About the degree programme

Rapid climate change and the global expansion of human activities threaten the world's oceans. How do we realistically balance development with ocean conservation in a rapidly changing climate? How do we do this in ways that are also equitable and fair to society?

Our MSc programme places you right at the forefront of the fast-paced interface between marine science and policy that deals with these sustainability challenges. This broad programme is built around the science and policies spanning tropical to polar ecosystems, from wetlands and estuaries to the deep-sea, including the abyss.

From the outset, you will learn how marine ecosystems are structured and how they function from research-active marine ecologists and oceanographers. You will also learn how these ecosystems are used, valued, and managed from:

  • local people
  • social scientists
  • governments
  • industry
  • experts in marine law

During the programme, you will learn how to apply marine science and knowledge to critically evaluate and enrich policies and influence how new policies can be created through science communication. You will get to learn from real-world practitioners and people with lived experiences through global case studies and field trips. These experiences will be under the guidance of a research-active team of highly supportive and motivated university scientists with decades of experience at the science-policy interface from grassroots to international levels.

The capstone of your programme is an independent marine research dissertation project. It will be designed by you and a supervisor or host on a topic of your choice. You can either conduct an internship or a placement for your dissertation in either a desk-based, lab-based, or field-based setting.

By the end of your programme, you will be highly equipped with a portfolio of skills that employers are looking for, and that will support a future academic PhD career, including:

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

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.

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

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 12 years. Over this time, we have sustained many strong collaborations with organisations that are also now major employers for our graduates. These include non-governmental organisations (NGOs), governments, advocacy groups, and industry.
  • 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.
  • The MSc centres a lot on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: "Life Below Water", but our programme’s interdisciplinarity will help you find links to all SDGs.

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. The course covered a wide range of topics, which was valuable as it gave me a broad overview of everything before allowing me to narrow my research into the areas that interested me most.

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.

Full-time
Part-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.

Depending on the location of the fieldwork, you may need to pay for any visa costs. However, this cost will be reimbursed.

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 need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

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 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
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • 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): total 100 with at least 20 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.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component.
  • 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)
  • Trinity ISE
  • 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:

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

Our compulsory courses centre on:

  • ecosystem, habitat and species-based marine policies
  • climate change and climate action in the ocean
  • marine conservation and sustainable use
  • 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. 

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:

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

  • Coastal Environments and Communities
  • Economic Issues in Public Policy
  • Principles and Practice of Remote Sensing
  • Polar Oceans: Science and Policy
  • 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.

Full-time
Part-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, accommodation and any snorkelling or diving that you conduct.

Our MSc Marine Systems and Policies programme offers exceptional opportunities to develop your experience and skills through fieldwork.

You will first learn basic survey and interview techniques in early Semester 2 to experience firsthand the intersection of environment, development and social issues within a marine setting. 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

Previous field trips have included locations such as South Ari Atoll in the Maldives.

On the field trip in the Maldives, students studied reef and seagrass ecosystems and charismatic megafauna, including whale sharks and manta rays, using snorkelling, diving and boat-based surveys.

They also explored the intersection between ecosystems, local communities, and development on a small island, including the impacts of an airport landing strip and land reclamation projects.

Before travelling to the Maldives, students took part in a reading group to familiarise themselves with the interesting geopolitical context of this island nation.

MSc Marine Systems and Policies students on a field trip in the Maldives
MSc Marine Systems and Policies students on a field trip in the Maldives.
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:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Visits to the Dynamic Earth Science Centre right here in Edinburgh to learn about public engagement.
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:

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

Assessment

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

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

Learning outcomes

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

  • Become familiar with field and laboratory methods to assess marine ecosystems and cumulative impacts of climate change and human activities, including the social dimensions.
  • Be equipped with field and laboratory skills in:
    • experimental design
    • underwater transects
    • image analysis
    • marine species identification
    • habitat mapping
    • semi-structured interviews.
  • Be able to recognise gold standards in ocean planning.
  • Develop critical thinking about what constitutes sustainable development and strong ocean governance, and how climate change can be integrated into systems thinking.
  • 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.
  • Understand the 'toolkit' of area-based management tools to conserve nature and better manage human activities, including marine protected areas and marine spatial planning.

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:

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

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 the Central campus. Depending on your choice of option courses, you may need to travel to our 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.

Academic facilities

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

For example:

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

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

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:

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

For example, they can be found:

  • gathering evidence for the government to support marine protected areas
  • conducting academic research and fieldwork
  • advising the fishing, offshore renewables, and tourism industry
  • 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:

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

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

Video: 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

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.

We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications may close earlier than the published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

We may make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis. However, the majority of applications will be held until the advertised deadline.

We aim to make the majority of decisions within eight weeks of the selection deadline.

If we have not made you an offer by a specific selection deadline this means one of two things:

  • your application has been unsuccessful, in which case we will contact you to let you know
  • your application is still being considered, it will be carried forward for consideration in the next selection deadline, and we will be in touch once a decision is made

The final deadline may be extended if any places remain on the programme.

If the final deadline is extended, 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.

Selection deadlines

RoundApplication deadlineDecisions made or applications rolled to the next deadline
115 December1 March
231 March31 May
331 May31 July

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. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

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:

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

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