First Steps to becoming a Marine Biologist

I am currently a student at the University of Hull, just got accepted, and I just went on to do my first year of Marine and Freshwater biology. I recommend going into this subject because there are so many various routes of which can be taken, career wise, from this course. I, for instance, am going to go on to doing freelance Marine Biology and specialize in Marine Mega-fauna e.g. whales, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles etc. Basically, any large marine creatures of interest.

The course consists of three years. This is how it is broken down:

First year:

You will learn:

-Diversity of life

-Get an introduction into genetics

-Learn molecular and cell biology

-Are provided field and laboratory skills for those Aquatic Biologist out there

-Ecology and Evolution

Then you get to choose one free elective e.g. chemistry of life, biology book club, Dive training etc…

I personally have chosen my free elective to be dive training as it will be beneficial towards my course.

Second year:

You will learn:

-Professional and research skills for MFW Biologists

-Marine Biology and Biotechnology

-Evolutionary Ecology and the Physiology of Animals

-Molecular Biology of the cell

-Freshwater Biology

-Behavioural Ecology

-Fish Ecology

-Conservation

-Evolution

and obviously one free elective

Third year:

This is the year when you get the chance to do your own research project or biology work placement.

You will cover all of the following before you choose what research project you wish to do and how you’re going to do it:

-The sensory physiology of animals

-Marine structure and functioning

-Behavioural ecology and functioning

-Fisheries resource management

-Current biology

-Reviews within biological sciences

-Concepts within ecology

-Freshwater ecology/management

-Marine ecomechanics

-Topics in Biodiversity and evolution

-Field studies

-Environment and society

and your one free elective

This course is brilliant for those interested in going into something Marine based.

Also, don’t get me started on all the places you will get to travel to. You can take field trips with your course group to places such as:

-Portugal

-Millport

-Tobago

-Brazil

-Cuba

-Mallorca

-Indonesia

-Arran

Just remember your passport, inoculations before you go and lots and lots of bug spray.

So if anyone is interested in Marine Biology or anything similar to that; Hull University is the place to go. It is a beautiful place and you feel so at home when you are there, that you will never want to leave.

I recommend going there, it’s a brilliant place to get a brilliant degree!