Postgraduate study in Marine Science

Postgraduate study in Marine Science is your opportunity to advance your knowledge and skills in this fascinating field. Marine Science is as diverse as the environments and species that exist in the marine habitat. You can focus your study on topics such as:

• Biochemistry and physiology of marine organisms
• Biogeography
• Enhancement of aquaculture and fisheries
• Functioning of estuarine and marine ecosystems
• Management and conservation

Master of Science (MSc) in Marine Science 120 point (one-year) research masters

• MARINE 796 MSc Thesis in Marine Science

Master of Science (MSc) in Marine Science 240 point research masters

• 15 points:
  • MARINE 701 Current Issues in Marine Science
    
• 15 points from:
  • BIOSCI 761 MSc Thesis Proposal
  • CHEM 795 Research Methods in Chemistry
  • ENVSCI 701 Research Practice in Environmental Science
    
• 90 points from 700 courses in related subjects:
  
  • Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geography, Geophysics
  • Including at least 30 points from:
    • BIOSCI 724 Marine Ecology
    • BIOSCI 725 Ecological Physiology
    • BIOSCI 727 Aquaculture
    • BIOSCI 733 Molecular Ecology and Evolution
    • BIOSCI 738 Advanced Biological Data Analysis
    • BIOSCI 739 Dialogues in Biology
    • BIOSCI 749 Ecology of Microbial Interactions
    • CHEM 770 Advanced Environmental Chemistry
    • EARTHSCI 720 Geochemistry of our World
    • ENVMGT 742 Social Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
    • ENVMGT 744 Resource Management
    • ENVSCI 702 Applied Estuarine Ecology
    • ENVSCI 704 Modelling of Environmental Systems
    • ENVSCI 714 Water Quality Science
    • FOODSCI 703 Food Processing
    • FOODSCI 708 Advanced Food Science
    • GEOG 730 Climate Change: Past, Present and Future
    • GEOG 746 Applied Coastal Geomorphology
    • GEOG 748 Current Issues in Coastal Management
    • GEOG 771 Spatial Analysis and Geocomputation
    • GEOPHYS 711 Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
    • GEOPHYS 712 Climate Dynamics
    • GEOPHYS 713 Turbulent Processes in Climate
    • GEOPHYS 761 Subsurface Imaging with Seismic and Radar Waves
    • MARINE 702 Field Techniques in Marine Science
    • MARINE 703 Marine Protected Areas
    • MARINE 704 Special Topic: Science Communication for Marine Scientists
    • Marine 705 Special Topic: Ocean Management and Planning
    • STATS 767 Topics in Multivariate Analysis
      Or any other courses approved by the programme coordinator.
• 120 points: 
  • MARINE 796 MSc Thesis in Marine Science

Master of Marine Conservation - 180-point Taught Masters

See our Master of Marine Conservation page for information about how to structure the 180-point masters.

Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Marine Science

• 15 points:
  • MARINE 701 Current Issues in Marine Science
    
• 15 points from:
  • BIOSCI 761 MSc Thesis Proposal
  • CHEM 795 Research Methods in Chemistry
  • ENVSCI 701 Research Practice in Environmental Science
    
• 90 points from 700 courses in related subjects:
  • Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geography, Geophysics
  • Including at least 30 points from:
    
    • BIOSCI 724 Marine Ecology
    • BIOSCI 725 Ecological Physiology
    • BIOSCI 727 Aquaculture
    • BIOSCI 733 Molecular Ecology and Evolution
    • BIOSCI 738 Advanced Biological Data Analysis
    • BIOSCI 739 Dialogues in Biology
    • BIOSCI 749 Ecology of Microbial Interactions
      
    • CHEM 770 Advanced Environmental Chemistry
    • EARTHSCI 720 Geochemistry of our World
      
    • ENVMGT 742 Social Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
    • ENVMGT 744 Resource Management
      
    • ENVSCI 702 Applied Estuarine Ecology
    • ENVSCI 704 Modelling of Environmental Systems
    • ENVSCI 714 Water Quality Science
    • FOODSCI 703 Food Processing
    • FOODSCI 708 Advanced Food Science
    • GEOG 730 Climate Change: Past, Present and Future
    • GEOG 746 Applied Coastal Geomorphology
    • GEOG 748 Current Issues in Coastal Management
    • GEOG 771 Spatial Analysis and Geocomputation
      
    • GEOPHYS 711 Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
    • GEOPHYS 712 Climate Dynamics
    • GEOPHYS 713 Turbulent Processes in Climate
    • GEOPHYS 761 Subsurface Imaging with Seismic and Radar Waves
    • MARINE 702 Field Techniques in Marine Science
    • MARINE 703 Marine Protected Areas
    • MARINE 704 Special Topic: Science Communication for Marine Scientists
    • MARINE 705 Special Topic
    • STATS 767 Topics in Multivariate Analysis
      Or any other courses approved by the programme coordinator.

Explore the postgraduate courses you can take for a Marine Science major:

• Postgraduate Environmental Management courses
• Postgraduate Environmental Science courses
• Postgraduate Marine Science courses
• Postgraduate Biological Sciences courses
• Postgraduate Chemistry courses
• Postgraduate Statistics courses

Marine scientists can be found working in a wide range of occupations in an equally wide range of organisations.

Jobs related to Marine Sciences include:

• Aquaculture
• Biodiversity management
• Conservation
• Consulting
• Fisheries management
• Marine biology
• Marine education
• Pharmaceutical development
• Policy advice
• Research
• Resource planning

Each year we award scholarships and prizes to thousands of students.

Find out about the scholarships you may be eligible for, search available scholarships or begin an application by visiting Scholarships and awards.

For further information and advice, please contact the Science Student Centre.

Science Student Centre
Level G, Room G 20
(beside the entrance to the Large Chemistry Lecture Theatre)
Building 301
23 Symonds Street
Auckland 1010

Phone: +64 9 923 7020
Email: pgscience@auckland.ac.nz

To find a supervisor to work with you on your research project please see Postgraduate Research Topics.