The world’s oceans and coasts are full of amazing habitats and wildlife and they sustain many important and growing industries including shipping, tourism and renewable energy. As a marine geographer, you will have the skills and knowledge needed to keep our oceans healthy and support traditional and emerging marine industries to be sustainable. Our Marine Geography course explores a unique mix of physical and environmental geography. You will study the science behind the relationship between society and the sea, and investigate global challenges like ocean acidification and rising sea levels. South Wales has a rich and diverse marine environment including estuaries with large tidal ranges, islands thriving with wildlife, offshore renewable energy and the largest oil port in the UK in Milford Haven. You will develop your field and boat work skills on regular trips to the Bristol Channel, the Glamorgan Heritage Coast and the Gower where you will complete activities like offshore surveying, water quality monitoring, ecological mapping and beach profiling. There will also be opportunities to go on overseas trips, in the past we’ve been to Malta, Jersey and Greece.

Career prospects

Keeping our oceans healthy is critical to our future. The sea produces around half of all the oxygen we breathe and absorbs half of all man-made carbon dioxide. The skills and knowledge of marine geographers are needed to tackle current and future marine challenges to make sure that important habitats and wildlife are protected and that maritime industries like fishing, tourism, shipping and renewable energy are developed sustainably.

You can choose to work in a variety of different industries and roles including conservation and marine management, as an environmental consultant or marine geospatial analyst. You will also have many skills that other sectors like insurance, finance, education and planning are looking for.

Our past students now work for a wide range of employers both in the UK and further afield. Recent employers include the Hydrographic Office, Titan Environmental Surveys, the Environment Agency, in the port sector and marine conservation organisations around the world.