Course contact details
Undergraduate Admissions - Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
Email:AdmissionsUG.ELS@soton.ac.uk
Phone:023 8059 4732
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
Summary:
Explore the processes that drive our global Earth system on land, in the ocean, in the crust, and in the atmosphere.
Based at our Waterfront Campus at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, you will learn in one of the world’s leading environments for ocean science. Your studies connect theory with real experience, as you spend time at sea applying your knowledge in marine settings.
By combining biology with chemistry, physics and mathematics, you will build a deep understanding of marine systems and graduate ready to contribute to global environmental solutions or continue into advanced research.
Key features of the course:
Study at our Waterfront Campus, based at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, a global hub for ocean and earth science research.
Shape your degree through flexible module choices, exploring the areas of marine biology that interest you most.
Spend time on research vessels, gaining hands-on experience and applying your learning in real marine environments.
Learn through lectures, laboratory work and fieldwork, building practical skills valued by employers and research organisations.
Join a department ranked 8th in the UK and top 40 globally for Earth and Marine Science (QS World Rankings by Subject 2026).
Be part of a university where 99% of Ocean and Earth Science graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, published 2025).
Student support:
You will be supported throughout your studies by academic staff who will mentor your development and help you build the expertise needed for your future.
They will guide your module choices, support your academic progress and help you plan your next steps, whether that is a career in industry or further study.
Further information:
This course is open to UK and international applicants and is accredited by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST).
We have a varied range of modules for all years, which gives you the opportunity to tailor your studies to your passions and to equip you with the skills and experiences needed for success as a graduate.
For full list of all modules available, please visit the course page.
The learning activities for this course include the following: lectures, classes and tutorials, coursework, individual and group, projects and independent learning (studying on your own).
We’ll assess you using: coursework, laboratory reports and essays, individual and group projects, oral presentations and written exams,
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
The following entry points are available for this course:
AAB to include Biology and one further science subject.
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Acceptable science subjects are Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Psychology, Statistics, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography and Geology. Where this offer is satisfied by including grades achieved in either Biology, Chemistry or Physics, a Pass in the practical science assessment is additionally required.
We do not accept the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma without two A-levels to include Biology and one further science subject.
If you are studying this qualification a typical offer would be DDD + AA at A-Level (or equivalent), to include Biology and one further science subject. Science practical components must be passed where applicable.
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 of which 39 credits must be at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit. A core science Access to HE Diploma to contain Level 3 modules in Biology (to include ecology) and either Chemistry, Physics or Environmental Science and Maths is required. If you are unsure whether the Access you are studying would be accepted, please contact the Admissions Team before submitting an application.
We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject).
Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4.
We do not accept the BTEC Level 3 National Diploma without two A-levels to include Biology and one further science subject.
If you are studying this qualification a typical offer would be DD + AA at A-Level (or equivalent), to include Biology and one further science subject. Science practical components must be passed where applicable.
D + AA at A-Level (or equivalent), to include Biology and one further science subject. Science practical components must be passed where applicable.
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Applicants are also required to have achieved a pass in Maths and English at Standard Grade Grade 3 or National 5 Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/Grade 4.
Pass with overall score of 34 points, with 17 points required at higher level, including 5 and 6 points at Higher Level Biology and one further Higher Level science subject.
Acceptable science subjects include Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Psychology, Statistics, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography and Geology
International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP):
The University of Southampton accepts the IBCP for entry to their degree programmes, recognising the value of combining academic skills with practical skills, providing a solid preparation for university level work. Offers will be made on the individual components of the IBCP. Applicants not taking the full IBCP but presenting with a combination of a Level 3 vocational qualification and IB Certificates may still be considered.
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements.
Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
AA from two A levels including Biology and a further science subject and B from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales. Science practical components must be passed where applicable.
ABB in 3 A-levels to include Biology and one further science subject plus Grade A in EPQ. Science practical components must be passed where applicable.
H1, H2, H2, H2, H2, H2 to include Biology and one further science subject.
Applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at ILC Grade C or 04, the equivalent of GCSE grade C/grade 4.
D3, D3, M2 to include Biology and one further science subject.
Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A Levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer, where D3 can be used in lieu of A Level grade A or grade M2 can be used in lieu of grade B.
Applicants must hold GCSE English, Mathematics and Science (minimum grade C/4).
Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | Band C: 6.5 with 6.0 in each component |
Find out more about the University’s English Language requirementshttps://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page
Most of the students who enrolled on this course in previous years met their offer conditions at our published entry criteria, securing their place on their chosen course.
We encourage all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, to apply to study with us. Applicants who qualify for contextual admissions will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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.
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.
This report uses your grades to show how students with similar results have done when applying to this course in the past. Sometimes, there isn’t data for every possible set of grades. When that happens, universities and colleges occasionally fill in the gaps for sets of grades that are typically accepted.
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|
* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
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.
Please see our website for further details and updates: www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page
Email:AdmissionsUG.ELS@soton.ac.uk
Phone:023 8059 4732
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
At University of Southampton