Aquatic Pathobiology (Taught)

The global demand for fish is soaring. In the UK alone, the aquaculture industry was worth around £1.4 billion in 2024. With demand on the rise, the market is set to expand even further over the next five years (2025-2030) (source: IBIS World).
The need for aquaculture expertise is growing. Effective disease management is vital to the industry's prosperity.
Our Aquatic Pathobiology Masters gives you a unique opportunity to study the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of aquatic animal diseases in cultured organisms.
You’ll study at the Institute of Aquaculture, one of the top institutions in this field. Their facilities include:
freshwater sites in Central Scotland;
tropical and temperate freshwater recirculation systems on campus;
marine facilities in the west of Scotland.
The course combines practical work and field visits with class-based training. You’ll focus on aquatic disease diagnosis and health management challenges drawn from real industry situations. You’ll also develop an understanding of the biology, husbandry and environment of farmed aquatic species.
Take a closer look at our Institute of Aquaculture facilities.
Gain valuable insights on aquaculture field trips
Throughout the MSc Aquatic Pathobiology course you’ll go on many field trips to locations such as:
farms
hatcheries
processors
feed companies
equipment suppliers
research laboratories
Opportunities to carry out industry-based projects
We work closely with the aquaculture industry in more than 20 countries, including every major company in Scotland. That gives many of our students an opportunity to carry out industry-based research projects. Past projects include:

Molecular drivers of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens relevant to Vietnamese freshwater aquaculture
Partner: Research Institute for Aquaculture 2 (RIA 2), Vietnam
Fish Welfare in Vietnamese Market Live Holding Systems: A Health and Cost-Benefit Analysis
Partners: Ton Duc Thang University, National Research Institute for Aquaculture 1, An Giang University, Vietnam University of Agriculture. 
Determining the effects of the semiochemical isophorone on salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis secretory activity
Partners: Moredun Research Institute, University of Glasgow, Roslin Institute
Learn from aquaculture experts
On this Masters in Aquatic Pathobiology you’ll be taught aquaculture professionals from Scotland and across the world. Past guest lecturers have been from commercial partners, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government agencies, including:

MOWI Scotland
Benchmark Genetics
INVE Aquaculture
Patogen
Marine Scotland