Marine Systems and Policies

This Marine Systems and Policies MSc program from The University of Edinburgh is built around the science and policies spanning tropical to polar ecosystems, from wetlands and estuaries to the deep-sea including the abyss.

You can learn how to apply marine science and knowledge to critically evaluate and enrich policies and influence how new policies can be created through science communication.

You will get to learn from real-world practitioners and people with lived experiences through global case studies as well as domestic and overseas field trips. These experiences will be under the guidance of a research-active team of highly supportive and motivated university scientists with decades of experience at the science-policy interface from grassroots to international levels.

The capstone of your program is an independent marine research dissertation project. It will be designed by you and a supervisor or host on a topic of your choice. You can either conduct an internship or a placement for your dissertation, in either a desk-based, lab-based, or field-based setting.

By the end of your program, you will be highly equipped with a portfolio of skills employers are looking for and that will support a future academic PhD career, including:

• policy analysis
• applied marine scientific survey and social science skills
• science communication

Career Opportunities:

Employers tell us that they seek candidates with real-world skills and an integrated understanding of marine ecosystems, development and planning, as well as regional and international policies.

MScMarine Systems and Policies program from The University of Edinburghwas the first of its kind in the UK and has been running for 10 years. As such, we are confident that our MSc program provides you with the foundation needed to work in a wide range of settings, from grassroots community groups to universities and governments. You can also seek a career with the marine industry, non-government organisations (NGOs) or international agencies.

Examples of the organisations our graduates have gained employment with include:

• World Wide Fund for Nature

• Global Fishing Watch

• Blue Ventures

• Blue Marine Foundation

• United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre

• Joint Nature Conservation Committee

• Coral Cay Conservation Philippines

Courses included:

• Marine Ecosystems and Policies

• Corals in a Changing Ocean

• Marine Field Methods in Research and Practice

• Sustainable Marine Development

• Research Project in Marine Systems and Policies