What can you do with a marine biology degree?

As a graduate of marine biology, you will have developed an enviable knowledge-base alongside a comprehensive set of skills and competencies which will be of value to all employers, both within your discipline and beyond. These include: 

This is a competitive but fascinating and dynamic field and marine biology graduates can be found all over the world:

Marine biologists can consider all of the careers that are open to biologists more generally, including wider laboratory roles, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sales and scientific communications. It might, therefore, be useful to look at other subject pages relating to biology oceanography and the environment.

Employers from all sectors will value your skills and with 70% of graduate roles being open to students of any discipline, many graduates have successfully transferred their skills into other sectors including business services, information technology, higher education and finance. 

It is vital to start your research and planning early in order to work out what you actions you need to take while you are studying. Take a look at these online resources and take up every opportunity to attend guest lectures and events such as “Broadening Your Career Horizons,” a careers conference specifically for the students of the marine sciences.

Prospects, TargetJobs offer useful starting points for your research including the Prospects Marine Biologist profile and Target Jobs – Marine Scientist Profile. You may find the links below helpful in your exploration.

While there are many graduate careers open to you with your degree in marine biology, here are some of the possibilities that may be of interest to you. Don’t restrict your research to this page, however, make a point of meeting people at conferences and events and find out what they do and how they got there.

Below is a snapshot of what University of Plymouth marine biology graduates told us they were doing 15 months after graduation. For some graduates, those roles served as stepping-stones by providing relevant work experience. 

Some of the employers that may be of particular interest to marine biology graduates include:

For more ideas, take a look at where our graduates told us they were working 15 months after graduation:

*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys of 2017/18 and 2018/19. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for 36 UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.

Some permanent occupations chosen by marine biology graduates may well require further study – particularly those in the field of research. Postgraduate study should be considered carefully to ensure it aligns with your longer-term career goals. The University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study options that could be of interest to marine biology graduates: 

The following websites are a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, including the financial support available to you with any further study you decide to undertake, but you may also benefit from talking to a Careers Consultant about your particular situation.

The Alternative guide to postgraduate funding is an excellent resource for University students to explore additional and different sources of funding that may be available for masters or PhD study.

It is also worth investigating what further study options the University has to offer as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni – find out your funding options.

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier, come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access our 24/7 online resources.

There is a wide range of support available from skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.

Our bite-sized Accelerate workshops can give your career the boost it needs. Choose from a range of topics:

Workshops are facilitated by the Careers Service team, however they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

LinkedIn’s alumni tool also helps you to connect with graduates as well as gain an insight into their career journeys. It’s an excellent way of discovering what you can do with your degree and what you may need to do to achieve your career goals.

For more information about the alumni tool select the LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most of your LinkedIn profile, select the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops.

Research tells us that that the three factors contributing to graduates’ success are:

Think about your career options from the outset and reflect on your new experiences as you progress – what are you enjoying? What isn’t quite what you thought? Get involved with clubs and volunteer with local conservation projects and organisations – you will meet interesting people and start to shape your ideas about where you might like your degree to take you.

While your degree might be the key to unlocking employment doors, work experiences will help to push those doors open.

Work experience such as placements can boost employment prospects as well as providing a unique opportunity to get involved with different projects or get behind the scenes of some fascinating research facilities, meeting new people and building professional contacts for life. Some of the employers that our marine biologists have secured placements with include:

Volunteering in local projects will build up your field skills and hands-on experience while potentially creating future opportunities via the people you meet. Take a look at the University of Plymouth Students’ Union who offer a massive range of voluntary opportunities.

Part-time work will bring in much-needed money while you study and will also enhance your professional and transferrable skills such as teamwork, time keeping, flexibility and customer service skills as well as increasing commercial awareness. Consider applying to become a Student Ambassador and get experience of events, public speaking and enjoy showcasing your subject to members of the public at community and university outreach events.

Many employers advertise roles of interest before you have completed your degree – some as early as the autumn of your final year. Aim to be at least be ready to make applications, with your CV and LinkedIn profile up-to-date and employer-friendly and ready to go by the beginning of your final year. 

Engaging in a sport or society shows employers you are engaged and seek out opportunities as well as enhancing your teamwork, communication and negotiation skills. Committee members develop leadership, diplomacy and organisational skills and will gain experience of meetings, handling funds, and society promotion

You may choose to join a society that is specifically linked to marine biology such as MBS or take the opportunity to explore the huge range of clubs, societies and sports, all of which can help you to broaden your horizons and explore new interests.

Your tutors and other academic staff have had extensive experience and across this work sector and within academia and are extremely knowledgeable. They will be fully supportive of your career development and are will-connected, so do approach them for advice and insights into careers you are considering. Your tutor will ultimately be writing references for your employment or further study applications, therefore establishing a positive relationship with this person is invaluable.