Marine Restoration and Conservation, MSc

Addressing the growing skills gap for marine restoration and conservation

Coral

Course Overview

Swansea University is home to the world’s first MSc in Marine Restoration and Conservation; a unique and exciting 12-month programme focused on equipping you with the skills to tackle one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time - restoring our ocean ecosystems.

This MSc is well positioned to meet a critical global need. The UN have declared this as the “Decade of Ecosystem Restoration”, with numerous international frameworks now highlighting the urgent need for the restoration of ocean habitats, and for nations to be meeting vital carbon reduction goals. The programme also neatly aligns with the Welsh and UK Governments’ marine conservation and restoration plans, ensuring strong prospects for you as a graduate.

The university's beach-side location creates a living restoration laboratory on our doorstep with excellent research facilities and research vessel that are designed for coastal and offshore teaching and experiential learning to equip you with core skills in marine restoration and conservation. You will work alongside world-leading scientists on projects like seagrass and saltmarsh restoration, gaining valuable conservation experience.

In one of Europe’s largest controlled aquatic research facilities, you’ll develop aquatic husbandry and applied research skills across conservation-sensitive and commercially important species. Modules offer opportunities to study threatened species in their natural habitats, design species recovery action plans, and engage in marine conservation initiatives. You will also conduct independent research on key restoration topics, enhancing your expertise in marine restoration and conservation.

With growing global awareness and funding for ecosystem restoration, this MSc equips future marine scientists with the skills and experience to restore and protect our oceans for generations.

Why Marine Restoration and Conservation at Swansea?

Swansea University is uniquely positioned to lead in this field due to location, facilities and expertise in marine restoration and conservation. Our location on the Welsh Coast provides direct access to diverse marine and coastal environments, conservation and restoration sites. Our research vessel and state-of-the-art facilities for sustainable aquatic husbandry and seagrass restoration support teaching and research, and students will be taught and supervised by world-leading researchers in marine restoration and conservation.

Swansea University has offered a marine biology programme for over 50 years, supported by an interdisciplinary team of experts. The department has led key projects, including the Handbook of the Marine Fauna of Northern Europe and playing lead roles in supporting major pieces of science communication (National Geographic Great Migrations, BBC Blue Planet) and being global leaders in understanding the movements of ecology of marine vertebrates. Biosciences is also home to one of Europe’s largest controlled aquatic research facilities, the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (CSAR), which supports conservation-sensitive and commercially important species through research on welfare, enrichment, nutrition, and larval production.

This MSc has been created as a direct response to the urgent need for trained professionals and researchers in marine conservation, restoration, and sustainable resource management. Marine biologists at Swansea University have been at the forefront of research and innovation in marine restoration. They have led the UK’s first major seagrass restoration programme, developed guidelines for seagrass restoration and are leading the way in pushing forward the science of this topic internationally. This work is not limited to seagrass and has involved major contributions to saltmarsh restoration and the science underpinning this work in Wales and further afield. Research in support of mangrove restoration is also underway in The Gambia where our team are working with local communities to improve degraded marine habitats. Under the complete definition of ecological restoration is the need to consider ecosystem rehabilitation. Our team includes researchers at the forefront of marine conservation initiatives to enhance and rehabilitate existing marine species and habitats.

Our research strengths include restoration initiatives for critical habitats such as seagrass, oyster reefs and salt marshes, and developing the mathematical and quantitative foundations for rewilding. Swansea has founded flagship programmes like Project Seagrass, and the Fishbee Group, which lead cutting-edge research on ecosystem restoration and the sustainability of blue carbon ecosystems. This expertise, combined with our established connections with industry and regulatory partners, positions Swansea as a world leader in marine conservation and restoration education.

Singleton Park Campus provides additional specialist laboratories, computing suites, and research spaces, while field-based learning is enhanced by the use of the university’s coastal research vessel, the Mary Anning, enabling you to conduct offshore surveys, habitat assessments, and species monitoring. These resources ensure you will gain the practical and technical experience necessary for careers in marine conservation and restoration.

You will be studying as part of our Biosciences Department, which is internationally recognised for its research, and ranked:

  • Top 301-350 in the World (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024), and
  • 100% of our Research Environment is Rated as World-leading and Internationally Excellent (REF 2021), and
  • 97% of our Research Outputs Have Been Recognised as World-leading and Internationally Excellent (REF 2021)

Your Marine Restoration and Conservation Experience

This programme emphasises interactive, hands-on learning through fieldwork and lab-based projects, encouraging you to build the key skills that enable you to tackle real-world marine restoration and conservation challenges. You will have opportunities to work with Swansea’s marine restoration and conservation experts, while engaging with local and global conservation organisations, helping you to build meaningful networks and feel part of a larger community dedicated to ocean restoration.

The skill set necessary for successful restoration and conservation programmes has been reviewed and integrated into the MSc course. For example, animal husbandry, larval culture, habitat mapping and GIS, environmental monitoring and modelling, field surveys, Red List assessments, species recovery action planning, statistics and experimental design, science writing and communication. While many key skills are entire degree programmes, we equip students with a strong grasp of major themes and their impact on restoration and conservation.

In addition to this, you will also gain essential conservation and restoration expertise by using internationally recognised assessment techniques (e.g. for IUCN Red List of Threatened Species), participating in fieldwork focused on conservation planning in tropical or temperate marine environments, and engaging in restoration fieldwork in temperate ecosystems.

Regular academic mentoring, career development sessions, and networking events with industry professionals will ensure that you feel supported both academically and professionally.

Throughout this programme, you will:

  • Lead the way in marine restoration. Learn cutting-edge conservation and restoration techniques, from rebuilding seagrass meadows to restoring saltmarshes and rebuilding fish populations.
  • Get hands-on experience. Take part in fieldwork, laboratory research, and plan species recovery programmes, gaining real-world skills that employers value.
  • Be able to evaluate scientific sources to make evidence-based decisions on marine conservation.
  • Turn science into action. Understand how restoration aligns with major global initiatives, such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the EU’s Restoration Law.
  • Build a career with impact. Prepare for exciting roles in a rapidly growing sector.

Marine Restoration and Conservation Employment Opportunities

Global policy shifts and funding initiatives are rapidly elevating the need for trained conservation and restoration scientists, with billions of pounds being pledged by governments to protect our habitats. The private sector is also recognising the importance of restoration, with large corporations leading substantial restoration projects.

Moreover, as the UK government moves toward implementing its marine net gain requirements, and the Welsh Government spearheads efforts, including the world’s first national Seagrass Action Plan, the demand for skilled restoration scientists will only increase.

The MSc in Marine Restoration and Conservation is designed to develop you into a highly skilled, adaptable, and entrepreneurial graduate, that is ready to tackle the challenges of marine ecosystem restoration and conservation, and take advantage of the exciting and rewarding employment opportunities being offered in the field.

By combining scientific expertise, innovation, leadership, and professional competencies, you will be well-equipped for careers in this rapidly expanding field. Potential employment destinations include:

Conservation & Environmental Organisations

  • International NGOs (WWF, The Nature Conservancy, Project Seagrass, and Conservation International)
  • Marine Conservation Charities (Marine Conservation Society, Blue Marine Foundation)
  • Coastal and Marine Restoration Projects Across the World

Government & Policy Roles

  • UK Government Bodies (DEFRA, Natural England, Marine Management Organisation)
  • Welsh Government (Natural Resources Wales, Marine Policy and Sustainability Roles)
  • European Commission & International Regulatory Bodies (UNEP, IUCN, IPBES)
  • Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Management and Enforcement Agencies

Marine & Environmental Consultancy

  • Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecological Restoration Consultancies (CEFAS, APEM, RPS Group)
  • Climate and Blue Carbon Consultancy (The Carbon Trust, Sustainability Advisory Firms)
  • Fisheries Management and Marine Resource Advisory Roles

Research & Academia

  • PhD and Research Positions in Marine Conservation, Restoration, and Blue Carbon Science
  • University and Research Institute Roles (Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Plymouth Marine Laboratory)
  • Science Communication and Public Engagement Roles

Industry & Corporate Sustainability

  • Marine and Coastal Industries Adopting Restoration (Offshore Wind, Aquaculture, Sustainable Fisheries)
  • Corporate Environmental and Sustainability Divisions (example companies; Deloitte, Nestlé, Mars, Aviva)
  • Carbon and Biodiversity Credit Market Roles Linked to Marine Restoration Financing

Modules

Throughout the programme you will study 180 credits, comprising of six 20-credit taught modules (four compulsory and two optional), and culminating in a 60-credit unique research project between June and September.