Why study MSc Marine Environmental Management at Exeter?
Explore the relationships between coastal and marine ecosystems and human activity
Includes an international field course to the Maldives with up to ten dives possible and UK-based fieldwork. Please note, a low-carbon alternative programme is also available.
Gain transferable skills for marine environmental management, and learn to use 'R' and GIS
Dissertation can involve an external placement
Delivered by internationally recognised experts in a location surrounded in coastal and marine biodiversity
Due to the high demand for this programme we highly recommend that you apply early. Applications can be made from September for entry the following year. If we experience high demand it may be necessary for us to operate waiting lists or close the programme.
Top 20 in the UK for world-leading research in Biological Sciences
REF 2021, based on 4-star research
2nd in the world for Ecology
Shanghai Rankings Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025
90% of our Biological Sciences research is internationally excellent
Based on research rated 4* and 3* in the Research Excellence Framework 2021
High-quality research supervision, with access to excellent facilities
Entry requirements
A 2:1 degree or above in a relevant science subject* is normally required. We will be happy to consider applicants with a non-scientific background who have a strong academic profile and/or significant relevant work experience of 2+ years, on individual merit.
The ocean covers 71% of the surface of the Earth, but when depth is accounted for, occupies 97% of the volume of the biosphere. This means that the sea and life within it has a profound influence on the processes which keep the planet habitable. Yet until recently the ocean has been neglected in terms of management and protection, despite growing evidence of adverse impacts from a long list of human influences, such as overfishing, habitat damage and biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change.
Global attention is now turning rapidly to how to safeguard ocean life and the people and industries that depend on it, leading to increasing demand for trained practitioners of marine environmental management. MSc Marine Environmental Management delivers this training, giving you a thorough grounding in a wide diversity of marine ecosystems, their ecology, functioning, and values to people.
The programme explores the diverse ways in which human activities affect marine life and introduces management approaches to alleviate pressures from activities such as fisheries, tourism, coastal development and climate change. It examines in depth the science and practice of creating and managing marine protected areas to safeguard marine life and promote human livelihoods and wellbeing.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
The modules below provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
165 credits of compulsory modules, 15 credits of optional modules
If you have mobility or health disabilities that prevent you from undertaking intensive fieldwork, reasonable adjustments and/or alternative assessment can be considered. This could include replacing a fieldwork module with an alternative in agreement with the Director of Education.
Compulsory modules
Code
Module
Credits
Compulsory 1
Research Project
90
Statistical Modelling
15
Fisheries Management
15
Coral Reef Field Course
30
Marine Protected Areas
15
BIOM4009: Research Project
Learning to conduct original scientific research is essential for your scientific training, employability potential and future career. In this module, you will gain hands-on experience of conducting cutting-edge scientific research under the guidance of professional researchers. This involves conducting an independent research project on a subject of your choice related to conservation biology, ecology, evolution or behavioural ecology. Our academic staff offer a wide range of projects to pursue, which provide opportunities for building your skill set and experience in the process. With the support of your supervisor, you will be responsible for designing, planning and implementing the study, as well as analysing the data and writing it up for a world class peer-reviewed academic journal. As such, this project provides valuable experience of managing an original scientific research project, from its inception through to completion.
Biological data are famously complicated. However, modern statistical methods can accommodate many of these complications, and others can be avoided through careful study design and data collection. This module uses a series of lectures, interactive exercises and practicals to guide you through modern statistical philosophies and methods. It provides you with one of the most important transferable skills, both in and outside of academia, and it optimally prepares you for your dissertation project. The main software platform for the module is 'R', which is powerful, flexible and free. To accommodate students from a range of backgrounds and with different levels of prior experience, we start with the basics and gradually add complexity . By the end of the module , you will understand how to design a study , handle the data, analyse them , interpret the results , and provide graphical and written summaries. Many examples used will be drawn from recent research in ecology, evolution and environmental sciences .
Statistical modelling is an integral part of all quantitative research. Thereby this module provides key transferable skills in experimental design, data collection and handling, statistical modelling , and programming. More generally, it promotes quantitative and logical thinking.
The ocean has been exploited for seafood for over 160,000 years, with commercial fishing developing several thousand years ago in many areas. For most of human history the sea has supported prolific and plentiful fish which provided a valuable source of food and income. In the last two hundred years, however, overfishing and destructive fishing have become increasingly prevalent, to the detriment of fish and shellfish, their habitats, and the people that depend on them. Overfishing has also led to serious adverse impacts on ecosystem functioning, leading to a loss of crucial ecosystem processes and services. In this module you will learn about the long history of fishing, the methods used to catch fish, and the theory and practice of fisheries management. You will discover the many reasons how and why overfishing happens and what is needed to turn around the state of global fisheries so that seafood can continue to supply the needs of a growing population far into the future.
The Maldives is one of the world's great coral provinces, consisting of 26 atolls and more than a thousand islands on a north-south ridge in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The country was built by coral and upon coral. On this field trip you will travel by boat to Faafu Atoll and stay at the Bicocca Milano University research facility on the island of Magoodhoo. Coral reefs surround the island and are exceptionally accessible for study and leisure. On the course you will learn how coral reefs are formed and why they support such rich communities of life, with 25% of shallow water marine species in less than one tenth of a percent of the ocean's area. You will learn about and practice a variety of reef survey methods for benthos and fish, to describe reef communities and how they are structured. Coral reefs are proving to be among the most sensitive of all ecosystems to climate change and the trip will allow you to see at first-hand how climate change has impacted Maldivian reefs, and how species are recolonising and recovering after mass bleaching. Finally, we explore management options to protect and sustain reef life even as conditions for survival become increasingly adverse over the 21st century.
The modern era is called the Anthropocene in view of the rising influence of people on almost every aspect of planetary life. Human impacts are causing widespread habitat destruction and biodiversity loss to such an extent that many argue we have now initiated the sixth mass extinction. Against this backdrop, marine protected areas increasingly play a critical role in alleviating pressures to save wildlife and habitats. By 2030, global targets for marine protected area coverage could rise from 10% of the sea to 30%. We are therefore in the middle of a period of intensive marine protected area creation. But despite successes, many marine protected areas are failing to meet their objectives, and biodiversity losses continue. In this module you will learn about the history of marine protected areas and how to select, design, establish and manage them, including developing networks of mutually supporting protected areas. We will explore what marine protected areas can achieve and the ecological and social factors required to make them successful.
The module assumes no specific skills or experience, and there are no pre-requisite modules required. It is accessible for non-specialist students, including those on multi-disciplinary pathways.
This module aims to provide you with a good working knowledge of the theory and practice underpinning the application of GIS and geospatial analysis in the fields of conservation and ecology. Throughout the module you will be introduced to, and gain practical experience of using open-source GIS software (QGIS and R) to acquire, create, manipulate, analyse and visualise a range of spatial datasets. These practicals will underpin a range of complementary assessments that focus on enhancing your data visualisation, analytical and problem-solving skills using GIS software; thereby providing you with a breadth of experience for a career in applied scientific research, industry or as a conservation practitioner.
The ability to use and understand Geographical Information System (GIS) software to create, manage and analyse spatial data is a highly sought-after skillset that will enhance your employability in the fields of biodiversity conservation and management, and more broadly in the environmental sciences.
This module will give students hands on experience in designing and assessing practical measures in conservation. They will hear about practical examples of conservation and then must both design and write a conservation grant based on their acquired knowledge. This will give the students unique guidance in both how to implement conservation measures and how to gather the associated evidence that they are actually working.
This module aims to provide you with the key skills required to design, implement, and monitor conservation projects that consider the biodiversity, environment, and human communities that live alongside it. You will first be introduced to how to plan in conservation, including how to effect meaningful change to achieve a desired outcome. You will then gain experience in different techniques to monitor biodiversity and environmental change, and approaches to examine human and policy dimensions of conservation. Following this you will explore how to use conservation evidence to inform and scale actions and how to integrate predictive science into conservation decision-making. Finally, you will explore key conservation leadership and management skills to support you in your career as a conservation scientist and practitioner.
CGEM418: Marine and Coastal Social-ecological systems
The question of how human societies can live within environmental limits has been debated for hundreds of years. Exponential growth and the pressure of human activities on the Earth could be destabilising critical biophysical systems and causing irreversible environmental change, with catastrophic consequences for human wellbeing. These issues are exemplified in coastal and marine systems, where the impacts of humans on the marine environment and the ways in which the natural environment can affect coastal communities clearly demonstrate the need to consider social and ecological systems In this module you will start to unpack the complex relationship between social and ecological systems through an understanding of poverty, wellbeing, ecological tipping points and trade-offs. You will study a range of interdisciplinary and cross-cutting topics across different regions of the globe to explore how coastal and marine resource management can intentionally and unintentionally impact the sea and the people and communities that depend on it. Lectures will be supported by seminars in which you will discuss and debate current sustainability challenges from a variety of different perspectives and explore proposed solutions and their consequent impacts on nature and society.
This module aims to develop your understanding of marine and coastal sustainability through a series of lectures that will:
Examine the complex relationship between social and ecological systems in marine environments and coastal communities.
Apply these ideas to understanding the unintended consequences of marine and coastal management
Discuss key concepts and debates across different disciplines such as politics, geography and economics
Use Research-Inspired Inquiry-Led Learning to look at real-world problems.
The module content explores topical research areas of global relevance, drawing on current research from examples in both temperate and tropical environments. We will explore cutting-edge research, for example to investigate how links between ecosystem services and wellbeing are being explored in East Africa and how human behaviour is key to understanding UK fisheries. You will learn about the tools required to study such problems, and think about how such processes are measured in the field.
Through the seminars and assessments, you will develop skills relevant to future employment:
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
165 credits of compulsory modules, 15 credits of optional modules
If you have mobility or health disabilities that prevent you from undertaking intensive fieldwork, reasonable adjustments and/or alternative assessment can be considered. This could include replacing a fieldwork module with an alternative in agreement with the Director of Education.
Compulsory modules
Code
Module
Credits
Compulsory 1
Research Project
90
Statistical Modelling
15
Fisheries Management
15
Rewilding the United Kingdom
30
Marine Protected Areas
15
BIOM4043: Rewilding the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is economically highly developed, densely populated and intensively farmed and industrialised. This human-dominated system makes life very challenging for the wildlife that shares our country with us, and for the biota that provides us with ecosystem services like pollination, clean air, freshwater and recreation. Some of our precious biodiversity is considered 'pest' or 'weed' by people. Many of our natural systems suffer invasion by non-native species. Many of our natural habitats are degraded, fragmented, and very fragile in the face of anthropogenic climatic and environmental change. Yet, the UK is at the forefront of global efforts to conserve, rescue, replenish or replace native biodiversity.
MSc Marine Environmental Management with International field course
Fieldwork is an integral part of the programme, and the field course to the Maldives will allow you to learn about the wonder of Maldivian coral reefs, their rich biodiversity, structure, functioning, threats from climate change, and management needs. Daily practicals will involve snorkelling and also some diving for those with a Rescue Diver qualification. During these you will practice a variety of the reef survey techniques taught. Impacts of climate change and capacity for reef recovery are evident during fieldwork and your data will contribute to long-term monitoring of the reefs. Topics covered in daily lectures will include coral reef ecology, human impacts to reefs, and taxonomy.
If you want to dive in Maldives, you will need to have a diving certification to the level of “Padi Rescue” or its equivalent and to have completed at least 15 dives, for which qualifying dives count towards the total. Also, if you have done less than 20 dives, your last five must have occurred within 6 months of the start of the field course, which will begin in early April. The cost of diving is covered by MSc fees for appropriately qualified people, although everyone must provide their own mask, fins and snorkel. If you don’t have the criteria to dive, you can do all the module’s practical work via snorkelling
MSc Marine Environmental Management with UK field course
In line with our commitment to tackling the global climate emergency, we also offer Marine Environmental Management with a low-carbon UK field course destination.
This programme also offers lower tuition fees. The UK field course allows you to consider the meaning of the world 'wild' in Britain.
Topics will include exploitation of the UK's ecosystems, global policy impact and the behaviour and ecology of the UK's fauna and flora. This residential field course will perform a transect through the United Kingdom's hotspots of marine and terrestrial biodiversity, human-wildlife conflict and ecological restoration. You will see endangered UK wildlife, and meet a variety of stakeholders including: National Park authorities; farmers; Natural England employees; conservation charity managers; people delivering species translocations; researchers; ecological consultants; tourism operators and the general public.
When participating in field courses, you may be required to provide your own specialist personal equipment appropriate to the field course destination, e.g. walking boots, rucksack.
Being on a campus where everyone is interested in conservation, the environment and sustainability was such an encouraging environment to develop views and opinions, and discussing with different people about their research was very inspiring. I had studied fisheries management solely from an ecological perspective until I took the Marine & Coastal Sustainability module, which completely turned around my view on the management of fisheries and convinced me of the need for interdisciplinarity in conservation and management.
Since graduating I moved to the Falkland Islands to work on fishing vessels and collect data for the Falkland Islands Government. It can be quite a tough job, but it's teaching me so much on the amount and quality of data required to manage fisheries. I'm so excited to apply everything I've learned in this position into managing fisheries! I was a member of the Sea Swimming Society at Exeter, and am proud to say I'm continuing to do this in the South Atlantic, where the water is much colder than in Cornwall...
Travel and accommodation costs for the residential field course are included.
2026/27 entry - international fees per year:
with UK Field Course
with International Field Course
£29,800 full-time; £14,900 part-time
£31,000 full-time; £15,500 part-time
Travel and accommodation costs for the residential field course are included.
Fees include most field trip costs but you must pay for the Maldivian business visa required for the International Field Course. We will provide logistical help for obtaining this. A potential cost for some is that a doctor's note may be required in relation to providing a "PADI medical statement for diving", which everyone wanting to dive must complete. If you don't want to dive all practical work can be done by snorkelling. To be allowed to dive you must have certification that equates to the standard of 'PADI Rescue Diver'. You are required to provide your own mask, fins, snorkel, booties, rash vest and swim shorts or leggings. A wetsuit is not required for snorkelling but if you want a wetsuit for diving it should be thin as the water is 30°C. A final potential cost that applies to all our MScs is any necessary "specific" cost associated with a Dissertation.
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship
We are pleased to offer the University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship, a scholarship for University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship worth 20% of the cost of your first year tuition fees.
In recent years the University of Exeter’s marine education and research has been growing fast. Ourinterdisciplinary marine research spans the humanities, physical, social and natural sciences. Marine research groups, containing over 350 researchers, can be found in all of our Colleges and interdisciplinary research institutes.
Research is organised into nine major interdisciplinary themes which sees us working collaboratively with a wide range of partners locally, regionally and across the world’s oceans to shape positive changes in practice, policy and innovation. The research groups include:
There is considerable scope for you to direct your learning towards fields of particular interest, especially through your choice of research project. Research seminars will enable you to interact with a diversity of top academics and get to know about their ongoing research.
Research project
A large number of Exeter academics will be involved with this programme and they will offer a great diversity of research topics in the UK and overseas. There is also the option to work with an external collaborating organisation as a placement student during your research project, which could be located anywhere in the world.
Tutorial support
Each student is allocated a personal tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. There is also a postgraduate tutor available to help with further guidance and advice.
Assessment
Taught modules will be assessed through formal oral presentation, written reports, essays and discussions, during or upon the immediate completion of the modules. The research project makes up a significant proportion of the assessment and is mainly based on the dissertation write up.
Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability
You will become part of Exeter's Graduate School of Environment & Sustainability - a vibrant and supportive postgraduate community based here on our Penryn campus in Cornwall. The Graduate School brings together experts from across the spectrum of earth and life sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences and business. You will interact with students from other MScs and have the opportunity to explore issues from a range of perspectives, benefiting from a truly interdisciplinary experience. All our programmes are designed with a focus on developing solutions to global challenges and creating a better future for our planet and its people.
Associate Professor in Marine Conservation Science
Professor Rachel Turner
Associate Professor in Environmental Social Science
Dr Erik Postma
Associate Professor
Dr Julie Hawkins
Programme Director
Dr Julie Hawkins, Programme Director, studies human impacts on marine ecosystems and how to alleviate them. Her field research is primarily on coral reefs, documenting the impacts of fishing and tourism, and devising strategies to secure greater protection. She is particularly interested in how marine protected areas can be designed and managed to protect wildlife and habitats, boost surrounding fisheries and promote more sustainable livelihoods. Julie’s research also looks at the global need to scale up protection by building networks of protected areas to help recover ocean ecosystems and enhance resilience to climate change.
Callum’s research focuses on threats to marine ecosystems and species and on finding the means to protect them. His team provided the scientific underpinning for a new ocean protection target – 30% by 2030 – which is gaining widespread international support. He is an award-winning author and was chief scientific advisor for the BBC’s flagship series “Blue Planet II”. He is chief scientific advisor to BLUE Marine Foundation and the Maldives Coral Institute, an Ambassador for WWF UK, and board member of the Nekton Deep Ocean Research Institute.
Annette’s research focuses on the exploitation and status of marine vertebrate populations, in particular marine turtles, utilising satellite tracking and mark and recapture to understand the thermal ecology, sex ratios, habitat use, navigational abilities, growth rates and fecundity of individuals. Given the importance of the thermal environment on reptilian species, the potential effects of global climate change are a major issue for this group, and a focus for her research. Annette runs a long-term field study of the marine turtle populations in Cyprus.
Associate Professor in Marine Conservation Science
Kristian is a conservation scientist with wide ranging interests in biodiversity conservation. His research focuses on decision making for the assessment, protection, and management of marine biodiversity, with particular emphasis on marine spatial planning and the design of marine protected area networks (MPAs) in the UK, and in West and Central Africa. Kristian is also interested in how novel technologies such as satellite/GPS tracking can be used to understand the behaviour and distribution of marine vertebrates and small-scale fishers to inform the development of priority areas, and resolve conflicts in marine space.
Associate Professor in Environmental Social Science
Rachel is an environmental social scientist focusing on marine resource governance and coastal communities. Her research focuses on understanding how socio-economic and environmental contexts drive resource use behaviour and have implications for management and governance systems. Her recent research has explored marine resource dependence and identification of supportive governance structures for effective Caribbean coral reef management.
Erik studies the individual and population-level causes and consequences of variation in the traits related to the most important events in an individual's life, including: birth, mate choice, reproduction and death. To this end Erik uses individual-based, long-term data for a range of species, including rodents and humans.
This programme will provide you with a diversity of skills that will equip you for a range of sectors of work and further study of marine environments. Skills include:
Scientific writing and poster preparation
Grant writing
Public speaking
Short film production
Press release and the professional use of social media
Data analysis
Writing scientific information for a lay audience
Use of “R” and GIS.
Career paths
The programme will prepare students for careers in environmental NGOs, fisheries management bodies, government agencies, consultancy companies and marine-related businesses such as aquaculture, shipping, offshore energy, etc. The degree also offers a thorough training in research skills and methods so provides an excellent basis for an academic career.
Careers services
Our careers teams at theCareer Zonecan help guide you through a wealth of information to match your skills and interests to a career that will suit you. Our staff work with regional, national and international employers to develop new work placement, project and graduate opportunities.
Supporting your career
Being part of a large research-intensive department such as the Centre for Ecology and Conservation means there are multiple extracurricular research seminars per week and frequent on-campus symposia and employability focused seminars involving invited external stakeholders offering extensive networking opportunities.
The majority of students are based at our Streatham Campus in Exeter. The campus is one of the most beautiful in the country and offers a unique environment in which to study, with lakes, parkland, woodland and gardens as well as modern and historical buildings.
Located on the eastern edge of the city centre, St Luke's is home to Sport and Health Sciences, the Medical School, the Academy of Nursing, the Department of Allied Health Professions, and PGCE students.
Our Penryn Campus is located near Falmouth in Cornwall. It is consistently ranked highly for satisfaction: students report having a highly personal experience that is intellectually stretching but great fun, providing plenty of opportunities to quickly get to know everyone.
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