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Ocean Sciences

  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 28 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
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Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

The ocean plays a central role in the earth’s climate system by regulating the transfer of heat and carbon over the globe.
The effect of the ocean can only be fully understood by addressing the fundamental physical and chemical processes operating in our environment. This degree route offers three distinct pathways in oceanography, physics or chemistry, combined with an understanding of the ocean and climate system.
Each pathway has its own mix of modules from the School of Environmental Sciences and School of Physical Sciences. Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre in Liverpool provide guest lectures and supervision of projects.
The four-year master’s programme, F710, will provide you with the high-level skills and knowledge required to work in a research environment and address the challenges in ocean science. There is a strong emphasis on numerical skills hands-on laboratory and fieldwork at sea and independent study.
You will have the opportunity to work with scientists from the National Oceanography Centre (Liverpool), who are international leaders in sea level science and shelf sea physics.

This programme is accredited by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Registered Marine Technologist and as partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Marine Technologist.

This programme is available with either a Year in China or a Year Abroad. The Year in China offers undergraduate students the opportunity to spend one year at our joint venture, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), following XJTLU's BA China Studies degree classes. XJTLU is a fully English-speaking university, located in Suzhou. The Year Abroad offers students the opportunity to spend a full academic year studying at one of our partner universities around the world, following a mixture of culture and/or discipline-related modules. If you wish to study this programme with a Year in China or a Year Abroad you will have the opportunity to apply after you arrive at Liverpool.m.

This course is subject to validation. You can still apply for this course while it is being approved.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BSc (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 28 September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
F700
Institution code:
L41
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Liverpool has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

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:
F700
Institution code:
L41
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
ABB

Including two science subjects.

Acceptable science subjects are: Applied ICT; Biology (and Human Biology); Chemistry; Computer Science; Economics; Electronics; Environmental Science; Further Mathematics; Geography; Geology; ICT; Life and Health Sciences; Mathematics; Psychology; Physics; Statistics.

For applicants studying A levels with English exam boards: Where a science has been taken at A level (Chemistry, Biology, Geology or Physics), a pass in the Science practical of each subject will be required.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
D*DD

D*DD in relevant Diploma

Access to HE Diploma
D: 33 credits M: 12 credits

Pass relevant Access to HE Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits with 33 at Distinction (including 15 credits in two different acceptable science subjects) and 12 at Merit.
GCSE Mathematics and English grade C / 4 also required

Scottish Higher
Not accepted

Scottish Advanced Higher
ABB

Including two acceptable science subjects

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
32 points

32 points overall with no score less than 4 (including 5 in two acceptable HL science subjects) or Pass IB Diploma plus 6,5,5 in 3 HL subjects (including 5 in two acceptable HL science subjects)

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
B

Accepted at grade B plus two A levels at grades AB in two acceptable science subjects

Extended Project
A

Applicants who offer the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and meet our offer criteria will be made the standard offer, plus an alternative offer. This will be at one A Level grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ, for example the offer would be ABB or BBB plus A in the EPQ.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H1, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3

Including H2 or above in two sciences

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Mathematics and English at grade 4/C required. Applicants with equivalent qualifications or who do not meet these GCSE requirements will be considered on an individual basis according to their circumstances.

T Level
Not accepted

.

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.

The University of Liverpool is committed to supporting talented applicants from all backgrounds to succeed. One of the ways we support students and fair access to higher education is through making reduced offers as part of our contextual admissions strategy, the Liverpool Scholars programme, Realising Opportunities national collaboration of universities and Sutton Trust Pathways. Additional consideration may be given to applicants with disrupted education or extenuating circumstances.

Learn more on the University of Liverpool website

Historical entry grades data

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.

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.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

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

uition fees for Home undergraduates
If this is your first degree and you are a Home student applying for entry in 2026, you do not have to pay your fees upfront. Instead, you can take out a tuition fee loan which is paid straight to the University. This is available to most students, no matter what their household income.

For UK students applying for 2026 entry the Tuition Fees are £9,790.

Check tuition fees for our undergraduate degrees. Select a course and go to the fees and funding section on the course page: Https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/paying-for-your-studies/

Some of our programmes charge less than the full £9,790 fee:
• Foundation programmes: the fee for the foundation year of specified programmes at Carmel College
• Programmes with a Foundation element: Psychology BSc (Hons) (2+2 programme with Foundation element) is run in collaboration with Wirral Metropolitan College.
• Programmes with a year in industry or a year abroad:
Some programmes which include compulsory fieldwork or additional elements such as the Pilots Licence in Aerospace Engineering may incur additional costs. Where this is the case, those costs will be outlined at on-campus events such as the University Open Days or Post Application Visit Days

For further information please see: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/

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