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PhD Tropical Marine Biology

UK

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What will I learn?

Tropical ecosystems provide important resources locally and globally, and coral reefs are the most diverse of marine ecosystems threatened by human activities.

An Integrated PhD provides a route into research study if you do not have a master’s degree, or have very little research training. It enables you to spend your first year completing a full-time Masters-level qualification, followed by a full-time PhD studied over 3-4 years or a part-time PhD studied over 6-7 years. We also offer a ‘standard’ PhD in this subject which can be studied either full-time (3-4 years) or part-time (6-7 years).

The first year on our Integrated PhD Tropical Marine Biology, is designed to deliver advanced tropical marine biology theory and to facilitate the development of a comprehensive range of practical and professional skills required by today’s employers. As a student at our School of Life Sciences you will benefit from the breadth of research carried out by our internationally recognised academics and will engage with current research activities both in the UK and abroad. You also can put theory into practice and study coral reef conservation first-hand during the school’s annual field trip to the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia. Please note that students who join this optional expedition are subject to additional travel costs – the fee for field trips vary from year to year.

In your second year you move into the PhD element of the course. Research in our School covers a wide spectrum of biology from genes to ecosystems, and this broad-based structure provides opportunities for developing novel ideas and inter-disciplinary projects. We offer supervision in all areas of staff expertise in marine biology including community ecology of coral reef systems, tropical seagrass beds, mangroves and fisheries, deep sea/marine connectivity, ocean acidification and macronutrient cycling.

Your future

As the world's environmental problems increase, the demand for qualified marine biologists continues to grow, and postgraduate study is often a requirement for becoming a researcher, scientist, academic journal editor and to work in some public bodies or private companies.

Our graduates go on to a range of careers. Some choose to continue into a research career by taking up doctoral positions in the UK or overseas. Others work with governmental and non-governmental organisations and environmental agencies, consultancies, and voluntary organisations. We support your career development by a mentoring scheme and employability events.

Which department am I in?

Life Sciences

Study options

Full Time (4 years)

Tuition fees
£21,500.00 (US$ 27,766) per year
Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

September 2025

Venue

Colchester Campus

University of Essex,

Wivenhoe Park,

Colchester,

Essex,

CO4 3SQ, England

Entry requirements

For international students

A 2.2 honours degree in a relevant subject such as: Marine Biology, Marine Chemistry, Oceanography, Environmental Sciences, and tropical Biology. Applications from students with a degree below a 2:2 will be considered dependent on any relevant professional or voluntary experience, previous modules studied and/or personal statement. Your degree should contain some Ecology components including aquatic/marine Ecology, Biodiversity or Conservation. Our four-year integrated PhD allows you to spend your first year studying at Masters level in order to develop the necessary knowledge and skills and to start your independent research in year two. If English is not your first language , we require IELTS 6.5, or equivalent with a minimum of 5.5 in all other components, TOEFL IBT 88 overall with minimum component scores: listening 17, reading 18, writing 17, and speaking 20.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About University of Essex

At Essex, students learn to think differently, find new ways of doing things and adopt new techniques for solving problems.

  • World-leading academics in a research-intensive environment
  • Foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees
  • Flexible course structure, students study what matters to them
  • Internationally diverse university

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