Marine Science encompasses the study of marine life and environments, how they are formed and evolve, and how they are affected by human activity. Topics covered in this programme include marine biology, earth science, chemistry and physics, mathematics, statistics, oceanography, botany, geology and microbiology.

The degree in Marine Science is a four-year programme of study leading to a BSc (Hons). At the end of the course, you will have improved your knowledge of the marine environment and developed your thinking, practical and personal skills, enabling you to opt for further academic training in a wide variety of scientific disciplines, or begin your career straight away. Marine Science is a broad area of scientific investigation and the degree course will help you find what speciality you prefer to study by introducing the subject in a general way at first and allowing you to follow your particular interests later on.

Ireland is an outstanding location to study marine science – particularly given its island setting, perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. All of the undersea images of marine creatures on this course webpage were taken in Irish waters by Dariusz Nowak, Zoology, University of Galway.

Year One

• Chemistry
• Physics
• Biology
• Plus one of following:
  • Mathematical Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Computer Science

Year Two

• Fundamentals in Aquatic Plant Science
• Introduction to Ocean Science
• Microbes and the Environment
• Invertebrate Biology
• Vertebrate Zoology
• Plus electives

Year Three

• Plant Resources and Ecosystems
• Ocean Dynamics
• Aquatic Geochemistry
• Microbial Genomics
• Geographic Information Systems and Biostatistics
• Marine Habitat
• Concepts in Population and Community Ecology
• Plus electives

Year Four

• Marine Science Essay and Presentation
• Field Skills in Marine Science
• Research Project
• Plus electives including:
  • Current Topics in Algal Research
  • Primary Productivity and Global Change
  • Ocean and Marine Politics
  • Marine and Coastal Ecology
  • Biostatistics for Natural Sciences

Curriculum Information

Curriculum Information

• A comprehensive set of core modules that builds a foundation of knowledge across oceanography and marine biology.
• Staff are established experts in a range of fields, able to enliven teaching with recent developments in research.
• A huge range of optional subjects, including languages, data science, bioinformatics, or science policy skills, let students develop distinctive profiles.
• The opportunity to study abroad in the third year

Marine Science graduates are currently working and studying all over the world. Knowledge about marine environments is key to managing these vitally important ecosystems. It underpins, for example, fishery management, marine spatial planning and marine protected area selection. 

This is an exciting time to be a marine scientist. Ocean knowledge is important for sustainably developing sectors like offshore renewables and aquaculture. The marine biotechnology sector is also expanding, developing new uses for seaweeds and other natural resources. Ocean conservation and restoration efforts are increasing in scale: looking to re-establish lost features like oyster beds and seagrass meadows. 

Our BSc Marine Science degree programme will help you contribute to a sustainable future for the oceans. In addition to subject expertise, you will develop important transferable skills that underpin successful careers:

• Verbal and written communication skills
• Project management
• Data handling and statistical knowledge
• Critical thinking in evaluating evidence
• Creativity in problem-solving and presenting information
• Group activities in practicals that develop teamwork skills 

The study abroad options for Marine Science involve modules taught in English. Students take up places on Erasmus exchanges (Oviedo in Spain, Wageningen in the Netherlands) and also in the College of Science and Engineering study abroad scheme (California, Hong Kong). This mobility opportunity is all about immersing yourself in a different environment, taking relevant modules and growing as an individual.

Previous study abroad students emphasised how a semester abroad was a highlight of their degree -  including:

• Gaining a deeper understanding of different cultures
• Taking local modules that introduced new species or habitats
• Gaining life skills - from navigating a new city to making international friends
• Developing independence and experiencing new activities

Core marine staff teaching on the course are:

• Louise Allcock
• Aoife Boyd
• Christopher Coates
• Peter Croot
• Anthony Grehan
• Kevin Healy
• Mark Johnson
• Anne Marie Power
• Dagmar Stengel
• Martin White

Additional specialists teaching optional modules

• Liam Carr
• Eugene Farrell
• Brendan Flynn
• Kevin Lynch

The BSc in Marine Science is a multidisciplinary programme that uses a range of approaches to develop students’ skills and knowledge. The pathway consists of core and elective modules. Typically each module will involve a mixture of lectures and practical work or continuous assessment. Modules are usually assessed with a coursework element as well as an exam. There is a lot of variation between modules in the type of practical work. Practicals may be field-based, in a laboratory or may involve activities like making a film, role-playing in groups, or running a computer programme.

How Will I Learn?

1. Lectures - Students are guided through the key points of a module and use this to structure their learning
2. Technology-Enhanced Learning - Online workbooks, the Canvas virtual learning environment.
3. Practicals - Students learn by doing. Tasks are carried out in the field or a laboratory to develop skills and understanding.
4. Multidisciplinary Approach - A number of academic disciplines feed into the course, familiarising students with techniques to look at problems from different perspectives and how to integrate different types of information.

How Will I Be Assessed?

1. Continuous Assessment - Regular coursework, including reports, presentations, interactive workbooks online, and in-class tests. 
2. Examinations - Written exams take place before Christmas and in May. 
3. Project Work - Project Work: one third of the final year is based on a research project led by the student, guided by a supervisor.
4. The penultimate (third) year of study contributes 30% to the overall degree mark awarded at the end of year four.

Course queries:
marinescience@universityofgalway.ie  

Programme Director: 

Prof. Mark Johnson
Professor of Marine Environment
School of Natural Sciences
College of Science and Engineering

E: mark.johnson@universityofgalway.ie
T: 091 495864

Q: Do I need to have done science in school to take this course?
A: Yes, you need one ‘laboratory science’ subject alongside Maths and English.

Q: Do I need a high level of maths to do this course?
A: No. Maths is part of being a scientist, but you do not need a high level to progress. Marine Science students from all sorts of backgrounds have not had a problem passing the first-year Maths module (for which there are out-of-class tutorials available). You would choose whether or not to take maths-based modules in years 2 to 4.

Q: What is the difference between this course and the degree in Earth and Ocean Science?
A: This course has more ‘life sciences’ content (particularly botany and zoology). Earth and Ocean science has some overlap, but has more ‘earth sciences’ content, particularly geology.

Q: Are there work placements?
A: Not at the moment, although the Marine Institute run a summer bursary programme which students can apply for after second year.

Minimum Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint), Computer Science or Agricultural Science) and any two other subjects recognised for entry purpose.

Alternative Pathways

The Access Centre at University of Galway provides a number of alternative entry routes to undergraduate programmes. See below some useful links:

• QQI/FET/FETAC Places
• Mature Students
• Access and Foundation programmes
• HEAR Scheme
• DARE Scheme

Other Qualifications

If you are a school leaver presenting results other than Leaving Cert results, please review the entry requirements relevant to you: 

• A Level students
• International Baccalaureate students 
• EU students

For applicants whose first language is not English, it is important to check our English Language Requirements. 

Admissions Office 

Our Admissions Office provides additional detail relevant to CAO applicants including key dates, FAQs and instructions for non-school leavers.

Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants

Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO. 

Mature Applicants 

Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry. Further information available here. 

QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants 

Apply via the CAO. See our QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants page for information on places available and entry requirements

Fees for Academic Year 2025/2026

• Most EU students applying through the CAO will be eligible for the ‘Free Fees Initiative’. You can find out more here.
• If you are eligible for a means tested SUSI grant this may cover 100% of this Student Contribution Charge. If you are 100% eligible SUSI will pay the Student Contribution Charge of €3,000 on your behalf. 
• The Student Levy It is payable by all students and it is not covered by SUSI
• Where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing year fees. This applies to non-EU fees.
• You can find additional detail on the Fees Office webpage including FAQs and how fee status is assessed.

Equipment and External courses  
For the practical elements of some modules you may be required to purchase basic safety items such as a laboratory coat, goggles or safety wellingtons. Optional courses in safety at sea and boat handling are run by external providers and these have a fee contribution. The School endeavours to cover costs as much as possible and keep the contributions from students as low as possible. 

Scholarships for Global Students

University of Galway is committed to attracting high-calibre students from around the world. To this end, we offer a range of merit-based scholarships to students from a number of outside of the EU countries, in line with our strategic international priorities. For international students commencing study at University of Galway there are a number of different scholarships on offer. 

Undergraduate Merit Awards (€2,000 - €5,000):

€2,000 for all first-year students in the School of Natural Sciences (offered for four years)

Undergraduate Excellence Awards (€10,000 - €20,000):

€10,000 for one student each in the Schools of Engineering and Natural Sciences (offered for four years)

More details here

Application Process

Students applying for full undergraduate degree programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), and who are liable for full non-EU tuition fees, should apply online via Apply to University of Galway. Our application portal opens on the 1st October each year for each the following September.  

Further Information

Please visit the international application webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.