Marine Biology, BSc (Hons)

Clearing is open!

Apply now
Student Snorkeling in Puerto Rico

This course is available through Clearing

Clearing Help and Support 0808 175 3071

Course Overview

An academic understanding of ocean life across the world has never been more important. 

Our three-year Marine Biology degree is highly practical and fieldwork based and our unique location gives students easy access to a variety of study habitats including exposed rocky shores, steep cliffs salt marshes and estuarine mudflats.

Why Marine Biology at Swansea?

  • 11th in the UK for Research Quality (Complete University Guide 2025)
  • 1st in the UK for Learning Opportunities (NSS 2024) *Based on the average positivity score across questions 5 to 9 in the NSS 2024 when ranked against universities featured in the Times Good University Guide.

Marine Biology at Swansea University has a strong reputation and draws students from across the world and is based on our stunning Singleton Park campus overlooking Swansea Bay.

Your learning will be shaped by inspirational and internationally-renowned academics including Professor Rory Wilson – Chief Scientific Consultant behind National Geographic’s Great Migrations, and Dr Richard Unsworth – advisor on the globally acclaimed BBC series Blue Planet II.

Your Marine Biology Experience

  • A flexibly structured degree path means you have the opportunity to study abroad, work in industry or undertake research for a year, either locally, nationally or overseas.
  • All second-year students receive training at sea.
  • Our state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities include the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, a Zoological Museum, a custom-designed 18 metre catamaran-class survey vessel, and a unique visualisation centre that displays multi-dimensional information from animal tracking data.
  • Field courses available near and far allow you to work varied habitats. You can explore the spectacular marine coastal ecosystems of the Gower Peninsula on our doorstep, and natural life in distant lands such as India, Borneo and Puerto Rico.

Marine Biology Employment Opportunities

Our graduate have become Ecologists, Project Officers, Hydrometry and Telemetry Officers, Benthic Taxonomists, Wildlife and Education Officers, Animal Keepers and Crop Technicians.

Our department has strong connections with international and national organisations such as Natural Resources Wales, The British Mammal Society and The National Wetlands Centre Wales which will add value to your studies.

Find out why our students love studying Marine Biology at Swansea

What our students say about our tropical marine field course to Puerto Rico

Find out why our students love studying Bioscience at Swansea

Modules

You will study the following set compulsory modules and select from a choice of optional modules over the course of your degree. In your final year you will take a ten-week 30-credit biosciences research project module which can be field-based in the UK or overseas, laboratory-based or purely analytical.

Marine Biology, BSc (Hons)

Marine Biology with a Year Abroad, BSc (Hons)

Marine Biology with a Year in Applied Research, BSc (Hons)

Marine Biology with a Year in Industry, BSc (Hons)