraduate
Bachelor of Marine Science and Master of Marine Biology
Contact us
Address
Student Central
The University of Western Australia (M355), 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009
Telephone
131 UWA (131 892)
International
(+61 8) 6488 1000
Hours
Frequently asked questions
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Careers and further study
This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.
Career Pathways
Graduates can find a range of employment opportunities in areas such as:
- Marine environmental consulting
- State and local governments who manage coastal planning and infrastructure
- Government agencies that manage fisheries (e.g. DPRID), marine conservation (e.g. DBCA) or lead marine research projects (e.g. CSIRO,AIMS, Geoscience Australia)
- Resource industry
- Marine industry
- Marine Renewables
- Aquaculture
- NGOs
- Academia
Fees and scholarships
Domestic Student Fees
For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required. More information on how fees are calculated.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.
Cost of living
International Student Fees
Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.
Find out more about international student tuition fees and visit the fee calculator for the relevant course fees.
Fees are subject to annual indexation.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.
Cost of living
Admission requirements
The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you’re interested in studying this major, find out the admission details below.
Admission requirements
Minimum entry requirements
- 13.5
- 12
- 2.6
- 86
- 308
- 344
- 16.5
- 338
- 74
- 1270
- 70
- 90
English competency
English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.
Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.
Prerequisites
This major requires:
- Mathematics Methods ATAR; OR
- Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year; OR
- Students without ATAR mathematics to take two mathematics units in their first year.
- Chemistry ATAR or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.
How to apply
Ready for the next step?
Find out how to apply through our simple online application process.
We'll guide you through our entry requirements, admission pathways available to you and application deadlines for your chosen course.
We can’t wait for you to join us!
Course details
About the course
Quick details
- Available
- Perth (Crawley campus)
- Full-time
- Part-time
- On-campus
- Semester 1
- Undergraduate + Postgraduate
- CM010
- 106473H
Why study this course?
- UWA is ranked 4th in Australia and 29th in the world for Earth and Marine Science (QS 2024)
- UWA is ranked 3rd in the Australia and 37th in the world for Oceanography (GRAS 2024)
- We have nationally unique facilities and resources that are used across our marine studies
- Learning is richly embedded with internationally recognised research, often led by UWA’s global experts, encouraging research-based inquiry through cutting edge science
- Western Australia’s unique marine environment has led UWA to identify the understanding our oceans and marine environment as one of its grand challenges, and our extended major provides students with the knowledge required to develop solutions to the threats facing our marine and coastal environments
You'll learn to
- Use a range of contemporary techniques and instrumentation to collect data in the field and in the laboratory
- Analyse, synthesise and interpret data that varies in space and time
- Interpret patterns and integrate knowledge of physical and biological processes to address real world problems
Course structure
In your first three years, you will complete the Marine Science (extended major) and a semester of postgraduate study. You will then complete your selected specialisation in the Master of Marine Biology. Refer to the example study plan for more information.
Course structure
Bachelor of Marine Science and Master of Marine Biology CBM
BMarSc (Marine Science Extended Major) and Master ofMarine Biology
Undergraduate (UG) specific units
Elective units
Postgraduate (PG) specific units
| YEAR | SEMESTER | UNITS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1ST YEAR | 1 | BIOL1130 | SCOM1101 | EART1105 | CITS1401 |
| 2 | BIOL1131 | CITS2402 | ENVT2221 | EART2204 | |
| 2ND YEAR | 1 | ENVT2250 | GEOG2201 | SCIE2204 | SCIE1104 |
| 2 | BIOL2204 | BIOL3305 | ENVT3307 | ENVT3362 | |
| 3RD YEAR | 1 | ENVT3306 | SCIE3304 | Elective | Elective |
| 2 | PG Specific* | PG Specific* | PG Specific* | PG Specific* | |
| 4TH YEAR | 1 | PG Specific* | PG Specific* | PG Specific* | PG Specific* |
| 2 | PG Specific* | PG Specific* | PG Specific* | PG Specific* | |
* Postgraduate units will vary depending on your chosen specialisation, a study plan will be provided later in your degree.
Unit Description
- BIOL1130 - Frontiers in Biology
- SCOM1101 - Communicating Science
- EART1105 - Dynamic Planet
- CITS1401 - Computational Thinking with Python
- BIOL1131 - Plant and Animal Biology
- CITS2402 - Introduction to Data Science
- ENVT2221 - Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
- EART2204 - Coastal Processes
- ENVT2250 - Ecology
- GEOG2201 - Geographic Information Systems
- SCIE2204 - Marine Systems
- SCIE1104 - Science, Society and Data Analysis
- BIOL2204 - Marine Biology
- BIOL3305 - Fisheries Science: Foundation and Application
- ENVT3307 - Oceanography
- ENVT3362 - Environmental Dynamics
- ENVT3306 - Coastal Conservation and Management
- SCIE3304 - Field Techniques in Marine Science
- PG Specific - Master of Marine Biology
A day in the life of a marine science graduate
Molly Moustaka is a UWA PhD candidate and research scientist in the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Marine Science Program. Here, she shares her advice and explains what a typical day looks like in the field.
Read Seekers Space articleHear from Marine Science graduate Ashley Marino
Want to know where study in marine science could take you? Hear from Ashley Marino about her career path since graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science - Marine Science (now known as Bachelor of Marine Science).
Read Seekers Space articleYour degree options
Bachelor of Marine Science
Fieldwork in Science
UWA Oceans Institute
The UWA Oceans Institute brings together the University’s multidisciplinary research strengths across areas including oceanography, ecology, engineering, resource management and governance to address key ocean challenges.
Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre
Purpose-built collaborative facility for marine science and ocean engineering research.