Marine Top Predator MSc at Bangor University

Programme overview

The MSc Marine Top Predator Ecology is a one-year full-time course of two taught semesters and an independent research project, linking oceanography with the ecology of marine mammals, seabirds and sharks. It trains students in field and quantitative methods for monitoring top predators, using the research vessel Prince Madog.

Department: School of Ocean Sciences | Duration: 1 year full-time | Intake: September | Study mode: full-time | Location: Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom

What you will study

Specialist modules teach line and strip-transect surveys, shore-based surveys, species distribution modelling, marine mammal photo-ID, mark-recapture analysis, movement and population modelling, acoustic monitoring and oceanographic measurements, alongside R, MATLAB, advanced ecological modelling and GIS. Dissertation preparation begins in January, with most work from late May to September.

Career pathways

Graduates work in conservation, education and public engagement, environmental consultancy, environmental impact assessment and marine management, or go on to further study, across industry, universities, NGOs and the public sector in the UK and overseas.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

A minimum 2(i) BSc (Honours) degree or equivalent in biological or oceanographic sciences, with a personal statement showing interest in quantitative approaches and modelling in animal ecology or oceanography, and good IT skills. Coding (R, Python, Matlab), spatial analysis (ArcGIS, QGIS) or graduate-level statistics or calculus is preferred but not required. Equivalent professional qualifications or experience, and non-graduate working professionals, are considered individually. English language if the first language is not English or Welsh: IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5. Early application is advised because capacity is limited.

Domestic applicants: GBP 11,500 a year (2026/27). Taught postgraduate fee for all School of Ocean Sciences programmes, per annum. Source

Intake: September 2026

Duration: 1 year full-time

Apply through the official page: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/study/apply

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