Marine Ecology and Resource Biology - Biology - master
Take advantage of the opportunity to explore the organisms in the ocean. Immerse yourself in exciting topics as marine resources, plankton or marine ecology and marine biodiversity.
| Duration: | 2 Years |
| Credits (ECTS): | 120 |
| Qualification: | Master`s of Science in Biology. |
| Admission requirements: | Bachelor`s degree in biology or related subject area |
| Application deadline: | 1 December |
| Application code: | 6001 |
Programme description
The Master`s disciline in Marine ecology and resource biology is a diverse field of study, covering marine ecology, biodiversity, fisheries ecology, fish biology and aquaculture. Master`s projects may be chosen within the following main areas of research:
- Marine Ecology and Biodiversity
- Fisheries Ecology
- Fish Biology and Aquaculture
The Master`s projects are usually related to field and experimental activities within the different marine and fisheries related research groups. For more information about the research groups see:
Arctic marine system ecologyFish biology and population genetics
Marine Plankton Group
Recommended elective courses for the Master's discipline, within the main topics include:
Marine ecology and biodiversity:
- Bio-3504 Production and Growth in Polar Areas (spring) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-3001 Anthropogenic pollution and environmental impact in marine Arctic environments I (autumn) - 15 ECTS
- BIO-3007 Ecotoxicology: A practical introduction to environmental monitoring tools (autumn) - 5 ECTS
- Bio-3523 Master excursion marine ecology (spring) - 5 ECTS
- Bio-3524 Applied ecological statistics (spring) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-3526 Marine botany I (autumn) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-3527 Marine botany II (spring) - 10 ECTS
Fisheries ecology:
- Bio-3506 Top predators (autumn every 2. year) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-3512 Early life history of marine fishes (spring) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-3516 The biological basis of fisheries science (autumn) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-3524 Applied ecological statistics (spring) - 10 ECTS
Fish biology and aquaculture:
- Bio-2504 Fish physiology (autumn) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-2506 Introduction to Fish biology (autumn) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-2508 Aquaculture (autumn) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-2509 Aquaculture II (spring) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-3512 Early life history of marine fish (spring) - 10 ECTS
- Bio-3516 The biological basis of fisheries science (autumn) - 10 ECTS
- BIO-3528 Aquatic Ecophysiology: Physiological adaptations of high-latitude fish (autumn) - 10 ECTS
All topics:
- BIO-3805/3810/3815/3820 Individual Special Curriculum (autumn/spring) - 5/10/15/20 ECTS
Compulsory courses are dependet on the Master`s topic, and students are encouraged to discuss with supervisors what would be their optimal set of courses.
Programme structure
| Term | 10 ects | 10 ects | 10 ects | |||
| First semester (autumn) |
Elective course |
Elective course |
Elective course |
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| Second semester (spring) |
Compulsory for students with Master`s topic on fish |
Elective course |
BIO-350X Study design and data analysis in biology II Compulsory for all Master`s students in biology |
Elective course |
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| Third semester (autumn) | ||||||
| Fourth semester (spring) | ||||||
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Compulsory courses are depended on the master topic, and the students are encouraged to discuss with supervisors what would be the optimal set of courses. |
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Learning outcomes
After graduation, it is expected that candidates will have achieved the following learning outcomes:
General skills:
- Display good capability of critical analysis of scientific literature and research
- Display good communication skills, oral and written, in the presentation of scientific work
- Have a solid and broad knowledge of living organisms
Knowledge:
- Have a solid knowledge of biological processes from the molecular level to the ecological level
- Have an advanced level of knowledge in one of the disciplines offered
Skills
- Be able to plan, carry out and report on a specific research project
- Be able to work independently in the field and/or in the laboratory
- Be able to analyze and evaluate scientific data and literature
- Be able to work independently with problem solving
Admission requirements
Admission to the Master`s programme in biology requires a Bachelor`s degree (180 ECTS) in biology or equivalent qualification in biology. An average grade of equivalent to C or better in the Norwegian grading system is required.
Application deadline
The application deadline for Norwegian and other Nordic applicants is April 15th for admission to the autumn semester and November 1st for admission to the spring semester.
The application deadline for students outside the Nordic countries (self-financed applicants) is December 1st. Admittance to the programme commencing in the autumn semester. More information is available at: General admission requirements for self-financed applicants
Teaching and assessment
Course examinations may be oral or written examinations, assessments of project work/ lab reports/field reports, often in combination.
Supervision of the project work that leads to the writing of the Master`s thesis will be given by faculty staff, sometimes in co-operation with an external supervisor.
Exchange possibilities
Job prospectives
Many Master`s students in Biology are connected to common projects involving Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) and other institutes in Tromsø that carry out biological research and consultation work, e.g. Norwegian Polar Institute, Institute of Marine Research, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Bioforsk, Akvaplan-niva and Nofima.
