Programme overview
The Master of Marine Conservation focuses on finding solutions to complex issues that characterise the management and conservation of the marine environment.
The number and size of marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasing in response to intensifying pressures on our oceans and the need to provide more robust guardianship of marine ecosystems. Protected by law, MPAs require skilled scientists and environmental managers from diverse backgrounds to advocate for, design, monitor and protect them.
The MMarineCons is developed and taught in partnership with Conservation International (CI) and provides essential skills for people looking for careers in MPA
research and management, and marine conservation more generally.
If you are already working in this exciting field, or you want make an impact in the marine conservation world, the MMarineCons will give you the opportunity to upskill, improve knowledge, and gain research experience. The programme also provides learning and hands-on experience in policy and strategic management and will benefit graduates from other disciplines wanting to work in this field.
This programme is primarily taught at the city campus with some classes and courses taught at the Leigh Marine Laboratory.
Programme structure
The MMarineCons is a 180 point research or taught masters programme that can be completed over three semesters full-time, with part-time options available.
This programme includes a mixture of core courses and elective courses on topics related to marine conservation such as marine ecology and biology, conservation biology, environmental science, social science, environmental management and policy.
Master of Marine Conservation 180 point Taught Masters
45 points:
MARINE 701 Current Issues in Marine Science
MARINE 703 Marine Protected Areas
MARINE 705 Ocean Management and Planning
105 points from:
BIOSCI 724 Marine Ecology
BIOSCI 727 Aquaculture
BIOSCI 735 Advanced Behavioural Ecology
BIOSCI 738 Advanced Biological Data Analysis
BIOSCI 739 Dialogues in Biology
BIOSCI 761 MSc Thesis Proposal
ENVSCI 701 Research Practice in Environmental Science
ENVSCI 705 Handling Environmental Data
ENVSCI 711 Assessing Environmental Effects
ENVSCI 733 Biodiversity Management and Conservation (Not offered in 2024)
ENVMGT 741 Social Change for Sustainability
ENVMGT 742 Social Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
ENVMGT 744 Resource Management
ENVMGT 746 Collaborative Environmental Management
ENVMGT 748 Coastal Management
GEOG 730 Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future (Not offered in 2024)
INDIGEN 711 Indigenous Environmental Politics
LAWENVIR 710 International Environmental Law
LAWENVIR 721 Special Topic: Ocean Governance Law
LAWENVIR 770 Global Environmental Governance
MAORI 732 Rangatiratanga
MARINE 702 Field Techniques in Marine Science
MARINE 707 Applied Estuarine Ecology
Master of Marine Conservation 180 point Research Masters
45 points:
MARINE 701 Current Issues in Marine Science
MARINE 703 Marine Protected Areas
MARINE 705 Ocean Management and Planning
45 points from:
BIOSCI 724 Marine Ecology
BIOSCI 727 Aquaculture
BIOSCI 735 Advanced Behavioural Ecology
BIOSCI 738 Advanced Biological Data Analysis
BIOSCI 739 Dialogues in Biology
BIOSCI 761 MSc Thesis Proposal
ENVSCI 701 Research Practice in Environmental Science
ENVSCI 705 Handling Environmental Data
ENVSCI 711 Assessing Environmental Effects
ENVSCI 733 Biodiversity Management and Conservation (Not offered in 2024)
ENVMGT 741 Social Change for Sustainability
ENVMGT 742 Social Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
ENVMGT 744 Resource Management
ENVMGT 746 Collaborative Environmental Management
GEOG 730 Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future (Not offered in 2024)
ENVMGT 748 Coastal Management
INDIGEN 711 Indigenous Environmental Politics
LAWENVIR 710 International Environmental Law
LAWENVIR 721 Special Topic: Ocean Governance Law
LAWENVIR 770 Global Environmental Governance
MAORI 732 Rangatiratanga
MARINE 702 Field Techniques in Marine Science
MARINE 707 Applied Estuarine Ecology
90 points:
You'll also need to meet other requirements, including time limits and total points limits. See Postgraduate enrolment.
Where could this programme take you?
Graduates of the MMarineCons will have a unique set of technical and practical skills which enable you to be highly competitive in the professional world of marine conservation. Links between policy, management and pure science are creating new job opportunities in this exciting field of work.
Jobs related to this programme
- Scientist
- Marine conservation manager
- Project manager

Read what Fletcher has to say about studying Marine Science at the University of Auckland.
Read moreStudent career planning service
Once you become a student at the University, you can get help with planning and developing your career from Career Development and Employability Services.
For help with planning your programme of study and enrolling in your courses, please visit your online help and support centre, AskAuckland.
Experience the University

Master of Marine Conservation
Learn more about the programme from Marine Science Graduate Adviser Dr Alwyn Rees, Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Marine Science.
Do you need help?
Can’t find the answer in AskAuckland?
Need to speak to someone?
You can phone us directly.
- Auckland
- 923 5025
- Outside Auckland
- 0800 61 62 63
- International
- +64 9 373 7513