Marine Biology BSc (Honours)

The School of Biology has three buildings around St Andrews: the Centre for Biological Diversity, the Scottish Oceans Institute and the brand new Biomedical Sciences Research Complex building with teaching labs. The Scottish Oceans Institute also has an aquarium, allowing you to gain hands on experience with live marine organisms. Computer labs will also allow you to learn key data analysis skills that will prepare you for any research involving data collection.

St Andrews is located on the coast of the North Sea, which makes getting into the field easy, whether it’s for a weeklong field course looking at the intertidal ecosystem, or for an afternoon of rock-pooling with the Marine Society. There are three beaches in St Andrews, with the Scottish Oceans Institute right on East Sands, making the transition from studying a specimen on the beach into the lab easy.

The Marine Biology degree program has strong ties with the Scottish Oceans Institute (SOI). The SOI building houses tutorial rooms, as well as labs and a research aquarium. In addition, the SOI is home to the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), which is the largest marine mammal research group in the world. The seal pool facility is a unique resource available for collaborative research and as a controlled testing facility for marine equipment. Sensors such as sonar, and remotely operated vehicles, and hydrophone arrays can be tested here before deployment.

As an undergraduate you can benefit directly from the research going on here through volunteering in a research lab, participating in undergraduate research internship schemes and during your 4th year final project. You also can also get involved in interdisciplinary research programs through Vertically Integrated Projects, such as the Dolphin Acoustics VIP, where you can work on a project focused on dolphin communication.

Getting into the field is an important aspect of becoming a confident Marine Biologist. As well as being able to head down to one of St Andrews’ beaches to study the rockpools, or nearby Tensmuir’s sand dunes to study succession, we also offer field trips to a variety of different places, so that you can work in a variety of marine ecosystems.

• The Scottish Highlands to learn sampling methods and species identification in areas such as Loch Lomond.
• Maldives scientific research station for those with diving qualifications to learn how to gather robust scientific data underwater, witness first hand the fragile and diverse ecosystem of tropical coral reefs, and have the chance to propose, develop and lead a significant underwater research project. 
• Orielton Field Station on the Pembrokeshire coast for a week-long residential field course before you start your third year of study
• Antarctica vessel-based expedition to gain an appreciation of and insights into the diversity, complexity, scientific and management challenges of the Antarctic ecoregion

2^ND YEAR

BL2300 Research Methods in Biology

This module provides you with a detailed overview of scientific method and experimental design. You will develop essential mathematical skills required of biologists, while also gaining confidence using the code-based statistical software ‘R’. Apply your knowledge towards a mini project which you will complete in groups, testing your skills on experimental design and data analysis. By conclusion of this module, you will have gained fundamental skills required for the latter stages of your Marine Biology degree.

BL2311 The Oceans

Your introduction to Marine Biology, this core module introduces you to essential concepts in oceanography. Learn about the properties of sea water and its movement patterns, physical-biological interactions from the ocean, and how these processes impact various ocean biomes. Discuss a variety of unique organisms and their ocean habitats: from coasts to the deep and from tropical to polar environments. You will leave this module with experience from hands-on practical workshops investigating various concepts of oceanography, and ultimately gain a diverse understanding of various factors impacting life in our oceans. 

Outside of these modules, you will still have space to take other relevant modules in the School of Biology, for example modules about zoology, comparative physiology, ecology and evolution.

3^RD YEAR

BL3320 Statistical and Quantitative Skills for Biologists

Develop your statistical training from previous years. Strengthen your ability in organising and analysing data using statistical techniques and build your confidence using the code-based statistical software ‘R’. This module supplies you with crucial knowledge on advanced statistical techniques and will aid your preparations for quantitative 4th year projects and/or postgraduate research.

BL3308 Methods in Aquatic Biology

Learn about the essential tools and methods required for the study of freshwater and marine environments and the unique organisms residing within them. Through this module you will gain valuable experience on the residential field trip to the Scottish Highlands, where numerous practical skills involving sampling, labelling, and identifying various botanic, invertebrate, and vertebrate species will be utilised.

BL3318 Biology of Marine Organisms

Gain a solid biological understanding of a variety of organisms associated with marine environments. Your knowledge will range across different species of bacteria, algae, invertebrates, and vertebrates that reside in varying environments ranging from shallow waters to the deep ocean. Through practical work and teaching, learn about the unique adaptations of these organisms, from both an individual level through to large-scale levels influenced by productivity and food-web structures.

Outside of these, you can take other modules in the School of Biology in topics such as ecology and conservation, evolution and animal behaviour.

4^TH YEAR

BL4249 Scientific Diving

This module is restricted to students who have existing diving qualifications (PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or BSAC Sports Diver or equivalent). Learn theoretical techniques used by scientific divers and gain practical experience conducting a mini-research project, utilising underwater surveying techniques.

BL4251 Tropical Marine Biology

Understand biological principles and ecological processes that underpin various tropical marine ecosystems. Focus throughout this module will be on coral reef, seagrass, and mangrove environments, and the unique phyla that is characteristic to each. Through practical and tutorial work you will learn the scientific techniques used in the study of tropical marine biology, explore the threats facing these habitats, and understand principles within marine conservation.

BL4254 Fisheries Research

Gain an understanding of the issues and considerations involving fish stocks. This module enables discussions involving sustainability, catch limits, and status assessments of fish stocks. Gain skills in statistical programming through practical work, and ultimately understand how scientific advice on fisheries is communicated to a wider community. 

BL4258 Foraging in Marine Mammals

Explore what is known (and indeed what is yet to be understood) about how marine mammals capture their prey and how their unique physiological adaptions facilitate this. By module conclusion you will have gained knowledge on both geographical and physiological constraints facing these mammals, adapting prey, optimal diver theory and the unique research techniques used in the study of foraging.

BL4259 Marine Mammals and Man

Gain insight into the variety of ways marine mammals interact with human activity. From individual mammals to a wider population, explore the impact these unmanaged human activities have on the health and longevity of various marine species. You will learn how robust scientific advice informs conservation efforts at national and international levels.

BL4262 Environmental Drivers of Marine Habitats

Receive a broad overview of various environmental drivers of marine ecosystems, from learning about short term processes in ocean and atmosphere to learning about the climates that define marine habitats. You will be given the tools required to analyse primary scientific literature about the field, enabling you to apply this knowledge within different marine science fields.

BL4301 Polar Ecology: Antarctica

During this module you will gain invaluable experience in polar ecology, focusing on top polar predators, ecosystem functionality, and management of Antarctic marine living resources. Gain critical awareness and understanding of current challenges faced by the Antarctic ecoregion. Through practical work you will learn to handle a variety of datasets, including oceanography data and top-predator survey data.

BL4603 External Research Placement (Masters)

While supervised in a working environment away from St Andrews, you will learn and practice a range of invaluable scientific skills independently. During this full year placement, you will gain invaluable research and work experience, important for enhancing future employability.

As a Marine Biology student at St Andrews, you will be part of a community of ocean lovers, and you will be able to share your passion both in and out of class. You can make the most of the North Sea through sports clubs such as Surf and Sub Aqua, and societies such as Marine Society, Wildlife and Conservation or Birding. You can browse all of St Andrews’ societies here.

St Andrews is also home to many traditions, such as May Dip, where you will get even more familiar with the North Sea at sunrise on May 1st! Click here to read more about student life in St Andrews.