Field courses with marine biology
We offer a range of field work activities both locally and internationally for students on marine biology courses

Biodiversity is declining rapidly throughout the world, and dealing with this crisis requires both political will and solid scientific knowledge. This field course aims to teach you how scientists study patterns of biodiversity, and for you to engage in your own research projects.
You will spend one week in the West Coast National Park, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Set within the Cape Floristic Region, this is one of the most unspoiled coasts in the world. The upwelling of the nutrient rich Benguela current fuels one of the most productive marine ecosystems on the planet.
This course is designed for Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology students. Students are expected to book their own flights; all other costs are included. The University provides a Financial Support Fund, which helps students continue their studies in spite of financial difficulties. We also run a zero-cost alternative to this field course if required.
You will live and work in one of the oldest marine stations in the world, the Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences in Sweden. Situated on the Gullmar fjord, you will have access to deep sea species usually found far offshore.
You will spend a week living the life of a biological oceanographer. You’ll spend half of every day on a research vessel taking measurements of the physical properties of the fjord and sampling the organisms that live there, which you will learn to identify and record. This will allow you to investigate how the unique physical environment of the fjord drives biological communities.
This course is designed for BSc Marine Biology and Oceanography students. There is a small financial contribution towards flights; all other costs are included. The University provides a Financial Support Fund, which helps students continue their studies in spite of financial difficulties. There is a zero-cost alternative to this field course.
The oceans cover around 70% of the earth’s surface, so marine biologists need to be familiar with techniques for biological sampling from boats. This non-residential field course aims to introduce the grabs, cores, trawls and dredges used by marine biologists when sampling at sea. You will learn to use these sampling methods, and then use them to collect data to address a scientific question relating to the marine diversity of the Plymouth Sound and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation.
You’ll spend all week at the University of Plymouth Marine Station, located on the shores of Plymouth Sound. As part of our fleets of boats, we have two vessels (Wavedancer and Falcon Spirit) both purpose built as flexible platforms for oceanographic and biological teaching and research. When you’re not out on the boat, you’ll be using the seawater aquarium and wet labs for sample examination and analysis.