Postgraduate Taught

Marine Conservation

You’ll explore the critical socio-political dimensions of conservation in coastal and ocean environments, making you stand out to employers.

With guidance, you’ll lead an individual research project or dissertation focused on a marine-related topic of your choice, with options to collaborate on ongoing research or take part in industry placements.

You’ll undertake multiple field trips to sites such as The Deep, which holds over 3,500 different kinds of sea animals.

You'll also use our industry level facilities such as our tropical aquarium and Marine Biology laboratory here at the university.

Dive into Marine Conservation: Preserving Ocean Life and Biodiversity at the University of Hull

The call to protect our oceans is urgent. At Hull, you join a programme designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge to address today’s critical marine conservation challenges. Stand out to future employers by mastering not only marine ecology, biology and biodiversity principles but also the socio-economic and policy dimensions that shape marine conservation efforts worldwide.

This course will help you gain hands-on experience with fieldwork, coastal site visits, and practical sessions at local facilities, including The Deep, where you’ll work directly with marine conservation experts.

Field Trips

to The Deep and Coastal Areas
Industry-standard software

such as RStudio and GIS
Make a change

to the future of marine life
Develop

industry-level skills through hands on practice
Learn social and legal

aspects alongside biological and ecological issues

Swipe

Course overview

Module options

About this course

In this programme, you’ll dive into essential skills for marine conservation, such as designing biodiversity monitoring schemes for ocean ecosystems and assessing environmental threats to marine life. You’ll also explore the critical socio-political dimensions of conservation in coastal and ocean environments, exploring issues such as overfishing, habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and emerging conservation challenges. This is expertise that employers in marine conservation urgently seek - positioning you miles ahead in your journey to a meaningful career in protecting our oceans.

You’ll explore how marine conservation is influenced by human communities, uncovering the challenges posed by these interactions and their effects on aquatic health. Alongside this, you’ll examine the legal and policy structures at both national and global levels that govern and guide conservation practices across the world’s oceans.

This course also covers industry level practical skills that you’ll use for the rest of your career. Our modules cover advanced data analysis and habitat monitoring, as well as practical marine conservation, where you’ll gain get hands-on experience. You’ll undertake multiple field trips to examine marine conservation problems and projects on our coastline, and learn from expertise in ex-situ conservation at The Deep, a local award winning aquarium with over 5,000 animals. You will be able to use our industry level facilities in the Marine Biology laboratory.

Building on your advanced knowledge and research skills, you’ll undertake a large-scale project. With guidance, you’ll lead an individual research project or dissertation focused on a marine-related topic of your choice, with options to collaborate on ongoing research. Your project might involve creating a conservation plan for a specific marine species or habitat, analysing public opinion on a debated conservation issue, collecting ecological data to inform conservation action, or pursuing other areas of interest. This project allows you to shape your degree around your passion, equipping you with the experience needed to excel in your marine conservation career.

Choose your modules

Each year, you’ll study modules worth a certain number of credits, and you need 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits – so you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more. In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120. Some modules are compulsory, some are optional, so you can build a course that’s right for you.

Marine Conservation Project

The project involves a desk/archive-based, data analysis, lab or field project and written project report on a subject agreed between the student and staff in a field relevant to Marine conservation. Each student conducts, with assistance, an individual research project or dissertation, which is supervised for the duration of the project by an expert or experts in their respective field(s). The subject will be chosen in T2 and students will submit an initial literature review which will go on to form part of the dissertation at the beginning of T3. There may be opportunities to participate in existing research projects and/or have a placement with an external organisation. Some projects may consist of a series of related studies using different techniques that form chapters in a dissertation.

Core•60 credits

Global Conservation

This module will give students an understanding of how conservation operates from a global to a national scale, including the roles of international bodies, legal and advisory frameworks and NGOs. Students will learn how these cascade into national level frameworks and legislation, and the benefits and drawbacks of these approaches.

Compulsory•20 credits

Research Skills in Environmental Sciences

It is more important than ever that future environmental scientists are well-equipped with the skills needed to critically assess environmental research. This module will provide you with the key skills required to assess and integrate contemporary literature and to analyse and interpret complex data to become an independent researcher.

Compulsory•20 credits

Ecology for Conservation

This module will deal with ecological principles at both the population and community level. The important theoretical foundations of the subject will be covered, allowing further exploration of how these lead into practical conservation issues and will deal with ecological principles at both population and community level. The important theoretical foundations of the subject will be covered, allowing further exploration of how these lead into practical conservation issues.

Compulsory•20 credits

People and Conservation

Wild animals often live in close proximity to people, and conservation of those animals has important impacts on those people. This module will introduce a series of important topics associated with conservation and society, including a consideration of how successful conservation programmes can be designed in collaboration with local people rather than in conflict with them.

Compulsory•20 credits

Marine Biodiversity and Assessment

Discover the essential methods for assessing marine life and habitats to drive effective conservation. In this module, you'll explore cutting-edge techniques for measuring marine biodiversity, estimating population sizes, and analysing data, all within the context of current environmental policies. Learn how to turn data into actionable insights, empowering you to contribute to evidence-based marine conservation planning and monitoring.

Compulsory•20 credits

Practical Marine Conservation

Gain hands-on experience in marine conservation by working with leading organizations on projects like seagrass restoration, fisheries conservation, and citizen science. You'll engage with industry professionals, participate in practical conservation efforts, and learn key skills like grant writing and fundraising. Fortnightly seminars and reflective sessions will help you evaluate the impact of these projects, culminating in a personal essay and a grant proposal for a conservation initiative.

Compulsory•20 credits

7 Modules

Our academics

Our School of Environmental Sciences brings together world-leading marine, earth and social scientists, each with diverse backgrounds spanning research, industry, and conservation.

They bring their knowledge, hands-on experience, and passion for the ocean into everything they teach, giving you the chance to learn directly from those shaping the future of marine science and conservation.

See more academics for this subject

Featured academic

Dr Charlotte Hopkins

Charlotte's current research includes understanding human perceptions of the marine environment and how these can be incorporated into conservation, planning, marine management and sustainable use.

Featured academic

Prof. Robert Knell

Rob is a Professor of Zoology and an active researcher with interests in a variety of different aspects of ecology and evolution, mainly to do with either parasites, immune systems, sex or all three.

Entry requirements

UK
International

What do I need?

Typical offer

2:1 in relevant subject area

At Hull, we request an entry grade tariff of 2:1 in a related field. Conservation is a multidisciplinary field and a wide range of undergraduate degrees will be considered, including biology, marine biology, zoology, ecology, environmental science and geography.

Well-qualified graduates from other programs such as politics, sociology or law with relevant experience in the field would also be considered.

If you’re an undergraduate student at Hull, you’re guaranteed a fast-track route to this postgraduate degree, as long as you meet the entry requirements.

In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved.

What do I need?

Typical offer

2:1 in relevant subject area

Well-qualified graduates from other programs such as politics, sociology or law with relevant experience in the field would also be considered.

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each skill. See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

UK
International

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and computers on campus, but you may want your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and computers on campus, but you may want your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Our scholarships

We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They’re awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those on lower incomes.

Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don’t pay a penny back.

International Scholarships and Bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries for international students.

To find out more and see if you're eligible, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

See more Scholarships

We offer a range of scholarships and awards to students at the university to help with their financial load.

To view all of our scholarships and determine whether you're eligible, please visit our Scholarships and Awards page

Take a look at our facilities

Marine Biology Laboratory

Get up close with marine life on campus in this laboratory – one of our core facilities for our biological and environmental science teaching and research.

Teaching Labs

You’ll have access to a GIS suite and teaching labs where you can develop your experimental skills.

Brynmor Jones Library

Our 7-storey library is home to 1 million+ books, extensive digital resources drawn from libraries and archives across the world, and stunning panoramic views of the city from the 7th floor.

See more in our virtual tour

Look around

Students in a Marine Biology teaching lab

Look around

Future prospects

There is an urgent global need for skilled and area-focused marine conservation professionals who possess not only a solid understanding of ecological and management principles but also the ability to navigate the complex socio-political landscapes inherent to conservation work. Graduates from this program will be equipped to pursue diverse careers, for example as a:

Marine Conservation Manager, Aquatic Ecologist, Research Scientist, Project Manager, Policy Advisor, Campaigns Officer, Academic and many more.

Your next steps

Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.

Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.

How to apply

Not ready to apply?

We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.

Discover more

Marine Conservation

About this course