MSc Climate Change: Managing the Marine Environment

Course content

Students take eight taught courses and a dissertation. There are three core courses and an optional course in semester 1. In semester 2 students take two core courses and choose two optional courses from a list of options. A dissertation is undertaken in semester 3.

Semester 1

Core

• Marine Resources and Sustainability
• Applied Research Design and Analysis
• Climate Change, Sustainability and Adaptation

Optional

• Environmental Processes
• Economics of Renewable Energy
• Introduction to Marine Planning
• Oceanography
• Transition Engineering - Achieving zero carbon InTime
• Diversity of Marine Organisms
• Marine Ecotoxicology

Semester 2

Core

• GIS for Marine and Environmental Scientists
• Marine Environmental Monitoring

Optional

• Marine Biotechnology
• Tropical and Coral Reefs: Monitoring and Management
• Practical Skills in Marine Biotechnology
• Energy Transition Lab
• Practical Skills in Marine Surveying

Semester 3

Core

• Environment Dissertation

Recent publications resulting from MSc research projects (student co-authors high-lighted):

• Kampouris, T . E., Porter, J. S., Sanderson, W. S. (2019) Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Brachyura: Portunidae): An assessment on its diet and foraging behaviour, Thermaikos Gulf, NW Aegean Sea, Greece: Evidence for ecological and economic impacts. Crustacean research 48:23-37.
• Gore, M., Abels, L., Wasik, S., Saddler, L., Ormond, R., 2018. Are close-following and breaching behaviours by basking sharks at aggregation sites related to courtship? , 1-13.
• Brash, J. M., Cook, R. L., Mackenzie, C. L. and Sanderson, W. G. (2017). The demographics and morphometries of biogenic reefs: important considerations in conservation management. 1-10.
• Blumenröder, J., Sechet, P., Kokonnen, J. and Hartl, M. G. J. (2017). Microplastic contamination of intertidal sediments of Scapa Flow, Orkney: a first assessment. Mar Pollut Bull. 130, 293-302.
• Miller, M.A., Bankier, C., Al-Shaeri, M.A.M., Hartl, M.G.J. (2015. Neutral Red cytotoxicity assays for assessing in vivo carbon nanotube ecotoxicity in mussels – comparing microscope and microplate methods. Mar Pollut Bull. (101): 903-907.
• Rouse, S., Jones, M.E.S., Porter, J.S., 2014. Spatial and temporal patterns of bryozoan distribution and diversity in the Scottish sea regions. Mar Ecol-Evol Persp. 35, 85-102
• Al-Shaeri, M., Ahmed, D., Mc Cluskey, F., Turner, G., Paterson, L., Dyrynda, E.A., Hartl, M.G.J., 2013. Potentiating toxicological interaction of single-walled carbon nanotubes with dissolved metals. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 32, 2701-2710.
• Jennifer Loxton, Piotr Kuklinski, James M Mair, Mary Spencer Jones, Joanne S Porter (2012) Patterns of Magnesium-Calcite Distribution in the Skeleton of Some Polar Bryozoan Species Mineralogy of Polar Bryozoan Skeletons. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 143:169-185
• Hartl, M.G.J., Grigson, S., Sinet, E., 2010. Maintenance of bivalve haemocytes for the purpose of delayed DNA strand break assessment using the Comet assay. Environ. Molecul. Mutagen. 51, 64-68.
• Harper, S. J. M., Bates, C. R., Guzman, H. M. & Mair, J. M. (2010) Acoustic mapping of fish aggregation areas to improve fisheries management in Las Perlas Archipelago, Pacific Panama In : Ocean and Coastal Management. 53, 10, p. 615-623.
• Kennedy, E. V., Holderied, M. W., Mair, J. M., Guzman, H. M. & Simpson, S. D. 15-Nov-2010 Spatial patterns in reef-generated noise relate to habitats and communities: Evidence from a Panamanian case study In : Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 395, 1-2, p. 85-92. 8 p.
• McGowan, T., Cunningham, S. L., Guzman, H., Mair, J. M., M Guevara, J. & Betts, T. (2010) Mangrove forest composition and dynamics in Las Perlas Archipelago, Pacific Panama. In : International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation. 58/3, p. 857-869

Career

Below are just a few examples of the wide breadth of employment or PhD positions our recent graduates have secured:

• Blair Easton (2018) is a researcher at St Abbs Research Station
• Allan Cochrans (2016) has secured a PhD at Stirling University
• David Hill (2015) is Strategic Business and Finance Manager, Scottish Government
• Theofilos Sidiropoulos (2015) has secured a position at Gardine Geosciences Ltd.
• Cristina Pullan (2014) Christina holds a BSc in Environmental Sciences from the University of Brighton and a MSc in Climate Change from Heriot Watt University. She joined the science team in October 2016 with 4 years of experience in delivering marine education and conservation. She has previously worked as an Assistant Marine Conservation and Engagement Officer for Sussex Wildlife Trust, a Trainee Marine and Coastal Conservation Officer for the Cumbria Wildlife Trust, a Shark Tagging Research Assistant for the Marine Life Trust, and a Marine Education and Conservation Officer for the NGO Ecoteer in Malaysia. She brings excellent knowledge of Madagascar’s marine ecosystems to the team, having previously spent time in the north of Madagascar as a Marine Research Assistant with the NGO Frontier. In her role as Science Officer, she is responsible for conducting regular marine research, training our volunteers/interns, and helping to run our coral reef restoration programmes.
• Tetrienne Box (2013) is now Underwater Noise Advisor at JNCC.
• Melodie Hermier (2010) is now clinical data manager with Aptiv Solutions.
• Kerri Gardiner (2010) initially worked for Jacobs engineering and is now a senior scientist with Intertek involved in developing EIAs (risk/toxicity) for drilling and pipelines for the oil industry as well as subsea cable projects.
• Cella Carr (2010) has secured an internship with the Zoological Society of London, working on their Biodiversity and Oil Palm Programme in Indonesia
• Renier (Dutch) Zoutenbier (2011) is an Environmental Consultant with Royal Haskoning at their Exeter Offices, responsible for Industry, Energy and Mining
• Charles-Eric Deplanck (2010) works as a fisheries observer for Oceanic Développement, based in Concarneau (Brittany)

You can find more examples and discuss the programme and the effect it has had on their careers with current students and alumni at our dedicated Facebook site.

Entry requirements

Masters (MSc) level entry applicants must have one of the following:

• Minimum of 2:2 honours degree or equivalent academic qualification in a related subject area
• For postgraduate conversion courses, non-related degrees will be considered
• Corporate (or chartered) membership of relevant professional institutions will also be considered

PG Diploma level entry applicants must have an ordinary degree in a related subject area and relevant post qualification industry experience.

Candidates who do not meet the above entry requirements or have no formal academic qualifications will be considered individually based on their CV and possibly interview. Admission via this route will be at the discretion of the Director of Recruitment.

Recognition of Prior Learning

We are committed to providing study opportunities to applicants who have a wide range of prior experiences through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). For more information on RPL, please contact the Admissions Team (studywithus@hw.ac.uk) ahead of application. We can only consider requests for RPL at the time of application to a course of study.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required with all elements passed at 6.0 or above. Please refer to English language requirements for further details.

Some applicants may be asked for alternative evidence in line with UKVI recognised English speaking countries. Applicants who have previously successfully completed courses delivered in the medium of English language may be considered and will be required to provide documentary evidence of this. Examples would be secondary school education or undergraduate degree. A minimum of at least one year of full time study (or equivalent) in the medium of English language will be required.

All evidence of English language needs to be dated within two years of the commencement of study.

We also offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your master’s programme:

• 20 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with no skill lower than 4.5)
• 14 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with minimum of 5.0 in writing and no skill lower than 4.5)
• 10 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.0)
• 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.5)

Fees

Tuition fees for Sept 2023 entry

Status	Full-time	Part-time
UK	£9760	£4880
Overseas	£24520	£12260