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The Marine Biology group at VUW is part of the wider Ecology & Biodiversity group. This is composed of 20 academics with a diverse range of interests, including 8 who conduct research in marine biology. We have staff members studying rocky shore and rocky reef ecology, coral reef ecology, marine symbiosis, the eco-physiology of Antarctic ice-algae, seaweed genetics, invertebrate population genetics, and marine conservation.
 Graduate degrees follow on from undergraduate degrees (a BSc, for example). They are designed for specialized study in a field. These programmes provide training in monitoring and/or research methods, the scientific process, critical evaluation of published research, and further study in selected topics. You’ll need to be much more independent than as an undergraduate, and a high degree of collegiality and contribution to the academic life of the School is expected.
After completing an undergraduate degree, students generally enrol in a Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc Hons), or a Masters or MSc degree. The MSc in Marine Biology generally spans 2 years. In the first year, students do three courses plus a course on ‘research preparation’. In the second year, students are full-time researchers devoted to a research thesis under the supervision of one of our staff. The Masters in Marine Conservation is a 12 or 18 month programme (duration subject to prior qualifications or work experience, see below) that consists exclusively of taught components, including field courses both around New Zealand and in the tropics. What are the requirements for entry into the programme? The entry requirements are specific to the different graduate degrees: - For entry into MSc in Marine Biology, students will have generally completed a BSc or equivalent degree, in biological sciences. An average ‘B+’ in the biology courses is considered the minimum entry requirement. We also expect applicants to have taken some statistical courses (at least STAT 193 for VUW students).
- For entry into the Masters in Marine Conservation, students will have met the same minimum requirements as for the BSc (Hons) and MSc. However, students who already have an Honours degree or above in an appropriate subject, or at least 6 months of relevant work experience, will be able to complete the programme in 12 rather than 18 months.
Career opportunities. These degrees attract students keen to work with marine animals and plants, and their conservation. A degree in Marine Biology equips graduates for employment in a wide range of areas that deal with understanding and management of living things, and their interactions with people. Recent graduates have found employment in diverse areas, including: - Universities – both in NZ and internationally
- Crown Research Institutes such as NIWA (National Institute of Water & Atmospheric
- Research), ESR (Environmental & Scientific Research), Crop & Food
- Private research institutes such as The Cawthron Institute (Nelson)
- National government agencies such as the Department of Conservation, Ministry for the
- Environment, Ministry of Fisheries
- Regional authorities such as city, regional and district councils
- Aquaculture industry: mussel farms, oyster farms, salmon farms
- Consultancy firms that carry out contract marine biology work
Our graduates' abilities in data management, critical analysis, and computing have provided them entry to a wider range of careers, such as in the information technology industry or management. Furthermore, many of our Honours and Masters students have been awarded PhD scholarships to continue their studies at VUW, or at other universities around the world, while our PhD graduates hold a range of international postdoctoral fellowships and academic positions.
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