University of Southampton
Marine Biology
Southampton, England, United Kingdom · UCAS F713
Level
Bachelor
Duration
3 years
Campus
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Intl. Tuition
Fee not confirmed
Home Tuition
£10,050 (regulated maximum, 2027-28)
Intake
September 2027
UCAS code
F713
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Course Overview
Marine Biology at University of Southampton in Southampton, England, United Kingdom is a bachelor programme designed to give you both rigorous academic grounding and exposure to current practice in the field.
- Study with academics who are active researchers and industry practitioners, with regular contact through seminars, tutorials, and project work.
- Develop core knowledge in your first year before specialising through optional modules in later years tailored to your interests and career goals.
- Build practical, transferable skills — analysis, communication, teamwork, and project delivery — that employers across sectors actively look for.
- Access dedicated employability support including internships, placements, alumni mentoring, and a careers service that connects students to graduate roles.
- Join a global student community with extracurricular societies, sports, volunteering, and study-abroad opportunities to round out your university experience.
Career snapshot (indicative)
Marine biology graduates work in marine conservation, environmental impact assessment, fisheries management, oceanographic research and climate science, with key employers including CEFAS, Natural England and WWF.
Student life (indicative)
Southampton combines solid student nightlife with easy coastal and countryside access. The city has a good range of independent cafés, pubs and cultural venues, with beaches or scenic coastline within easy reach.
The University at a Glance
Student Population
25,785
Staff Ratio
14.0:1
International
35.0%
Career Prospects
Employment Rate
77.0%
of graduates employed
Avg Starting Salary
£36,340
First-year earnings
Placement Year
✓ Available
Work experience option
Costs & Living
City & Location
Mid-size city (200k-499k inhabitants)
Course Curriculum
Year 1
- Foundations of Marine Biology
- Academic and Research Skills
- Quantitative Methods
- Introduction to Theory and Practice
- Optional language or breadth module.
Year 2
- Intermediate Marine Biology topics
- Applied Methods and Tools
- Group Project
- Two optional pathway modules
- Career and Industry Insights.
Year 3
- Advanced Marine Biology
- Independent Dissertation or Capstone Project
- Two specialist optional modules aligned with your interests
- Employability and Professional Development.
Entry Requirements
Subjects
- Science
- Ecology
- Plant ecology
- Landscape ecology
- Ecosystems
- Behavioural ecology
- Human ecology
- Palaeoecology
- Natural science
- Marine science
- Biology
- Biodiversity
- Botany
- Plant pathology
- Applied botany
- Plant science
- Plant biochemistry
- Plant nutrition
- Plant productivity
- Plant taxonomy
- Developmental biology
- Biometry
- Biological computation
- Radiation biology
- Pathobiology
- Genetics
- Applied genetics
- Plant genetics
- Molecular genetics
- Medical genetics
- Applied biology
- Fish biology
- Physiology
- Applied physiology
- Human physiology
- Comparative physiology
- Microbial physiology
- Human biology
- Biomedical sciences
- Toxicology
- Biomedical materials science
- Biomedical engineering
- Medical microbiology
- Anatomy
- Molecular biology
- Bioreactor systems
- Biophysics
- Neurobiology
- Zoology
- Applied zoology
- Animal biology
- Herpetology
- Ornithology
- Primatology
- Hydrobiology
- Freshwater biology
- Marine biology
- Parasitology
- Nematology
- Applied parasitology
- Bioinformatics
- Field biology
- Social biology
- Behavioural biology
- Tissue biology
- Tropical biology
- Industrial biology
- Cell biology
- Entomology
- Microbiology
- Applied microbiology
- Industrial microbiology
- Environmental health microbiology
- Virology
- Bacteriology
- Animal science
- Evolutionary biology
- Earth sciences
- Soil science
- Geology
- Exploration geology
- Applied geology
- Engineering geology
- Engineering geomorphology
- Palaeontology
- Quaternary studies
- Palynology
- Sedimentology
- Geological data analysis
- Petrology
- Mining geology
- Structural geology
- Marine geology
- Hydrogeology
- Engineering hydrology
- Oceanography
- Extended science
- Applied science
- Environment
Source: UCAS course listing, 2027 entry (retrieved September 2026). Always confirm the current requirements with the university.
Assessment Methods
Assessment is varied across the programme and may include: Written examinations across foundational modules; Coursework essays and analytical reports; Group and individual projects with presentations; Practical lab, studio, or fieldwork assessments where relevant; A final-year dissertation or capstone project that lets you specialise in a topic of your choice.
Campus & City Life
Student Population
25,785
Total students
Staff Ratio
14:1
Students per staff
International Students
35%
Of student body
Campus at a Glance
City Size
Mid-size city (200k-499k inhabitants)
Climate (indicative)
Mild coastal
Safety Index (indicative)
7.5/10
Transport
Moderate (coach or indirect connections)
Social Scene
Friendly community | Global / diverse | Coastal lifestyle | Academic / intellectual
Student Life & City (indicative)
Southampton combines solid student nightlife with easy coastal and countryside access. The city has a good range of independent cafés, pubs and cultural venues, with beaches or scenic coastline within easy reach.
- Southampton combines solid student nightlife with easy coastal and countryside access.
- The city has a good range of independent cafés, pubs and cultural venues, with beaches or scenic coastline within easy reach.
What Students Love
- Beach lifestyle
- Active pub & club scene
- Thriving student social scene
- Major sports culture
University Stats
Career & Outcomes
Graduate Employment
77%
Employed after graduation
Avg Starting Salary
£36,340
Average first-year salary
Placement Year
✓ Available
Industry work experience
Career Outcomes Overview (indicative)
Marine biology graduates work in marine conservation, environmental impact assessment, fisheries management, oceanographic research and climate science, with key employers including CEFAS, Natural England and WWF.
- Marine biology graduates work in marine conservation, environmental impact assessment, fisheries management, oceanographic research and climate science, with key employers including CEFAS, Natural England and WWF.
Top Industries for Graduates
- Engineering
- Technology
- Finance
Study Abroad Opportunities
Y
- Y
Costs & Living Expenses
Overall Cost of Living (indicative)
MEDIUM
This location has moderate living costs. Standard student budget recommended.
Estimated Annual Costs
Monthly Student Budget (indicative)
Cost Overview (indicative)
One of the UK's more affordable student cities — a $1,490/month budget (housing $870, food $315, transport $95) covers everything comfortably. A comfortable student lifestyle at costs well below London and the South East.
- One of the UK's more affordable student cities — a $1,490/month budget (housing $870, food $315, transport $95) covers everything comfortably.
- A comfortable student lifestyle at costs well below London and the South East.
Contains HESA data (Discover Uni), licensed under CC BY 4.0.