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Marine and Freshwater Biology (with integrated year in industry)
- BSc (Hons)
- 4 Years
- Sandwich including industrial placement
- 21/09/2026
- Undergraduate
- Main Site (Aberystwyth)
- Awarded by:
- Aberystwyth University (Prifysgol Aberystwyth)
Course summary
The BSc Marine and Freshwater Biology degree at Aberystwyth University is one of only a few nationally to provide you with an integrated catchment to ocean understanding of the biology, ecology and stressors affecting these intimately interconnected ecosystems. This is crucial, given that they support some of the most threatened species and habitats on the planet.
Situated on the coast of Cardigan Bay, Aberystwyth is one of the best places in the UK to study marine and freshwater biology. You will have easy access to rocky and sandy shores, estuaries of conservation importance, as well as near-pristine rivers and lakes. Cardigan Bay is also home to the largest residential population of bottlenose dolphins in the UK.
On this course you will develop practical skills in the sampling techniques used in the aquatic environment, the critical analysis of data and literature, and the presentation of your findings to a variety of stakeholders. This will ensure you are well prepared for professional roles that seek to understand and address the various challenges facing marine and freshwater organisms and ecosystems. This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.
The taught component of the Marine and Freshwater Biology with integrated year in industry degree (C166) is identical to its three-year sister course BSc Marine and Freshwater Biology (C164). The year in industry is taken in your third year in the UK or overseas, is supervised and assessed, and will count towards your degree grade. During your year in industry, you will pay a discounted tuition fee.
To support your learning, you will have access to two research vessels enabling you to gain real hands-on experience of the sampling techniques used by professional marine and freshwater biologists as well as use of our aquarium systems for experimental studies of marine and freshwater organisms.
Fieldwork and practical classes form an integral part of the course throughout. An optional residential two-centre field course in your final year, currently based in Portugal and Scotland, will allow you to immerse yourself in the study of marine and freshwater biology further afield.
Marine and Freshwater Biology graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge to enter a wide range of careers including ecological consultancy, environmental management and conservation, teaching and scientific journalism. You will also be well prepared to pursue a scientific research career, continuing postgraduate study at Masters or PhD level.
Completing a year in industry will allow you to:
-
apply the learning from your course to the work environment
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make valuable industry contacts
-
develop practical skills related to your area of study
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enrich your final year of studies with an enhanced appreciation of its applicability to your career
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greatly enhance your CV and increase your prospects of success in the job market.
How to apply
Apply by
14 January
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- C166
- Institution code:
- A40
- Campus name:
- Main Site (Aberystwyth)
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 - 120 points
To include B in A-level Biology.
A level - BBB - BCC
To include B in A-level Biology.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD - DDM
In a specified subject.
Access to HE Diploma
The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 28 - 30 points
To include 5 points in Biology at Higher Level.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Accepted in lieu of one A-Level, excluding any specified subjects.
Applicants are selected on their individual merits and offers can vary. We allow you flexibility in meeting our entry requirements, and all qualifications that you have already gained, or are working towards, will be considered when reviewing your application.
We have an inclusive policy which recognises a broad range of qualifications. The entry requirements listed above represent typical offers for some of the most popular qualifications taken by applicants.
If you cannot find the qualifications that you are studying (or have previously studied) please contact our Undergraduate Admissions Office (Telephone: +44 (0)1970 622021; Email: ug-admissions@aber.ac.uk) for advice on your eligibility and details of the typical offer you are likely to receive.
Additional entry requirements
- Other
- A minimum grade C or grade 4 pass in GCSE (or equivalent) English or Welsh is a requirement for entry to all our degree schemes. Business, Psychology, Mathematics, and Science degree schemes also require a minimum grade C or grade 4 pass in Mathematics and/or Science at GCSE (or equivalent).
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge English Advanced | B | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | C | |
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | With minimum 5.5 in each component. |
| PTE Academic | 55 | With minimum score of 51 in any component. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 88 | With minimum scores in components as follows: Listening 21; Writing 21; Reading 22; Speaking 23. |
If you are an international student needing more information about the English Language requirement for your course (e.g. country-specific English Language tests, Partner Institution tests, EU/EEA English Language qualifications where the school curriculum is taught in a native language) please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for further advice.
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
Within our Contextual Offer Scheme, we strive to embrace students whose educational and social backgrounds may have influenced their academic journey. Our decision-making process involves assessing the entire application to make an assessment based on your grades and individual circumstances.
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £20715 | Year 1 |
| International | £20715 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
Please note Irish nationals will continue to be eligible for home fee status and support by the Welsh Government under the Common Travel Area arrangement
Sponsorship information
Aberystwyth University offers a valuable package of scholarships and bursaries to support students. Our long-established Entrance Examination competition means you could get up to £2,000 a year towards your living and study costs. You can combine that with any or all of our other awards, to make your financial package more valuable. Our awards include Sport and Music Scholarships, Bursaries for Care Leavers/Young Carers/Estranged Students and a range of department specific awards. Please visit our website for full details.
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Course contact details
Department of Life Sciences (undergraduate enquiries)
Email:ibtstaff@aber.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0)1970 621986
Undergraduate Admissions Office
Email:admissions@aber.ac.uk
Phone:01970 622021
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