Marine Systems and Policies MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Sustainability

Year of entry: 2027

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Part-time
  • MSc | 2 years | Start date: September 2027
Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2027

Key facts

School

School of GeoSciences

College

College of Science and Engineering

Study location

Central Area

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About the degree programme

Develop the scientific, policy and communication skills to help shape a more sustainable future for the world’s oceans.

Rapid climate change, biodiversity loss and the global expansion of human activity are placing increasing pressure on marine and coastal environments. This interdisciplinary MSc bridges marine science, policy, law and social science, preparing you to address complex ocean sustainability challenges.

You will explore marine and coastal ecosystems across the world, from wetlands and estuaries to tropical, polar and deep-sea environments, including the abyss.

Learn how marine ecosystems are structured and how they function from research-active marine ecologists and oceanographers, including how to apply marine science and knowledge to critically evaluate, inform and influence how policies can be created through science communication.

Through case studies and field trips, you will also explore how these ecosystems are used, valued, and managed by different groups with lived experiences, including:

  • coastal and local communities
  • governments and policymakers
  • marine law and policy experts
  • social scientists
  • industry

You will be supported by research-active academics with extensive experience working at the science-policy interface, from grassroots initiatives to international policy.

The capstone of the programme is an independent marine research dissertation project. You will design this project with a supervisor or host on a topic of your choice. Depending on your project, your dissertation may involve an internship or placement and can be either desk-based, lab-based, or field-based.

You will graduate with a portfolio of skills valued by employers, and useful for a future academic PhD career, including:

  • policy analysis
  • science communication
  • applied marine scientific survey and social science skills

You will develop a strong understanding of key marine ecosystems, the impacts of human activities and climate change, and international and national policy frameworks to govern these ecosystems.

Why study an MSc in Marine Systems and Policies at Edinburgh?

Study options

Part-time study

A two-year part-time study option is available for this programme. 

Part-time study requires daytime weekday attendance. Therefore, we recommend living within a commutable distance from Edinburgh.

We encourage you to contact us to discuss part-time study in more detail. 

Programme benefits

  • Our MSc programme was the first of its kind in the UK and has been running for 13 years.
  • Learn with students from a wide range of countries, disciplines and professional backgrounds.
  • Benefit from our sustained strong collaborations with organisations that are also major employers for our graduates, including NGOs, governments, advocacy groups, and industry.
  • The programme is centred on UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, while connecting with the wider SDG agenda.

I chose MSc Marine Systems and Policies to pursue my interest in marine science and research as well as the desire to help protect the environment and create positive change through political action. The programme delivered exactly what I was looking for, a 12-month crash course that crammed in all aspects of the marine environment and scientific research, human interaction with marine and coastal ecosystems, and policy behind the governance and protection of the global oceans.

Trace Laskey MSc Marine Systems and Policies, graduated 2025
Student driving a boat and smiling

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Part-time
Full-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place.

  • £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

Find out more about tuition fee deposits

Costs

Additional programme costs

Field trips and field courses

Your programme fees will cover the costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence on compulsory field trips or field courses. However, you must pay for incidental or personal expenses. You may wish to budget approximately £100 to £150 for suitable outdoor clothing and footwear for compulsory field work.

Dissertation costs

The School of GeoSciences operates a fund to support you with activity related to your dissertation project, such as specialist software licenses or travel expenses for site visits.

On the rare occasion that costs exceed the funding amount, you may be required to cover additional costs. This is not common, and the University is typically able to provide any resources required to undertake your dissertation project.

Accommodation and living costs

You will need to pay for your accommodation and living costs (such as rent, food and utility bills) for the duration of your programme.

For 2026-2027, we estimate that it will cost an average of £18,504 each year (£1,542 each month) to live in Edinburgh as a postgraduate.

The exact amount you spend will depend on different factors, especially the accommodation you choose.

Living costs: estimates explained 

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2027-28 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2028-29 academic year will be published in early Oct 2027.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in natural sciences or social sciences, but with clear evidence of experience and interest in marine topics.

International equivalent qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test (restrictions apply)
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English (restrictions apply)
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) before 21 January 2026: total 100 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) from 21 January 2026: total 5.0 with at least 4.0 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component. We do not accept Oxford ELLT Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

This MSc programme (total 180 credits) comprises:

  • compulsory and option taught courses (total 120 credits)
  • dissertation (60 credits)

Compulsory courses

You will study 80 credits of compulsory taught courses. 

The compulsory courses for this programme currently include:

  • Corals in a Changing Ocean
  • Marine Ecosystems and Policies
  • Marine Field Methods in Research and Practice

Our compulsory courses centre on:

  • marine conservation and sustainable use
  • climate change and climate action in the ocean
  • ecosystem, habitat and species-based marine policies
  • tropical marine science and development issues in the Global South
Dissertation

You will also complete an independent research project called a dissertation. This is your opportunity to explore a marine topic of your choice, in-depth. The topic can be purely scientific, policy-based, or have a strong human dimension. You can use the dissertation to demonstrate your work to potential employers.

This is worth 60 credits and typically consists of producing a written paper of 10,000 to 15,000 words. The project can be field, lab, or desk-based anywhere in the world. You may also be required to write a project proposal or present on the findings from your dissertation. Many of our students go on to publish their dissertation paper as a peer-reviewed publication.

Your project is mostly completed over a period of several months between April and August. However, the teaching team will work with you throughout the programme to help you prepare for the dissertation project. You will be supported by a project supervisor who will help to co-develop your idea, research questions and methods. 

Previous dissertation topics have included:
  • The rights of Southern Resident killer whales
  • Threats from illegal fishing and capacity for enforcement in Indonesia
  • Pilot study on the use of drones to study humpback whales in Iceland
  • Using baited remote underwater vehicle systems to study the distribution and diversity of sharks in South Africa
Dissertations with external partners

You may have the option to complete a dissertation project in partnership with an external organisation. We work with our wide network to support you in finding opportunities for these projects, enhancing the real-world relevance of your degree. Opportunities are normally advertised in November each year.

Examples of organisations our students have worked with include:

  • SharkLife
  • WhaleWise
  • NatureScot
  • Blue Ventures
  • Blue Marine Foundation
  • International Maritime Organization
  • Joint Nature Conservation Committee
  • Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature

Option courses

You will take 40 credits of option courses. We offer a curated list of option courses for you to choose from, recommending courses which complement the rest of the programme. 

Examples of courses currently available include:

  • Economic Issues in Public Policy
  • Polar Oceans: Science and Policy
  • Coastal Environments and Communities
  • Resource Recovery and Circular Economy
  • Making science relevant to policy and decision-making

Although we try to provide a wide range of option courses to choose from, these can be subject to change or cancellation at short notice. Places on option courses can be limited due to course capacity and timetabling constraints. It may not be possible to guarantee every offer holder their top choice of option courses.

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Part-time
Full-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Disclaimer

Fieldwork course review

The School of GeoSciences is undergoing a review of its fieldwork courses. This review focuses on improving the inclusivity and accessibility of fieldwork, whilst delivering sustainable and low-carbon experiences, and maintaining pedagogical excellence.

As a result, field course locations may vary year to year, but will always align with course learning outcomes.

Field trips

Our compulsory field trips or field courses are free, including travel and accommodation.

Our MSc Marine Systems and Policies programme offers exceptional opportunities to develop your experience and skills through fieldwork. Field trip locations may vary, but will typically take place at a UK coastal destination.

You will learn methods to assess coastal and marine ecosystems, including through coastal surveys, experiments, deploying instruments from inshore vessels, and through engagement with local communities. You will also assess ecological interactions, and consider the wider context of the societies and stakeholders that rely upon these systems in different ways.

You will then get the opportunity to apply these skills directly in the field, taking you beyond the theoretical and beyond the classroom. To complete your field course, our staff and relevant local experts will guide and support you in designing and executing a field research project.

The field course usually takes place in April.

Previous field trips

During previous field trips, students have explored the intersection between ecosystems, local communities, and development on small island nations, including the impacts of an airport landing strip and land reclamation projects.

Before travelling, students have taken part in reading groups to familiarise themselves with the geopolitical context of field trip locations.

Local day trips

Throughout the programme, we also offer voluntary field trips in Scotland to experience a variety of marine settings at no extra cost. These vary depending on students' interests, but have previously included:

  • Visits to the Dynamic Earth Science Centre right here in Edinburgh to learn about public engagement.
  • Boat trips to visit the seal pups in November in the Firth of Forth to learn about their critical habitats and experience sustainable marine tourism.
  • Boat trips to the famous Bass Rock, the world's largest gannet colony, to learn about seabird ecology and the potential impacts of offshore windfarms.
  • RIB trips around the Berwickshire Marine Reserve, the UK's oldest voluntary marine reserve, where we learn from local fishers and communities about this successful marine protected area.
  • Site visits to salmon farms on the beautiful west coast of Scotland to gain a more in-depth understanding of the planning and monitoring salmon farms undertake to become more sustainable.
Accessibility on field trips

We are committed to making our degree as accessible and inclusive as possible. In the event that you cannot attend a fieldwork trip, we will provide alternatives with comparable learning outcomes where necessary.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will experience a range of learning styles, depending on the subject matter and courses you are taking. The focus of this programme is interdisciplinary teaching and experiential learning.

Teaching for this programme will typically involve a mix of:

  • field trips
  • conferences
  • reading groups
  • set coursework
  • networking opportunities
  • skills and training sessions

Assessment

You will be assessed in a variety of ways, such as:

  • policy briefs
  • presentations
  • critical essays
  • data analysis reports
  • role play or simulation activities

Learning outcomes

By studying the MSc Marine Systems and Policies, you will:

  • Be able to recognise gold standards in ocean planning.
  • Be equipped with field and laboratory skills in:
    • image analysis
    • habitat mapping
    • experimental design
    • underwater transects
    • semi-structured interviews
    • marine species identification
  • Develop critical thinking about what constitutes sustainable development and strong ocean governance, and how climate change can be integrated into systems thinking.
  • Understand the 'toolkit' of area-based management tools to conserve nature and better manage human activities, including marine protected areas and marine spatial planning.
  • Become familiar with field and laboratory methods to assess marine ecosystems and cumulative impacts of climate change and human activities, including the social dimensions.
  • Become familiar with ocean governance systems for a variety of marine ecosystems, including charismatic species such as sharks, marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds.
  • Understand the structure, functioning and governance of characteristic marine ecosystems, including atolls and islands, temperate and tropical coasts, estuaries, the continental shelves, seamounts, the deep sea, and polar oceans.
  • Explore how different platforms for data collection from small vessels to large research expeditions, robotics, including autonomous systems, and how remote sensing, such as multi-beam echo-sounders, drones, and hydrophones enhance observational capacity.

Support for your studies

Student Experience Team

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a Student Adviser within the School's Student Experience Team, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.

How we support you

Cohort activities

You will also have access to a range of cohort activities. These are a mix of social and academic support events. 

Social events are typically student-led. Previous programme cohorts have organised activities such as:

  • film nights
  • alumni events
  • local day trips
  • potluck dinners
  • attending conferences
  • inviting guest speakers

Academic events often include workshops to support you with planning for your dissertation project. The programme also runs a dissertation mixer event in November with current and recently graduated students, and a dissertation writing workshop during Summer.

Our academic staff

Courses are delivered by our staff, most of whom are also active researchers. Their expertise is supplemented by guest speakers from:

  • industry
  • consultancy
  • government
  • other research organisations

Where you will study

Study location

The majority of your teaching will take place at our Central Area campus, such as ECCI.

ECCI is close to many teaching spaces and facilities within the Central Area campus, such as the Main Library and Pleasance gym.

Depending on the option courses you choose, you may also study at various campus locations in Edinburgh, such as the King's Buildings Campus.

Some of your optional events, such as 'Breakfast Briefings,' where students talk about an ocean or conservation policy of their choice, may take place at any of the University campuses.

The King's Buildings campus is around 15 minutes from central Edinburgh by bus (there is a regular free shuttle bus between both locations). You can also cycle (15 minutes) or walk (35 minutes) to the campus from the central area.

Walking map from George Square central campus to Grant Institute King's Buildings campus

Shuttle bus route and timetable

Academic facilities

You will have access to the University's facilities across all University campuses.

For example:

  • libraries
  • laboratories
  • social spaces
  • leisure facilities
  • computing facilities
  • study spaces (some of which are open 24 hours)

You will also have access to the Masters Hub, located in the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) building at the Central campus.

Visit the ECCI website

Career opportunities

Skills development

Employers tell us that they seek candidates with real-world skills and an integrated understanding of marine ecosystems, development and planning, as well as regional and international policies.

Throughout the year, you will get the chance to gain practical skills, including field skills and computer skills. Some of the things you will get the opportunity to try include:

  • snorkelling
  • transects
  • coding in R
  • species identification
  • field habitat mapping
  • using social science software, NVivo
  • semi-structured interview techniques

This blend of expertise in marine planning and policies, combined with practical and computer skills, is highly desirable and transferable to many lines of employment.

Our graduates

Our graduates are now working around the world at local, national and international levels, with many now working as:

  • PhD students
  • Project Leaders
  • Ocean Consultants
  • Programme Officers
  • Marine Science Officers
  • Sustainability Consultants
  • Marine Mammal Observers
  • Marine Policy Analysts and Officers
  • Marine Education and Communication Leaders

For example, they can be found:

  • conducting academic research and fieldwork
  • advising the fishing, offshore renewables, and tourism industry
  • gathering evidence for the government to support marine protected areas
  • working with international conservation agencies to help implement marine policies at the highest level

We are also happy to support many of our graduates to further their pathways as PhD students both in the UK and abroad.

Graduate destinations

Examples of the organisations our graduates have gained employment with include:

  • Blue Ventures
  • Pew Foundation
  • Global Fishing Watch
  • Blue Marine Foundation
  • World Wide Fund for Nature
  • Coral Cay Conservation Philippines
  • Joint Nature Conservation Committee
  • International Union for the Conservation of Nature
  • Royal Society for the Protection of Nature Scotland
  • United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps USA

Professional links

Our MSc programme was the first of its kind in the UK and has been running for 13 years. Over this time, we have sustained many strong collaborations with organisations that are also now major employers for our graduates. These include:

  • industry
  • governments
  • advocacy groups
  • non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

Networks

We have excellent relationships with various organisations, from local communities to government, industry, and academia. Our networks can give you access to potential employers and decision-makers who may provide employment opportunities or research projects.

Guest experts from government, industries, and non-government organisations (NGOs) from around the world will also support your experience while you are here, giving practical workshops, lectures, or offering work-based or internship-based dissertation project opportunities.

Alumni network

Our Marine Systems and Policies LinkedIn alumni network keeps us on the frontier of job prospects all over the world, and keeps you connected to your peers for career support.

Research network

As a University of Edinburgh student, you are also automatically a part of both the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) and the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (SAGES) consortia, which offer annual symposia, funding, study, and employment opportunities.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

We also strongly support students in developing pathways to a PhD and offer a high level of support to students interested in presenting, publishing and making an impact in other ways, such as public engagement.

Graduate profiles

Luis Greiffenhagen

Luis smiles for the camera

Degree: MSc Marine Systems and Policies

Year of graduation: 2021

Current work: PhD student

I got my PhD position about a year after I finished my masters degree in Edinburgh. Writing my thesis on deep water corals was the most important step in my career. I was not familiar with deep-sea research in the beginning, and I was not planning on pursuing a career in this field at all. But I got so heavily inspired throughout the research I conducted for my masters, that I chose to focus on this area moving forward.

Luis' profile

Gail Sant

Gail smiles for the camera while standing in front of a river and mountains

Degree: MSc Marine Systems and Policies

Year of graduation: 2021

Current work: Projects and Partnerships Manager, The Nippon Foundation, University of Edinburgh Ocean Voices Programme

I knew that my interests were in marine policy, sustainability, ocean governance and even science communication. Also, I have always had an interest in marine biology as well. I didn't find any other programme that connected all of those elements as well as the Marine Systems and Policies course.

Gail's profile

Gail - MSc Marine Systems and Policies

Gail shares her journey since graduating from MSc Marine Systems and Policies.

Hear from our alumni about their experiences during, and after, postgraduate study

School of GeoSciences postgraduate alumni profiles

Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience at the University, providing:

  • tailored advice
  • individual guidance and personal assistance
  • internships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
  • access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network

We invest in your future beyond the end of your degree. Studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success, whatever shape that takes.

Careers Service

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

You should avoid applying to more than one degree within the School of GeoSciences. Applicants who can demonstrate their understanding and commitment to a specific programme are preferred.

If you plan to apply to more than one programme within the School, you should discuss your choices with us before you submit your application.

Where possible, we may make an alternative programme offer if you have been unsuccessful in your chosen programme.

School of GeoSciences deadlines

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
13 September 2027 30 August 2027

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

When to submit your supporting documents

You must submit all supporting documents by the application deadline, or we will be unable to consider your application. Regardless of when you apply, you have 28 days from submitting your application to supply any supporting documents through the Application Hub, after which we will automatically reject your application.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

For this programme, you will need to submit a CV/Resume with your application.

Find out more about applications and CVs for further study

References

You must submit one reference with your application.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. We aim to make admissions decisions on completed applications within 6 to 8 weeks of receipt. However, due to the large number of applications we receive, decisions may take longer during busy periods.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

What our students say

No one knows what it is like to study here better than the students themselves. Our students are sharing their experiences - from studying to living in Edinburgh and everything in between.

Get social with us:

Our community

Our MSc is also suited for you if you are eager to meet other like-minded people from all over the world with different backgrounds, training, and perspectives. 

Our students especially value that their peers come from a variety of academic and work backgrounds, such as:

  • law
  • geography
  • marine biology
  • physical oceanography
  • science communication
  • international development
  • social and political science

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Admissions

Lines open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

College of Science and Engineering Admissions Enquiries
Phone:+44 (0)131 650 5737

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