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Master’s degree · Biology and conservation

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.

100% online1,500 hours11 modulesTaught in EnglishEnrol any time

What is this programme?

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 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.

Study plan

01Fundamentals of Marine Biology, Ecological Oceanography and the Integrated Functioning of Ocean Ecosystems136 h
The concept of marine biology and its differences from biological oceanography, marine ecology, ocean conservation and marine environmental management. Physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the ocean: salinity, temperature, pressure, light, oxygen, nutrients and productivity. Organisation of marine life: plankton, nekton, benthos, pelagic communities, coastal ecosystems and deep seabeds. Food webs, biogeochemical cycles, primary productivity, energy transfer and nutrient dynamics. Physiological, morphological and behavioural adaptations of organisms to different ocean environments. Relationship between currents, water masses, upwelling, tides, climate and species distribution. Biodiversity, endemism, keystone and indicator species and ecological connectivity between habitats. Pressures on ecosystems: fishing, pollution, warming, acidification, noise, biological invasions and habitat loss. Current trends: marine research, ocean monitoring, biotechnology, conservation and citizen science. A systems approach that integrates organisms, habitats, ecological processes, society and conservation.
02Marine Biodiversity, Taxonomy, Species Identification and the Ecology of Ocean Communities136 h
Fundamentals of biodiversity and the differences between genetic, species, functional, phylogenetic and ecosystem diversity. Main marine groups: bacteria, phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. Identification methods: keys, morphology, genetics, DNA barcoding and digital tools. Community ecology: richness, abundance, dominance, evenness, succession and relationships of competition, predation, mutualism and parasitism. Threatened, protected, invasive and ecologically or economically important species. Marine biogeography: latitudinal distribution, environmental gradients, barriers and population connectivity. Biodiversity indicators, community monitoring and assessment of change over time and space. Biological collections, observation records, databases, scientific photography and field documentation. Risks of biodiversity loss and its effects on resilience, productivity and stability. Building scientific criteria to identify, value and conserve marine diversity.
03Coastal Ecosystems, Reefs, Seagrass Meadows, Mangroves, Estuaries and High-Productivity Habitats136 h
Fundamentals of coastal ecology and its relationship with land, sea, sediments, nutrients, tides and communities. Coral and rocky reefs: structure, biodiversity, symbiosis, bleaching, degradation and restoration. Seagrass meadows, macroalgae and kelp forests and their role in blue carbon, shelter, reproduction and sediment stabilisation. Mangroves, salt marshes, estuaries and coastal lagoons as transition, nursery and coastal protection ecosystems. Beaches, dunes, intertidal zones and cliffs as dynamic habitats under human and climate pressure. Connectivity between coastal ecosystems for life cycles, migration, larval dispersal and productivity. Coastal threats: urbanisation, mass tourism, discharges, dredging, eutrophication, erosion, overfishing and invasive species. Monitoring techniques: transects, photo-quadrats, drones, remote sensing and GIS. Habitat restoration, nature-based solutions and community participation. Coastal conservation strategies that integrate biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate resilience.
04Pelagic Ecosystems, the Deep Sea, Large Migratory Species and the Ecological Dynamics of the Open Ocean136 h
Fundamentals of pelagic ecology and the differences between the neritic, oceanic, epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic and abyssal zones. Ocean productivity, upwelling, fronts, gyres, water masses and their relationship with concentrations of life. Plankton, pelagic fish, cephalopods, seabirds, turtles, sharks, cetaceans and large migratory species. Vertical and horizontal migrations, ocean routes, telemetry, satellite tagging and global connectivity. Deep-sea ecosystems: seamounts, hydrothermal vents, canyons, abyssal plains and chemosynthetic communities. Adaptations to pressure, darkness, low temperatures, food scarcity and extreme conditions. Threats to the open and deep ocean: industrial fishing, bycatch, seabed mining, pollution, noise and climate change. Study methods: oceanographic surveys, plankton nets, acoustics, ROVs, AUVs, remote cameras and autonomous sensors. High-seas conservation, oceanic marine protected areas and governance beyond national jurisdiction. Conservation criteria for pelagic and deep-sea ecosystems with high scientific uncertainty.
05Marine Research Methods, Biological Monitoring, Data Analysis and Conservation Study Design136 h
The scientific method applied to marine biology; differences between observation, experiment, monitoring and impact assessment. Sampling design: transects, quadrats, visual censuses, stations, time series, stratified sampling and replicates. Field techniques: scientific diving, snorkelling, sampling of plankton, sediments, water and organisms, and scientific photography. Technological tools: oceanographic sensors, drones, remote cameras, acoustics, telemetry, eDNA, ROVs and AUVs. Data management: metadata, quality control, databases, traceability, georeferencing and the ethics of sensitive data. Basic analysis of ecological data: abundance, density, diversity, biomass, trends, correlations and explanatory models. Conservation indicators, baselines, ecological thresholds, environmental status and assessment of change. Long-term monitoring programmes for species, habitats, protected areas and human impacts. Scientific communication through technical reports, maps, graphs, photographs and management recommendations. Robust, repeatable marine research that is useful for conservation decisions.
06Human Impacts, Marine Pollution, Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Ocean Life136 h
Impacts of fishing: overexploitation, bycatch, ghost gear and alteration of food webs. Pollution from plastics, microplastics, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, nutrients, wastewater and emerging contaminants. Eutrophication, hypoxia, harmful algal blooms and loss of coastal environmental quality. Marine climate change: warming, acidification, deoxygenation, sea level rise and changes in currents. Coral bleaching, species displacement, phenological changes, mass mortality and loss of critical habitats. Underwater noise, shipping traffic, collisions, artificial lighting, unregulated tourism and disturbance of wildlife. Invasive species, biofouling, ballast water, aquaculture and transformation of native communities. Environmental impact assessment, monitoring of pressures, ecological risk matrices and mitigation measures. Environmental justice, coastal communities, dependence on marine resources and the social effects of degradation. Integrated impact diagnoses to prioritise prevention, mitigation and restoration.
07Marine Conservation, Marine Protected Areas, Ecological Restoration and Ecosystem-Based Management136 h
Fundamentals of marine conservation and the differences between strict protection, sustainable management, restoration, mitigation and compensation. Marine protected areas, reserves, ecological corridors, no-take zones and connected networks. Design, zoning, governance, surveillance, funding and evaluation of the effectiveness of protected areas. Restoration of reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, salt marshes, oyster beds, dunes and degraded habitats. Conservation of threatened species, recovery plans, bycatch reduction, wildlife rescue and stranding management. Ecosystem-based fisheries management: quotas, minimum sizes, closed seasons, gear selectivity and community co-management. Nature-based solutions, blue carbon, coastal adaptation and climate resilience. Participation of communities, fishers, NGOs, administrations, the tourism sector, citizen science and environmental education. Success indicators, adaptive monitoring, compliance, use conflicts and project sustainability. Strategies that integrate science, governance, the blue economy and social commitment.
08Ocean Policy, Marine Environmental Legislation, the Blue Economy and International Conservation Governance136 h
Fundamentals of ocean governance: law of the sea, conservation, sustainable development and international cooperation. Conventions and agreements on marine biodiversity, pollution, fisheries, migratory species and critical habitats. Marine spatial planning, coastal zone management, strategic environmental assessment and resolution of conflicts between uses. The sustainable blue economy: fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, transport, renewable energy, biotechnology and ecosystem services. Economic instruments: payments for ecosystem services, blue finance, blue bonds, offsets and certifications. High-seas governance, biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, seabed mining and protection of deep-sea ecosystems. The relationship between public policy, science, social participation, regulatory compliance and evidence-based decisions. Science diplomacy, regional cooperation, monitoring networks, open data and cross-border agreements. Risks of greenwashing, socio-environmental conflicts, territorial inequality and decisions without sufficient scientific basis. Governance frameworks that make it possible to conserve the oceans while developing responsible maritime activities.
09Science Communication, Environmental Education, Responsible Tourism and Social Participation in Ocean Conservation136 h
Fundamentals of marine science communication and the differences between outreach, environmental education, awareness-raising, activism and technical transfer. Designing messages on biodiversity, threats, conservation, climate change, sustainable fishing and civic responsibility. Environmental education for schools, coastal communities, tour operators, sailors, fishers and visitors to protected areas. Responsible marine tourism: wildlife watching, diving, snorkelling, recreational boating, photography and low-impact activities. Citizen science: monitoring of species, beaches and litter, strandings, photo-identification and community records. Ocean storytelling, photography, video, maps, visual data and immersive experiences to build an emotional connection. Conflict management, public perception, community participation and trust building. Designing campaigns, workshops, educational materials, interpretive trails, exhibitions and volunteering. Measuring communication impact: changes in knowledge, attitudes, participation, practices and support for measures. Communication and education programmes that turn marine knowledge into responsible social action.
10Marine Mammals, Seabirds and Threatened Species136 h
Biology and ecology of cetaceans. Pinnipeds and sirenians. Sea turtles: life cycle and threats. Seabirds and their role in the ecosystem. Sharks and rays: conservation status. Satellite tracking and photo-identification. Strandings and rescue networks. Bycatch in fisheries. The IUCN Red List and protected species. Recovery plans for threatened species.
11Final Master's Project in Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation136 h
Definition of the case study: a species, habitat, protected area, coastal ecosystem, ocean zone or conservation problem. Ecological diagnosis: biodiversity, threats, stakeholders, available data and conservation status. Methodological framework: objectives, questions, indicators, sampling, field tools and data analysis. Assessment of human impacts, climate risks, cumulative pressures and ecological vulnerability. An evidence-based conservation, restoration, monitoring or management strategy. Integration of governance, regulation, community participation, the blue economy and financial sustainability. Communication, environmental education, citizen science and social participation actions. Monitoring indicators, effectiveness evaluation, adaptive management and continuous improvement. Writing the technical report with biological, ecological, methodological, social and conservation justification. Presentation and defence of the final project before a panel.

Duration and format

1,500hours in total
11modules of 136 hours
100%online, at your own pace
Openenrolment all year round

At 10 hours a week you would finish in about 150 weeks; at 20 hours a week, in about 75.

What you will learn

  • Design and implement marine conservation strategies based on scientific evidence.
  • Assess and mitigate the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems.
  • Lead innovative research projects in marine biology and ocean conservation.
  • Advise governments and organisations on the sustainable management of marine resources.
  • Communicate scientific findings effectively to diverse audiences to foster awareness and action.
  • Develop innovative solutions to restore degraded marine habitats.

Career outcomes

  • Scientific researcher at academic or research institutions, studying marine life, ocean ecosystems and the impact of climate change.
  • Environmental consultant for companies, NGOs or governments, on the sustainable management of marine resources and biodiversity conservation.
  • Marine protected area manager, planning and implementing conservation and management strategies.
  • Environmental educator in museums, aquariums or interpretation centres.
  • Aquaculture technician, breeding and farming marine species for food or restocking.
  • Marine data analyst, processing oceanographic information for decision-making.
  • Marine biologist at NGOs dedicated to threatened species and the fight against ocean pollution.
  • Restoration project manager for reefs, mangroves and other coastal habitats.

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.

How to enrol

Enrol online

Complete your enrolment on this page, or apply through admissions if you prefer to talk to us first.

Receive your access

We send you the details to enter the virtual campus and start the programme.

Study at your pace

Work through the modules when it suits you and complete the programme from anywhere in the world.

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