Our marine course is taught by leading marine scientists who are dedicated to equipping you with the skills and knowledge needed to enter the marine and environmental employment sectors. Our marine program is taught in excellent laboratory facilities, providing you a hands-on, practical learning experience.
Our campuses are situated close to some of Australia’s most renowned coastline for fieldwork. This provides you access to a diverse array of marine animals and plants, and coastal locations such as rocky shores, mangroves and open ocean.
The Bachelor of Marine Science is a science-based and interdisciplinary course that aligns closely with the National Marine Science Plan. It provides you with a broad field of marine science studies where you can select a major in either Ocean, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences or Sustainable Marine Management. You’ll have the skills needed to protect and drive a sustainable future for our world’s oceans.
Graduates in marine science are multidisciplinary and will have a diverse range of career options including:
Marine biology students may be able to work as:
An undergraduate degree is generally completed between two to four years, depending on the pattern of study and any recognition of prior learning you may have. Associate degrees, bachelor and bachelor with honours are all undergraduate degrees.
Research degrees are research based master’s or PhD programs that focus on a single area of expertise. They provide students the opportunity to carry out highly specialised research under expert supervision.
I love the hands-on nature of our marine units – from developing essential skills in our state-of-the-art laboratories and applying these skills out into our local marine environment, the Great Southern Reef.
Prue Francis
Senior Lecturer – Marine Science
Studying in Warrnambool means you'll have access to our Aquaculture Futures Facility, which houses both fresh and saltwater recirculating systems.
Waurn Ponds students will have access to our Queenscliff Marine Science Centre, which is a marine science research and teaching facility located on Port Phillip Bay near Queenscliff, and shared with the Victorian Fisheries Authority. The centre provides access to excellent facilities and a variety of nearby marine and coastal ecosystems.
Set on the picturesque Hopkins River, minutes away from the southern coast and at one end of the world’s most beautiful coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road, our Warrnambool Campus provides a friendly, tight-knit and personal approach to your studies. Outside, your classroom extends to the Merri Marine Sanctuary and picturesque beaches, including the famous Logan’s Beach where Southern Right Whales visit almost annually to calve.
Close to world famous landmarks like Bells Beach, the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus provides the best of both worlds – a bustling city life and relaxed fun-filled regional environment adjacent to the Bellarine Peninsula.
Every marine student at Deakin will complete a Professional Practice unit that includes an industry-based placement (internship). This provides experience in your potential career path, and you will gain valuable experience and start establishing your professional networks, all while receiving credit towards your degree.
Our marine science staff have close links with industry and relationships with various organisations, ensuring our courses are up to date with industry trends and giving you first-hand insight into the current environment. We work with many government agencies including the Victorian Fisheries Authority, Parks Victoria, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), and local water and catchment management authorities in addition to industries such as those involved in aquaculture.
Our students have previously completed placements in high-profile organisations such as The Nature Conservancy, and the Australian Institute of Marine Science, as well as other local, state and federal government agencies.
Deakin is ranked in the top 1% globally for life sciences and medicine.* This rating highlights Deakin’s world-class facilities, academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact.
Choose an area that you're interested in and learn how Deakin's extensive range of study options and experiences can help turn your dreams into reality.
*2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject.
The Fingal Beach image taken by drone is courtesy of the Deakin Marine Mapping Group, Centre for Integrative Ecology.
