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Course description

There is a global need for an interdisciplinary approach to combat the effects of climate change on the marine environment. MSc Climate Change: Managing the Marine Environment provides those of you with a bachelor-level graduate degree in biology the opportunity to build your marine biology knowledge and expertise with emphasis on challenging climate change and solving maritime environmental issues. For those of you from a different academic background, the programme offers you the opportunity to prepare for employment in the marine management and planning sector. Through studying a broad range of relevant and topical issues, you’ll gain an understanding of the causes, impacts and management measures involved in dealing with issues in the marine environment.

You’ll learn fundamental knowledge of the main disciplines and associated technologies in managing impacts of climate change in the maritime environment, the ethics and standards relevant to professional scientific and engineering practice, and the social, economic, and environmental impact of change to marine ecosystems with an international context.

The career-focused master’s programme will develop your technical, scientific, and managerial abilities, relevant for a marine science career in academia, industry, government and non-governmental organisations.

**Your learning environment**

The MSc Climate Change: Managing the Marine Environment is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratory practicals and field work, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers.

During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, software and laboratories. You will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems at a range of locations within the United Kingdom and abroad, and work across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact.

**Customise your learning**

You can choose whether to study the programme full time or part time at our Edinburgh campus. This flexibility allows you to fit your postgraduate studies around your lifestyle. The programme begins in September and the course will last 12 months full time or 24 months part time.  

You’ll have the opportunity to go on a two-week field trip to Malaysia through the optional Tropical and Coral Reefs: Monitoring and Management course. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the marine environment whilst learning different techniques for surveying and monitoring coral reefs. 

Subjects

Marine pollution, Environmental protection, Climate studies, Pollution, Environmental science

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on our website.

Course options

Course Type: Part-time
Details
Date: 01/09/2025Cost: Get in touch with the course provider or visit their website for more information
Venue details

Edinburgh Campus

Riccarton

Edinburgh

Course Type: Full-time
Details
Date: 01/09/2025Cost: Get in touch with the course provider or visit their website for more information
Venue details

Edinburgh Campus

Riccarton

Edinburgh

Course provider

Heriot-Watt University

Edinburgh Campus
Riccarton
Edinburgh

UCAS terms of use

Course data is provided by UCAS (see their terms of use) and is offered "as is." SDS disclaims all warranties and liabilities related to the data's accuracy to the fullest extent permitted by law."