Course overview
- Description
UWA is uniquely placed with access to some of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world, with Western Australia's magnificent coastline hosting a range of oceanic and coastal environments; from the 'Great Southern Reef' in the southwest to Ningaloo Reef and the Kimberley in the northwest, plus hundreds of offshore islands. This diversity provides an excellent living laboratory for studying the complex interactions between marine organisms and their surrounding environments. In this course, students will learn through practical work, alongside theoretical studies, to gain knowledge and skills in marine biology and related fields. During this course you will
- Attend a residential field camp to Rottnest Island
- Interact with industry and government agencies that use and manage our marine resources
- Be exposed to modern analytical tools through hands-on practical sessions
- Strengthen your quantitative skills and application of science into industry practice and management in preparation for a career in industry or as a researcher.
Students will have access to world-leading facilities at the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (IOMRC) and will be learning from internationally recognised experts to help give you the best opportunities to kick start your career. This opens pathways into further research training or for employment in a wide range of career opportunities related to managing marine and coastal environments. This is especially relevant to challenges presented by climatic and environmental change that impact these important coastal zones.
- Course title
- Master of Marine Biology (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
- Award abbreviation
- MMarBiol
- Course code
- 74540
- Course type
- Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
- Status
- Current / 2025
- Administered by
- Biological Sciences
- CRICOS code
- 107725G
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Articulation
- The Master of Marine Biology has the following exit awards: 74270 Graduate Certificate in Marine Biology (24 points) (24 points), 74360 Graduate Diploma in Marine Biology (48 points) (48 points)
- Credit points required
- 96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 1.5 years at the minimum volume of learning full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising 72 points of taught units and 24 points of admission credit, as recognised and granted by the School
- Maximum course duration
- 2 years at the maximum volume of learning full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising up to 96 points of taught study (see Rule 5 for further information)
- Time limit
- 5 years
- Delivery mode
- Multi-mode
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Tim Langlois and Dr Renae Hovey
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
Example Study Plans
- Master of Marine Biology (72 points 1.5 Years) [xlsx]
- Master of Marine Biology (96 point 2 Years) [xlsx]
See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Students who have not completed a bachelor's degree with a major in Marine Biology or equivalent as recognised by the School. must complete relevant conversion units up to the value of 24 points from this group, as advised by the School(s):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | BIOL4411 | Marine Field Studies | lectures/tutorials: 4 hours on teaching weeks 1 and 2, and 2 hours on teaching weeks 3 to 6; labs: 2 hours on teaching weeks 3. 5, 10, and 11, 6 hours on teaching weeks 4, 6, and 9, 3 hours on teaching weeks 7 and 12, 4 hours on teaching week 8; Field trip: 4 hours on teaching weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 (charges—cost of transportation) | |
| S2 | ENVT4413 | Marine Ecosystems | Lectures: equivalent to 2 hours per week (online); Practical exercises: equivalent to 2 hours per week (online); workshops: 2 hours per fortnight (face to face). | |
| S1, S2 | GENE4002 | Integrated Topics in Genetics I | 6 x 2 hr workshops over the course of a semester. | |
| S1, S2 | SCIE4401 | Data Use in Science |
| 24 hours. The total workload for this unit is 150 hours. |
Take all units (30 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | BIOL4407 | Marine Conservation and Fisheries Management |
| 150 hours in total |
| NS | BIOL4408 | Marine Ecology |
| This unit is block-taught during the summer semester and involves a field trip of five days plus travel time at a cost of up to 0 to the student, plus up to four days of lectures and planning (including occupational health and safety) and up to four days of analysis and presentation of results. The total workload for the unit is 150 hours, up to 100 of which are contact hours. |
| S2 | BIOL5504 | Sex in the Sea |
| one day per week for six weeks |
| S1, S2 | SCIE4402 | Data Management and Analysis in the Natural Sciences |
| 5 days (1 day per fortnight). The total workload for the unit is 150 hours. |
| S1 | SCIE5505 | Global Change and the Marine Environment | 7 hours per week for 6 weeks |
Students in the course by coursework only take 12 points. Students must complete SCIE5004 and choose another six points from the remaining units.
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | SCIE5004 | Professional Skills in Science |
| |
| S1, S2 | SCIE5005 | Science in Practice |
| 1x 2hr session per week contact by consultation as required |
| S1, S2 | SCIE5304 | Science Practicum |
| 100 hours of work placement paired with learning content and assessment. Contact hours in Practicum placement (the majority of student time in the unit) as arranged with the unit coordinator and host/supervisor. Additional, minor, contact hours for initial and post-placement discussions with coordinator, and final presentation and review. |
Students in the course by coursework only take 30 points of which 12 must be at Level 5. Students in the course by coursework and dissertation take 6 points.
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | BIOL4400 | Advanced Marine Mammal Science |
| Lectures/interactive discussions: 15 lectures, 3 interactive discussions on Teams. Field trip: 5 days. |
| S2 | BIOL5301 | Big Data, Modelling and Meta-analysis in Biology, Conservation and the Environment |
| (possibly) 10 half days of contact |
| S2 | BIOL5542 | Conservation Genetics | The total workload for the unit is 150 hours. | |
| S1, S2 | BIOL5592 | Biological Research Unit |
| Weekly supervision and self-directed learning |
| S1, S2 | ENVT4411 | Geographic Information Systems Applications |
| The total workload for the unit is 150 hours. This includes podcasts for viewing and reading to be undertaken prior to attending one compulsory 3-hour workshop per week where students will be contributing to interactive discussions together with practical lab work using GIS software. Completion of the practical workshop labs is necessary to enable skills for completing written unit assessment. Independent learning is required throughout the unit. |
| S1 | ENVT5509 | Global Ecological Challenges |
| lectures/presentation/discussions: 2 hours per week (13 sessions over 7 weeks) The total workload for the unit is 150 hours. |
| S1 | ENVT5512 | Ecosystem Biogeochemistry |
| one full day per week for six consecutive weeks (the total workload for the unit is 150 hours) |
| S1 | ENVT5575 | Aquaculture and the Blue Economy |
| Lectures: 20 x 1hr (Online and Face to Face) Workshops: 3 x 3hr (Face to Face) |
| S2 | ENVT5576 | Aquatic Ecology |
| 1x2hr lecture 1x3hr laboratory/practical plus a field trip |
| S1, S2 | SCIE5304 | Science Practicum |
| 100 hours of work placement paired with learning content and assessment. Contact hours in Practicum placement (the majority of student time in the unit) as arranged with the unit coordinator and host/supervisor. Additional, minor, contact hours for initial and post-placement discussions with coordinator, and final presentation and review. |
| S2 | SCOM5309 | Citizen Science | None | Lectures: 3 x 15 minute online lectures per week for 11 weeks Workshops: 12 x 2 hour workshops Self-directed learning (reading/online): 2 hours per week for 10 weeks |
Students in the course by coursework and dissertation take 36 points.
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | BIOL5552 | Masters in Biological Sciences Research Dissertation Part 1 |
| independent research and study plus regular meetings with supervisors |
| S1, S2 | BIOL5553 | Masters in Biological Sciences Research Dissertation Part 2 |
| independent research and project work plus regular meetings with supervisors |
| S1, S2 | BIOL5554 | Masters in Biological Sciences Research Dissertation Part 3 |
| independent research and project work plus regular meetings with supervisors |
| S1, S2 | BIOL5555 | Masters in Biological Sciences Research Dissertation Part 5 |
| independent research and project work plus regular meetings with supervisors |
| S1, S2 | BIOL5556 | Masters in Biological Sciences Research Presentation Skills |
| seminar and discussion group: weekly; workshops: oral science communication and communicating science to the public |
| S1, S2 | BIOL5557 | Masters in Biological Sciences Research Dissertation Part 4 |
| independent research and project work plus regular meetings with supervisors |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.
Admission requirements
4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a Bachelor of Science, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;
and
(c) successfully completed prior tertiary study in —marine science or marine biology; or in a related cognate discipline as recognised by UWA.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6.(1) This course has the following exit awards:
- 74270 Graduate Certificate in Marine Biology (24 points)
- 74360 Graduate Diploma in Marine Biology (48 points)
(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Marine Biology course before completing it, but after completing 24 points, which includes at least 12 points from course core units may apply to be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Marine Biology, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Marine Biology.
(3) A student who withdraws from the Master of Marine Biology course before completing it, but after completing 48 points, which includes at least 36 points from course core units, may apply to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Marine Biology, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Marine Biology.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points (maximum value) which include conversion units to a value of 24 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
(3) Students who have completed a bachelor's degree with a major in Marine Biology or equivalent as recognised by the School. are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.
(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—
(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';
(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';
(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—
(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;
(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;
and
(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).
Additional rules
Research Project
14. Students who request approval to undertake a research project in this course must—
(a) have a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in at least 24 points of Level 3 units in their UWA undergraduate major. These units must be relevant to the master's specialisation;
or
(b) have a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in at least 24 points of Level 3, 4 and 5 units completed within the course; or equivalent as recognised by the School.
(c) have a supervisor, approved by the School, who has confirmed their willingness and availability to supervise the research project.