Love the ocean and marine life? In the Marine Biology major in the Bachelor of Science you explore marine sciences, including the biology of fish and aquatic plants and marine invertebrates.
With 71 percent of the earth’s surface covered by water, marine life is critical to our existence. It’s one of the most valuable sources of food, medicine and raw materials. New discoveries are made daily in marine biology and ecology, making this an exciting and dynamic career choice with endless potential.
This major covers marine biology (the scientific study of organisms in the ocean) and marine ecology (how marine organisms interact with each other and the environment). Field trips are a key part of this major – you frequently go out on boats to investigate marine life or learn about aquaculture techniques, coastal processes, oceanography, management and conservation theories and practices.
The Bachelor of Science information published here relates to 2022. The 2023 offerings for this degree are still to be confirmed and will be added as soon as available.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Science.
Start date: 2022
Start date: 2023
HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication
ENVS501 Biodiversity
ENVS522 Our Dynamic Earth
MICR501 Microbiology
HEAL507 Health and Environment or MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment
BIOL502 Plants and Animals
CHEM501 Principles of Chemistry
ECOL501 Ecology and Evolution
BIOL501 Biological Sampling and Interpretation
BIOL601 Deep Sea Biology
BIOL603 Marine Invertebrates
BIOL602 Biology of Marine Organisms
SCIE602 Research Techniques
BIOL701 Oceanography
BIOL702 Estuarine EcologyMarine Ecology
ENVS704 Ecological Management and Modelling
Plus five elective courses with at least two at level 7, or three electives and the Research Project course.
Choose nine of the following, or seven and the Research Project course (SCIE701, runs across two semesters).
Asterisk (*) indicates recommended electives for this major
Other electives may also be available.
In your final year you can enrol in the Research Project course (30 points) if you have at least a B grade average in 60 points at level 6. This may involve working on an industry-related project related to your major.
The Bachelor of Science information published here relates to 2022. The 2023 offerings for this degree are still to be confirmed and will be added as soon as available.
You can combine this major with other majors like Environmental Sciences, Geospatial Science or Applied Conservation, and complete your Bachelor of Science within three years without doing more than the standard eight courses (120 points) per year.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.