BSc (Hons) Marine Science Bachelor's degree at UHI
BSc (Hons) Marine Science at UHI. Over four years of full-time study, you engage directly with coastal and ocean environments through fieldwork and laboratory research.
About this course
BSc (Hons) Marine Science is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at UHI, based in Scottish Association for Marine Science. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Geography, earth and environmental studies graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 35% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Environmental Science, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 - CertHE 6 modules
- Fundamentals of marine biologyCore
- Fundamentals of marine chemistryCore
- Fundamentals of marine geologyCore
- Fundamentals of marine physicsCore
- Introduction to mathematics and data scienceCore
- Marine field courseCore
Year 2 - DipHE 8 modules
- Chemical oceanographyCore
- Marine biologyCore
- Marine geologyCore
- Physical oceanographyCore
- Statistics for marine scienceCore
- Applied maths and programmingOptional
- Biochemistry and molecular biologyOptional
- Marine observing systemsOptional
Year 3 9 modules
- Marine biogeochemical cyclingOptional
- Marine biotechnologyOptional
- Marine conservationOptional
- Marine mammals and megafaunaOptional
- Marine microbial ecologyOptional
- Marine pollutionOptional
- Marine remote sensing and geographic information systemsOptional
- Marine zoologyOptional
- Ocean circulation and climateOptional
Year 4 - BSc (Hons) 9 modules
- DissertationCore
- AquacultureOptional
- Coastal and shelf sea dynamicsOptional
- Deep-seas ecologyOptional
- Defining the marine carbon cycleOptional
- Marine environmental impact assessmentOptional
- Marine modellingOptional
- Polar seasOptional
- Behaviour and biological clocksOptional
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
A BSc (Hons) in Marine Science equips you with knowledge of ocean systems, marine life and environmental change. A course like this typically begins with Earth Systems Science and Ecology Fundamentals, introducing how the oceans function and how marine organisms interact within them. Year 1 also covers environmental data analysis and GIS techniques for mapping marine and coastal environments. In Year 2, you'll usually move to Climate Change Science & Policy and Pollution & Environmental Management, often including residential fieldwork to apply these methods in practice. Year 3 moves towards specialisation and independence: you can pursue options such as Climate Science, Conservation, GIS & Remote Sensing, Environmental Policy, and Water & Pollution studies. You'll typically undertake a dissertation, an independent research project drawing on field or data-based work, and may work with organisations on live environmental problems, grounding your learning in practice.
Who it's for
You're drawn to understanding the natural world, particularly aquatic and coastal environments, and you want hands-on experience rather than just classroom learning. You have strong science foundations and enjoy fieldwork as much as analysis. You're comfortable working independently on complex problems and can communicate your findings clearly. Studying this course will feel rigorous and practical, you'll spend significant time outdoors and in research settings, working alongside practising scientists. You suit this programme if you're genuinely curious about how marine systems function and are willing to develop the technical and problem-solving skills the field demands.
Careers & job market
Across Environmental Science courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 65% are in highly skilled roles or are pursuing further study. Starting earnings for marine science graduates typically fall between £24,000 and £30,000 fifteen months after graduation, rising to £26,350–£37,200 after five years (these are national figures for the field, not a guaranteed salary). Your career path may include marine conservation, environmental consultancy, research institutions, or related sectors; the blend of theory, methods, and practical application prepares you for varied roles in the environmental and marine sectors.
University & format
The BSc (Hons) Marine Science is taught at the University of the Highlands and Islands, a UK university, in partnership with the Scottish Association for Marine Science. The course runs for 4 years full-time and is taught in English. As a degree awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body, your qualification is nationally recognised.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 92%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Integrated work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 60% |
| a previous degree | 15% |
| another higher-education qualification | 10% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
| Other | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Published UHI fee framework
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Environmental Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £26,000 | £21,000 – £30,000 | 10 |
| 3 years after | £17,000 | £13,000 – £26,500 | 25 |
| 5 years after | £24,000 | £15,500 – £31,500 | 20 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in environmental science · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Environmental Science nationally
National figures for Environmental Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Environmental Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 560 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 25; response rate: 65%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Environmental Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Environmental Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Environmental consultancies
- Environment Agency
- Energy & utilities
- NGOs & local authorities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Environmental Science graduates.
Environmental Science Graduate Leadership Scheme, HybridEnvironment AgencyRemote Environmental Science Evaluator – AI Output QAObsidianRemote Environmental Science Evaluator (Contract)MercorAssistant Professor: Ecology & Environmental Science and AISONICOMStrategic Leader, Environmental ScienceUK Research and Innovation (UKRI)Assistant Professor: Ecology, Evolution & Environmental ScienceImperial College LondonIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Fees and funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Where graduates go
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £26,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.4 out of 10: NSS 92.6% · in work or study 95% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the Highlands and Islands
Geography, earth and environmental studies (social sciences) across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Environmental Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
Related courses
More at UHI
Environmental Science at other universities
BA (Hons) English Studies and Climate ChangeAberystwyth UniversityBSc (Hons) Environmental Earth Science (with integrated year in industry)Aberystwyth UniversityBSc (Hons) Environmental Earth Science (with integrated year studying abroad)Aberystwyth UniversityBSc (Hons) Environmental Earth ScienceAberystwyth UniversityCommon questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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