Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
MSc Marine Environmental Management with International Field Course
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MSc Marine Environmental Management with International Field Course | Programme code | PTS1BIOBIOCK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Full Time |
Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Campus(es) | Cornwall Campus |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
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.
The new MSc in Marine Environmental Management with International Field Course will deliver this training, giving students a thorough grounding in a wide diversity of marine ecosystems, their ecology, functioning, and values to people. The programme will explore the diverse ways in which human activities affect marine life and will introduce management approaches to alleviate pressures from activities such as fisheries, tourism, coastal development and climate change. It will examine in depth the science and practice of creating and managing marine protected areas to safeguard marine life and promote human livelihoods and wellbeing.
The MSc 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.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
1. A firm grounding in theoretical and applied marine ecology achieved via the classroom and field trips.
2. Appreciation of the many ways in which people have affected the sea historically and continue to do so today.
3. Knowledge and understanding of the options for marine environmental management, the impediments to success, and means of alleviating them.
4. A broad suite of research skills; ability to conduct a wide variety of sampling methods in different environments, above and below water; experience of quantitative and qualitative analytical methods which you apply in a variety of practicals, short projects and an extended dissertation.
5. Development of team-working, independent and interpersonal skills required for the workplace.
6. Opportunity to enhance skillsets obtained via a placement with an external organisation during the dissertation.
7. Participation in a vibrant learning community at Penryn with access to a wide range of leading conservation scientists, academic presentations, seminars and visiting speakers.
4. Programme Structure
The MSc Marine Environmental Management is a 12 month programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). The programme is divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.
Interim Awards
- A Postgraduate Diploma is awarded when a student gains at least 120 credits, including at least 90 at Level M on a designated programme.
- A Postgraduate Certificate is awarded when a student gains at least 60 credits including at least 45 at Level M on a designated programme.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
Stage 1
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows, and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
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.
165 credits of compulsory modules, 15 credits of optional modules:
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOM4009 | Research Project | 90 | Yes |
| BIOM4025 | Statistical Modelling | 15 | No |
| BIOM4040 | Fisheries Management | 15 | No |
| BIOM4050 | Marine Protected Areas | 15 | No |
| BIOM4042 | Coral Reef Field Course | 30 | No |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioP MSc MEM opt 2025-6 | |||
| BIOM4051 | GIS in Ecology and Conservation | 15 | No |
| BIOM421 | Conservation Practice and Evidence | 15 | No |
| GEOM418 | Marine and Coastal Social-ecological systems | 15 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Gain broad understanding of marine ecology such that you can explain threats that humans pose to the sea and how management can tackle these | Lectures, seminars, discussion groups, oral presentations, poster presentations, practical laboratory and field skills, independent reading and synthesis. | ILOs 1-4: Key skills: oral presentation, poster presentation, written report. Research project: literature review, project report. Statistics module: data handling exercises, field data report, discussion sessions. Subject-specific modules: critical report, presentation, discussion seminars, desk study report. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
5. Ability to design research by identifying, collecting, synthesising and critically evaluating information from a wide range of reliable sources | Lectures, seminars, discussion groups, oral presentations, poster presentations, practical laboratory and field skills, independent reading and synthesis. | ILOs 5-8: Key skills: oral presentation, poster presentation, written report. Research project: literature review, project report Statistics module: data handling exercises, field data report, discussion sessions. Subject-specific modules: critical report, presentation, discussion seminars, desk study report. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
9. Exhibit strong communication skills whereby you can convey broad and specialised knowledge to any type of audience via any combination of oral, written, or visual means | Lectures, seminars, discussion groups, oral presentations, poster presentations, practical laboratory and field skills, independent reading and synthesis. | ILOs 9-16: Key skills: oral presentation, poster presentation, written report. Research project: literature review, project report. Statistics module: data handling exercises, field data report, discussion sessions. Subject-specific modules: critical report, presentation, discussion seminars, desk study report. |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
You will be located in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences (CLES), Penryn campus where close working relationships are fostered. Your lead discipline will be Biosciences, but you will be taught and supervised by staff from the Centre for Geography, Environment and Society, the Centre for Ecology and Conservation, and the Environment and Sustainability Institute (all based in CLES, Penryn campus). You can expect reasonable access to all teaching staff through appointments and will in addition receive formative feedback from various discussion groups/in-lecture exercises throughout the delivery of each module and therefore receive essentially continuous feedback during the taught component of the programme. Project supervisors provide academic and tutorial support once you move on to the research (Dissertation) component of the programme. In addition, the Programme Director will offer you a meeting each term with an academic who provides guidance and feedback on assessment performance. Your progress will be monitored and you can receive up-to-date records of the assessment, achievements and progress at any stage.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MSc Marine Environmental Management with International Field Course
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 180 |
ECTS credits | 90 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 08/04/2020 |
Date of last revision | 24/09/2025 |
|---|
