Undergraduate + Postgraduate

Bachelor of Marine Science and Master of Oceanography

Challenge yourself with a Bachelor of Marine Science and Australia’s only Master of Oceanography while gaining a unique experience at UWA.
4
Years Full Time

Careers and further study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career options.

Career Pathways

The combined bachelor’s and master’s has core units that seek to ensure students have strong interdisciplinary knowledge and technical skills to take advantage of diverse career opportunities in government, industry, consultancies and research institutions. The need for marine and coastal management, marine renewable energy, safe use of the ocean and aquaculture will require graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge of marine science and oceanography.

Career options include:

  • Oceanographer

  • Coastal Manager/Officer

  • Coastal & Oceanographic Consultant

  • Coastal Geologist

  • Meteorologist

  • Applied Ocean Scientist

  • Cimate Scientist

  • Ocean Data Scientist



The combined bachelor’s and master’s has core units that seek to ensure students have strong interdisciplinary knowledge and technical skills to take advantage of diverse career opportunities in government, industry, consultancies and research institutions. The need for marine and coastal management, marine renewable energy, safe use of the ocean and aquaculture will require graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge of marine science and oceanography.

Career options include:

  • Oceanographer

  • Coastal Manager/Officer

  • Coastal & Oceanographic Consultant

  • Coastal Geologist

  • Meteorologist

  • Applied Ocean Scientist

  • Cimate Scientist

  • Ocean Data Scientist



Career Opportunities

Fees and scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course. For fee type definitions and further assistance, see the Fee Calculator Help page. You can also search our database for scholarships that are relevant to you or this course

Domestic Student Fees

There is no current fee information available for this course. Please visit the fee calculator to browse course fees from a previous year, or other courses.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

International Student Fees

There is no current fee information available for this course. Please visit the fee calculator to browse course fees from a previous year, or other courses.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Admission requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you’re interested in studying this major, find out the admission details below.

Course prerequisites

To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have -

  • achieved an ATAR of at least 90, or equivalent as recognised by UWA; and
  • an assured pathway offer; or
  • a place in a relevant UWA access program.

Admission requirements

For applicants with recent secondary education, information on admission criteria is available on our entry requirements page.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

How to apply

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Find out how to apply through our simple online application process. 

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Course details

This Combined Bachelor and Master (CBM) is a four-year accelerated program for those with an ATAR of 90 or above. The Bachelor component will provide you with a strong academic foundation in marine science, covering both physical and biological aspects and their interactions. The master’s component will delve into the physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes in coastal and deep marine environments.

About the course

In the Bachelor of Marine Science, emphasis is placed on building your essential knowledge and skills in collecting, interpreting, analysing, and synthesising scientific data in marine settings. In the Master of Oceanography, teaching is technical and interdisciplinary with focus on both field and lab work.

Bachelor of Marine Science and Master of Oceanography

Quick details

Status
  • Available 2024
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1
Level of study
  • Undergraduate + Postgraduate
Course Code
  • CM038
CRICOS code
  • 114376J
Bachelor of Marine Science and Master of Oceanography
Status
  • Available 2024
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1
Level of study
  • Undergraduate + Postgraduate
Course Code
  • CM038
CRICOS code
  • 114376J
Full time/part time duration
  • 4 years full time or equivalent
Degrees course is available in
  • Bachelor of Marine Science

Fieldwork in Science

Students on a boat in Elizabeth Quay
Seekers space article

Chao pursues his passion in Oceanography

Chao with equipment

UWA student Chao Tang, share his reasons for choosing the Master of Ocean Leadership, his scuba diving adventures with the UWA Underwater Club, some interesting facts about this area of study, and his hands-on industry experience with novel artificial-reef modules!

Read the full story
Seekers space article

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Course structure

In your first three years, you'll complete the Marine Science (extended major) and a semester of postgraduate study. You will then complete your selected units in the Master of Oceanography. Refer to the example study plan for more information.

Why study this course?

  • You’ll graduate with a specialised bachelor’s and a master’s degree in just 4-years (normally 5 on a traditional bachelor + master’s program)
  • UWA is ranked 3rd in Australia and 26th in the world for Oceanography (ARWU 2023)
  • UWA is ranked 2nd in Australia and 29th in the world for Earth and Marine Sciences (QS 2023)
  • Learning in the specialised Bachelor of Marine Science is richly embedded with internationally recognised research and will encourage research-based inquiry through cutting-edge science
  • The Master of Oceanography is the only course of its kind in Australia. This enables teaching material to leverage Western Australia's position on the Indian Ocean and its access to unique marine environment such as pristine coastal areas and ocean processes that are shaped by the Indian and Southern Oceans
  • The combined bachelor’s and master’s degree will prepare you for a rewarding career across a range of growing marine career areas spanning private industry to government

You'll learn to

  • gain knowledge across physical, chemical, geological, and biological interactions applied to coastal and ocean systems as well as important practical and problem-solving skills
  • become proficient in marine field data collection, data analysis techniques, including the use of industry-standard software
  • integrate knowledge of marine and coastal processes, and their links to biological processes, to address real world problems
Research

Research aims to preserve the future of Ningaloo Reef corals

Researchers scuba diving and taking samples of corals at Ningaloo Reef

Your degree options

Ranked 3rd in Australia and 26th in the world for Oceanography (ARWU 2023)
Ranked 2nd in Australia and 29th in the world for Earth & Marine Sciences (QS 2023)
Ranked 1st in Australia and 17th in the world for Marine/Ocean Engineering (ARWU 2023)

Master of Oceanography

Centre

Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre

Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre

Purpose-built collaborative facility for marine science and ocean engineering research.

Centre
Institute

UWA Oceans Institute

Research boat on the ocean

The UWA Oceans Institute brings together the University’s multidisciplinary research strengths across areas including oceanography, ecology, engineering, resource management and governance to address key ocean challenges.

Institute