Master’s degree1,500 h · Online · 11 modules
Master's in Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation
This master's programme offers complete training to understand and address the challenges facing the oceans. You will work with biodiversity, ecosystem functions and monitoring methods, with dedicated modules on protected area management and restoration.
Duration1,500 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules11
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About the programme
What is the Master's in Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation?
This master's degree offers complete training to understand and address the problems facing the oceans. You will study marine biodiversity, coastal and open-sea ecosystems and the key ecological processes. The programme also addresses threats such as pollution, climate change and overfishing, and teaches you to design and implement effective conservation strategies.
What sets this master's degree apart: innovative research, taking part in forward-looking projects; a practical approach, with experience in sampling techniques, data analysis and ecological modelling; applied conservation, with the skills for the sustainable management of marine resources and the protection of endangered species; a global outlook, connecting with the international community of scientists, conservationists and policy makers; and professional development, preparing you to work in academia, NGOs, government agencies and the private sector.
Programme typeMaster’s degree
ModeOnline
Duration1,500 hours
Modules11
Start1 December
Programme highlights
- Explore marine life: study ocean ecosystems from the abyssal depths to coral reefs.
- Learn conservation: tools to protect marine biodiversity and tackle pollution and climate change.
- Innovative research: forward-looking projects in marine biology.
- Professional development: more opportunities in marine resource management, environmental consultancy and scientific research.
- Practical experience: theory combined with field and laboratory work, including oceanographic surveys and data analysis.
- Agent of change: training to contribute actively to the health of the oceans.
Syllabus
Syllabus of the Master's in Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation
11 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Module 1
Fundamentals of marine biology, ecological oceanography and the integrated functioning of ocean ecosystems
- 1.1. The concept of marine biology and the differences between biological oceanography, marine ecology, ocean conservation and marine environmental management
- 1.2. Physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the ocean: salinity, temperature, pressure, light, oxygen, nutrients and productivity
- 1.3. Organisation of marine life: plankton, nekton, benthos, pelagic communities, coastal ecosystems and the deep seabed
- 1.4. Food webs, biogeochemical cycles, primary productivity, energy transfer and nutrient dynamics
- 1.5. Physiological, morphological and behavioural adaptations of marine organisms to different ocean environments
- 1.6. Relationship between currents, water masses, upwellings, tides, climate and the distribution of marine species
- 1.7. Marine biodiversity, endemism, keystone species, indicator species and ecological connectivity between habitats
- 1.8. Pressures on ocean ecosystems: fishing, pollution, warming, acidification, noise, biological invasions and habitat loss
- 1.9. Current trends in marine research, ocean monitoring, biotechnology, conservation and citizen science
- 1.10. A systemic approach to marine biology integrating organisms, habitats, ecological processes, society and conservation
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 2
Marine biodiversity, taxonomy, species identification and ocean community ecology
- 2.1. Fundamentals of marine biodiversity and the differences between genetic, species, functional, phylogenetic and ecosystem diversity
- 2.2. Main marine groups: bacteria, phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, seabirds and marine mammals
- 2.3. Taxonomic identification methods, keys, morphology, genetics, DNA barcoding and digital tools
- 2.4. Community ecology: richness, abundance, dominance, evenness, succession, competition, predation, mutualism and parasitism
- 2.5. Threatened species, protected species, invasive species and species of ecological or economic importance
- 2.6. Marine biogeography, latitudinal distribution, environmental gradients, ecological barriers and population connectivity
- 2.7. Biodiversity indicators, community monitoring and assessment of temporal or spatial change
- 2.8. Biological collections, observation records, databases, scientific photography and field documentation
- 2.9. Risks of biodiversity loss and consequences for resilience, productivity and ecosystem stability
- 2.10. Building scientific criteria to identify, value and conserve marine biological diversity
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 3
Coastal ecosystems, reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, estuaries and highly productive habitats
- 3.1. Fundamentals of coastal ecology and the relationship between land, sea, sediments, nutrients, tides and biological communities
- 3.2. Coral and rocky reefs: structure, biodiversity, symbiosis, bleaching, degradation and ecological restoration
- 3.3. Seagrass meadows, macroalgae and kelp forests and their role in blue carbon, shelter, reproduction and sediment stabilisation
- 3.4. Mangroves, salt marshes, estuaries and coastal lagoons as transition, nursery and shoreline protection ecosystems
- 3.5. Beaches, dunes, intertidal zones and cliffs as dynamic habitats under human and climatic pressure
- 3.6. Connectivity between coastal ecosystems and its importance for life cycles, migration, larval dispersal and productivity
- 3.7. Coastal threats: urbanisation, mass tourism, discharges, dredging, eutrophication, erosion, overfishing and invasive species
- 3.8. Coastal habitat monitoring techniques using transects, photoquadrats, drones, remote sensing and GIS
- 3.9. Coastal habitat restoration, nature-based solutions and community participation
- 3.10. Building coastal conservation strategies that integrate biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate resilience
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 4
Pelagic ecosystems, the deep sea, large migratory species and open-ocean ecological dynamics
- 4.1. Fundamentals of pelagic ecology and the differences between neritic, oceanic, epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic and abyssal zones
- 4.2. Ocean productivity, upwellings, fronts, gyres, water masses and their relationship with concentrations of marine life
- 4.3. Plankton, pelagic fish, cephalopods, seabirds, turtles, sharks, cetaceans and large migratory species
- 4.4. Vertical and horizontal migrations, ocean routes, telemetry, satellite tagging and connectivity on a global scale
- 4.5. Deep-sea ecosystems: seamounts, hydrothermal vents, canyons, abyssal plains and chemosynthetic communities
- 4.6. Adaptations to pressure, darkness, low temperature, food scarcity and extreme conditions
- 4.7. Threats to the open and deep ocean: industrial fishing, bycatch, deep-sea mining, pollution, noise and climate change
- 4.8. Study methods: oceanographic cruises, plankton nets, acoustics, ROVs, AUVs, remote cameras and autonomous sensors
- 4.9. Conservation on the high seas, oceanic marine protected areas and governance of areas beyond national jurisdiction
- 4.10. Building conservation criteria for pelagic and deep-sea ecosystems with high scientific uncertainty
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 5
Marine research methods, biological monitoring, data analysis and design of conservation studies
- 5.1. Fundamentals of the scientific method applied to marine biology and the differences between observation, experimentation, monitoring and impact assessment
- 5.2. Sampling design: transects, quadrats, visual censuses, stations, time series, stratified sampling and replicates
- 5.3. Field techniques: scientific diving, snorkelling, sampling of plankton, sediments, water and organisms, and scientific photography
- 5.4. Technological tools: oceanographic sensors, drones, remote cameras, acoustics, telemetry, eDNA, ROVs and AUVs
- 5.5. Data management: metadata, quality control, databases, traceability, georeferencing and ethics of sensitive data
- 5.6. Basic analysis of ecological data: abundance, density, diversity, biomass, trends, correlations and explanatory models
- 5.7. Conservation indicators, baselines, ecological thresholds, environmental status and assessment of ecosystem change
- 5.8. Design of long-term monitoring programmes for species, habitats, protected areas and human impacts
- 5.9. Science communication through technical reports, maps, graphs, photographs, evidence bases and management recommendations
- 5.10. Building robust, repeatable marine research that is useful for ocean conservation decisions
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 6
Human impacts, marine pollution, climate change and emerging risks to ocean life
- 6.1. Impacts of fishing, overexploitation, bycatch, ghost gear and disruption of food webs
- 6.2. Pollution by plastics, microplastics, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, nutrients, wastewater and emerging contaminants
- 6.3. Eutrophication, hypoxia, harmful algal blooms and loss of environmental quality in coastal areas
- 6.4. Marine climate change: ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation, sea level rise and changes in currents
- 6.5. Coral bleaching, species shifts, phenological changes, mass mortality and loss of critical habitats
- 6.6. Underwater noise, shipping traffic, collisions, artificial lighting, unregulated tourism and wildlife disturbance
- 6.7. Invasive species, biofouling, ballast water, aquaculture and transformation of native communities
- 6.8. Environmental impact assessment, pressure monitoring, ecological risk matrices and mitigation measures
- 6.9. Environmental justice, coastal communities, dependence on marine resources and social effects of ocean degradation
- 6.10. Building comprehensive impact diagnoses to prioritise prevention, mitigation and restoration actions
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 7
Marine conservation, marine protected areas, ecological restoration and ecosystem-based management
- 7.1. Fundamentals of marine conservation and the differences between strict protection, sustainable management, restoration, mitigation and environmental offsetting
- 7.2. Marine protected areas, marine reserves, ecological corridors, no-take zones and connected conservation networks
- 7.3. Design, zoning, governance, surveillance, funding and effectiveness assessment of marine protected areas
- 7.4. Restoration of reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, salt marshes, oyster beds, dunes and degraded habitats
- 7.5. Conservation of threatened species, recovery plans, bycatch reduction, wildlife rescue and stranding management
- 7.6. Ecosystem-based fisheries management, quotas, minimum sizes, closed seasons, gear selectivity and community co-management
- 7.7. Nature-based solutions, blue carbon, coastal adaptation and resilience to climate change
- 7.8. Participation of communities, fishers, NGOs, public authorities, the tourism sector, citizen science and environmental education
- 7.9. Success indicators, adaptive monitoring, compliance, use conflicts and sustainability of conservation projects
- 7.10. Building conservation strategies that integrate science, governance, the blue economy and social commitment
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 8
Ocean policy, marine environmental legislation, the blue economy and international conservation governance
- 8.1. Fundamentals of ocean governance and the relationship between the law of the sea, conservation, sustainable development and international cooperation
- 8.2. Conventions, agreements and frameworks for the protection of marine biodiversity, pollution, fisheries, migratory species and critical habitats
- 8.3. Marine spatial planning, coastal zone management, strategic environmental assessment and resolution of conflicts between sea uses
- 8.4. Sustainable blue economy: fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, transport, renewable energy, biotechnology and ecosystem services
- 8.5. Economic instruments for conservation: payments for ecosystem services, blue finance, blue bonds, offsets and certifications
- 8.6. High seas governance, biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, deep-sea mining and protection of deep ecosystems
- 8.7. Relationship between public policy, science, social participation, regulatory compliance and evidence-based decision-making
- 8.8. Science diplomacy, regional cooperation, monitoring networks, open data and transboundary conservation agreements
- 8.9. Risks of greenwashing, socio-environmental conflicts, territorial inequality and conservation decisions without a sufficient scientific basis
- 8.10. Building governance frameworks that allow the oceans to be conserved while responsible maritime activities are developed
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 9
Science communication, environmental education, responsible tourism and social participation in ocean conservation
- 9.1. Fundamentals of marine science communication and the differences between outreach, environmental education, awareness-raising, activism and technical transfer
- 9.2. Designing messages on biodiversity, threats, conservation, climate change, sustainable fishing and citizen responsibility
- 9.3. Environmental education for schools, coastal communities, tour operators, seafarers, fishers and visitors to protected areas
- 9.4. Responsible marine tourism: wildlife watching, diving, snorkelling, recreational boating, photography and low-impact activities
- 9.5. Citizen science: monitoring of species, beaches, litter and strandings, photo-identification and community records
- 9.6. Ocean storytelling, photography, video, maps, visual data and immersive experiences to create an emotional connection
- 9.7. Management of social conflicts, public perception, community participation and trust-building in conservation projects
- 9.8. Design of campaigns, workshops, educational materials, interpretive trails, exhibitions and volunteer programmes
- 9.9. Measuring communication impact: changes in knowledge, attitudes, participation, practices and support for conservation measures
- 9.10. Building communication and education programmes that turn marine knowledge into responsible social action
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 10
Marine mammals, seabirds and threatened species
- 10.1. Biology and ecology of cetaceans
- 10.2. Pinnipeds and sirenians
- 10.3. Sea turtles: life cycle and threats
- 10.4. Seabirds and their role in the ecosystem
- 10.5. Sharks and rays: conservation status
- 10.6. Satellite tracking and photo-identification techniques
- 10.7. Strandings and rescue networks
- 10.8. Bycatch in fisheries
- 10.9. IUCN Red List and protected species
- 10.10. Recovery plans for threatened species
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 11
Master's Final Project in Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation
- 11.1. Definition of the case study: species, habitat, marine protected area, coastal ecosystem, ocean area or conservation problem
- 11.2. Ecological diagnosis of the area or species covering biodiversity, threats, stakeholders, available data and conservation status
- 11.3. Design of the methodological framework with objectives, questions, indicators, sampling, field tools and data analysis
- 11.4. Assessment of human impacts, climate risks, cumulative pressures and ecological vulnerability of the selected system
- 11.5. Development of a science-based conservation, restoration, monitoring or management strategy
- 11.6. Integration of governance, regulations, community participation, the blue economy and financial sustainability into the proposal
- 11.7. Design of communication, environmental education, citizen science and social participation actions associated with the project
- 11.8. Definition of monitoring indicators, effectiveness evaluation, adaptive management and continual improvement
- 11.9. Writing the comprehensive technical report with biological, ecological, methodological, social and conservation justification
- 11.10. Presentation and defence of the final project with overall validation of the marine biology and ocean conservation proposal developed
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your pacePlan your pace
Duration and format of the Master's in Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation
It is 1,500 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
29
months to finish
125 weeks
weeks in total
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the instalment plan.
Faculty
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.
Dra. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives
Objectives of the Master's in Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation
01Design and implement marine conservation strategies based on scientific evidence.
02Assess and mitigate the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems.
03Lead innovative research projects in marine biology and ocean conservation.
04Advise governments and organisations on the sustainable management of marine resources.
05Communicate scientific findings effectively to diverse audiences to foster awareness and action.
06Develop innovative solutions to restore degraded marine habitats.
Careers
Career opportunities after the Master's in Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Master's in Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation
Marine biology and ocean conservation.
Yes. The pathway includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with port, ocean, fog, heavy weather and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/work placement stays through partnership agreements.
It combines scientific research with the management and conservation of marine ecosystems.
Functional SMCP is recommended. We provide support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a related qualification or experience in maritime/port operations. The admission interview will confirm your suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Partnerships and the Alumni Network.
Simulator exercises (rubrics), passage plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and an applied master's thesis.
Related programmes
More programmes in Biology and conservation
Online admission
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.
Entry requirements
- Academic profile: a degree in Biology, Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences or a related qualification, or accredited professional experience in marine biology and/or ocean conservation.
- Specific knowledge: basic notions of ecology, marine biology, statistics and oceanography.
- Language skills: English at B2 level, certified or demonstrable, for reading scientific literature and taking part in international seminars.
- Documentation: up-to-date CV, copy of your degree, academic transcript, national ID or passport, and a motivation letter.
- Desirable: experience in marine biology or ocean conservation research projects, and an interest in research and fieldwork.
- Admission process: application, review of your documentation and enrolment. Admission is provisional until the committee validates your documentation; if the requirements are not met, the full amount is refunded.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrolmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
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