Marine Geography

The world’s oceans and coasts are full of amazing habitats and wildlife and they sustain many important and growing industries including shipping, tourism and renewable energy. As a marine geographer you will have the skills and knowledge needed to keep our oceans healthy and support traditional and emerging marine industries to be sustainable.

As the only Marine Geography degree in the UK, you will study a unique mix of physical and environmental geography. You will explore the science behind the relationship between society and the sea and investigate global challenges like ocean acidification and rising sea levels.

We make the most of our location and take regular trips to the Bristol Channel, the Glamorgan Heritage Coast and the Gower. There will also be an opportunity to do an overseas trip. In the past we’ve been to Spain and Greece. You will get involved in activities like offshore surveying, water quality monitoring, ecological mapping and beach profiling.

Our Masters degrees involve a fourth year of study where you work on an exciting research project with an academic from the School and their research staff. You will develop the advanced research skills needed for a career in academic research and consultancy.

Distinctive Features of the Programme

• Professional accreditation - our Marine Geography degree is accredited by international bodies IMAREST and RICS. These accreditations keep us well connected to industry, so students graduate with employable skills and up-to-date, industry-specific knowledge. You will also get the opportunity to work towards a ‘chartered’ status.

• Flexible degree schemes - most of the School’s degrees have a common first semester that introduce you to geosciences and geography. You can then decide whether to stay with your chosen degree or switch to another in the same School.

• Hands-on fieldwork in the UK and overseas - you will have plenty of opportunities to develop your field work skills with regular day trips, a residential trip and an overseas trip. South Wales has a rich and diverse marine environment including estuaries with large tidal ranges, islands thriving with wildlife, offshore renewable energy and the largest oil port in the UK in Milford Haven.

• World leading experts and facilities – you will be taught by world-leading scientists and have access to: the latest technologies in offshore surveying and mapping equipment, chemical laboratories, and laboratories equipped with GIS (Geographic Information System).

• Industry connections - we have excellent links with our alumni working across the world and with local organisations like Natural Resources Wales and the Severn Estuary Partnership. These connections help students to find relevant and highly topical research projects and will often offer practical help, advice and summer placement opportunities.