The study of the interaction between the oceans and the Earth is vital to our future. As humans leave their mark on the global environment, we face serious challenges and responsibilities in our new role of planetary stewardship. Yet, we still do not fully understand how the oceans work with the Earth, and more research is urgently needed.

Postgraduate study in ocean and earth science provides the opportunity to contribute to pushing forward this understanding, which is of worldwide importance. Postgraduate students in this area acquire expert knowledge in a specialised field, train in research methods, carry out original research, and develop the ability to design, implement and publish scientific research with the potential to improve our understanding of the global earth system. 

Research areas and course options

Institutions offering postgraduate programmes in ocean and earth science will generally have a diverse range of research areas in which students can work, many of which will be multidisciplinary and allow collaboration with other sciences and researchers, often with international links. Participation in fieldwork is often an essential component; either on land or at sea on research cruises.

Students will typically be interested in the study of marine biology, oceanography, geology and geophysics. It may not always be necessary to have an undergraduate degree in one of these specific subjects, as many postgraduates come with strong mathematical skills or from a background in another aligned science discipline, and use a postgraduate master’s course to hone their skills to be more marine or earth science orientated. 

Some specialist areas in which ocean and Earth science postgraduate students may study include:

• Marine Geology and Geophysics
• Physical Oceanography
• Coastal and Shelf Seas
• Palaeoceanography and Palaeoclimate
• Ocean Biogeochemistry
• Marine Biology and Ecosystems
• Ocean Technology and Sensors

Many postgraduate programmes are fully modular, and allow students to choose pathways that provide specific academic or vocational training, depending upon their intended direction after completing study.

Master of Research (MRes) courses are one-year research-intensive programmes, consisting of an extended research project together with taught instruction. These are an option that may be particularly suitable for students prepare for further postgraduate study (a PhD). Master of Science programmes also include a sizeable research project, but have more of a focus on taught modules and on developing skills that are sought after by future employers.

As in other fields, PhD research programmes involve individual study under the close guidance of an academic supervisor, leading to submission of a thesis and an oral examination, and usually take up to three years of full time study to complete.
As well as the academic side of the programme, key skills are a common capability which every postgraduate student needs to develop, regardless of research area, and these are typically provided via a mixture of tutorial and workshop style courses.

When deciding which graduate course would be most suitable to take, you should be actively looking to the future and your intended career path. Students graduating from ocean and earth science postgraduate degrees are qualified to enter a broad range of employment, ranging from posts with major multinational companies and government agencies, mineral, oil and gas exploration companies, conservation and environmental agencies, coastal management and geophysical survey companies, meteorology and geological survey companies, local authorities, water boards, engineering and construction companies through to universities and allied research institutes.

Choosing where to study

Ocean and earth science are internationally connected disciplines in which many scientists often collaborate globally on large projects. Choosing to study at an institution that has excellent research facilities, outstanding academics that are experts in their field, and access to field and ocean going work, are important considerations that will enrich and improve your experience of postgraduate study in this area. Well-known oceanographic and geosciences institutions also attract prominent scientists and researchers from all over the world, and if you are studying in the same vicinity, you will have the opportunity to network and build up valuable links that may support your projects whilst studying, and in the future. You may also wish to choose a university that has a specific international department that is set up to support you in your study.

Entry Requirements

Entry qualifications may differ between universities, however, generally a first or upper second BSc degree (or equivalent) is required to enrol on most master’s programmes, and a master’s degree is generally required for entry to PhD programmes.

With thanks to:

University of Southampton,
National Oceanography Centre,
School of Ocean and Earth Science