About the Marine Studies Degree Programmes

Plymouth is one of the “new” Universities, but its heritage as a centre of excellence for Marine Studies goes back many generations. The Plymouth Navigation School was established in 1862 to train mariners and the range of courses offered has always adapted to the changing needs of the international marine industry.

For much of the last century the main focus was the training needs of the Merchant Navy, but as the University has grown, this has evolved and broadened into a modern range of courses offered within the School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Studies (SEOES) - which is part of the Faculty of Science.

The Merchant Navy career path is still well supported in the Merchant Shipping degree, but the increasing opportunities offered in the marine leisure and technology sectors are also reflected in the Navigation and Ocean Yachting courses.

Students on Marine Studies courses work alongside colleagues following other disciplines, including oceanography, meteorology, geology and environmental sciences. This ensures a broadly-based approach to study where Marine Studies is always viewed against a background that takes account of the need to explore, manage and conserve the marine environment.