Field courses with marine biology
We offer a range of field work activities both locally and internationally for students on marine biology courses
First year
Field week
Plymouth really is the place to be for marine biology. Its superb coastline has attracted marine scientists for centuries, and the University of Plymouth has outstanding facilities to explore it. You will start your course with an intensive non-residential field week, during which you will become familiar with a wide range of coastal habitats including estuaries, sandy beaches and rocky shores. You will work at our Marine Station, located right on the waterfront, and become familiar with our fleet of boats, aquaria and laboratory facilities. This field week aims to allow you to experience marine biology right from the beginning of your course and to start to develop field and taxonomy skills, as well as safe fieldwork practices.
First year marine biology field course
This course provides your first extended opportunity for fieldwork and research in marine biology. You will become acquainted with some of the amazing coastal habitats and diversity of marine organisms along the shores of northwest Europe, on our doorstep here in the South West.
You will also work in small groups, with the guidance of staff, to conduct your own research projects. During this field trip you will learn how to conduct scientific research, to collect and report on data and to identify the marine species associated with key habitats.
Your project could even lead to a new discovery about marine life!
Second year
Residential field course in South Africa
Biodiversity is declining rapidly throughout the world, and dealing with this crisis requires both political will and solid scientific knowledge. This field course aims to teach you how scientists study patterns of biodiversity, and for you to engage in your own research projects.
Currently we spend one week in the West Coast National Park, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Set within the Cape Floristic Region. This is one of the most unspoiled coasts in the world. The upwelling of the nutrient rich Benguela current fuels one of the most productive marine ecosystems on the planet.
This course is designed for Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology students.
Residential field course in Portugal
This field course gives you the perfect opportunity to engage in experimental research, on your path to becoming a practicing marine biologist. You will put into practice much of what you have learnt in lectures and practical sessions to study marine life in a quantitative way, addressing the best questions possible and coming up with robust answers.
Currently we spend a week on the Algarve, Portugal. Over the first few days you will be introduced to the inhabitants of different marine habitats; numerous lagoonal fish species, sandy shore invertebrates, rocky shore animals living on human made structures in soft sediments and the wonderful creatures of the saltmarsh. Many are species you do not find in the UK. From this introduction you get to formulate, chase and answer your own questions during an extended research project.
This course is designed for BSc Marine Biology students.
Residential field course in Sweden
Currently the course is based in one of the the most modern marine stations in the world, Tjärnö Marine Laboratory is located by Sweden's most species-rich marine area in the northern part of Bohuslän province, next to Kosterhavet National Park.
You will spend a week living the life of a biological oceanographer. You’ll spend half of every day on a research vessel taking measurements of the physical properties of the fjord and sampling the organisms that live there, which you will learn to identify and record. This will allow you to investigate how the unique physical environment of the fjord drives biological communities.
This course is designed for BSc Marine Biology and Oceanography students.
Methods in marine biology boatwork
The oceans cover around 70% of the earth’s surface, so marine biologists need to be familiar with techniques for biological sampling from boats. This non-residential field course aims to introduce the grabs, cores, trawls and dredges used by marine biologists when sampling at sea. You will learn to use these sampling methods, and then use them to collect data to address a scientific question relating to the marine diversity of the Plymouth Sound and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation.
You’ll spend all week at the University of Plymouth Marine Station, located on the shores of Plymouth Sound. As part of our fleets of boats, we have two vessels (Wavedancer and Falcon Spirit) both purpose built as flexible platforms for oceanographic and biological teaching and research. When you’re not out on the boat, you’ll be using the seawater aquarium and wet labs for sample examination and analysis.
For more information about costs associated with field courses, please visit our
additional fieldwork and equipment costs
page.