Marine Restoration and Conservation, MSc

Course Overview

Be a part of something groundbreaking with Swansea University’s MSc in Marine Restoration and Conservation, which is designed to equip you with the skills you’ll need to tackle one of the biggest challenges of our time, restoring our ocean ecosystems.

You will learn how to lead the way in marine restoration, developing cutting-edge skills in conservation and restoration techniques, from rebuilding seagrass meadows to restoring coral reefs and improving fish populations.

The programme provides you with numerous opportunities to get hands-on experience. You can take part in fieldwork, laboratory research, and can benefit from industry placements with top conservation organisations, gaining real-world skills that employers value. You will also be able to connect with experts through these processes, where you can work alongside policymakers, NGOs, scientists and industry leaders who are all shaping global restoration efforts.

This degree will help you turn science into action, developing your understanding of how restoration aligns with global initiatives, such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the EU’s Restoration Law.

By the end of the programme, you will have the knowledge and skills you need to build a career that has impact. We will prepare you for exciting roles including positions in marine restoration, conservation, policy, environmental consultancy and marine management, which are all part of a rapidly growing sector.

With this increasing global investment in marine restoration, this MSc puts you at the forefront of the movement towards rebuilding ocean life, and the future needs restoration scientists like you.

Why Marine Restoration and Conservation at Swansea?

Swansea University is uniquely positioned to lead in this field due to our location, facilities and expertise in marine restoration and conservation. Our location on the Welsh Coast provides direct access to diverse marine and coastal environments, as well as conservation and restoration sites. Our sector-leading facilities for sustainable aquatic husbandry and seagrass restoration support our teaching and research.

Singleton Park Campus provides specialist laboratories, computing suites, and research spaces, while field-based learning is enhanced by the use of the university’s coastal research vessel, the RV Mary Anning, enabling you to conduct offshore surveys, habitat assessments, and species monitoring. These resources ensure you will gain the practical and technical experience necessary for careers in marine conservation and restoration.

Your learning experience is enhanced by our exceptional natural surroundings—nestled between the Gower Peninsula, the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and the Brecon Beacons National Park. You’ll study in one of the UK’s most biodiverse regions, where you will be taught and supervised by world-leading researchers.

Our Biosciences Department, not only has state-of-the-art facilities, but is also internationally recognised for its research that informs teaching in biodiversity and conservation biology at Swansea University:

• 97% of Research Outputs are Rated World-leading or Internationally Excellent (REF 2021)
• 100% of the Research Environment is Rated World-leading or Internationally Excellent (REF 2021)

Your Marine Restoration and Conservation Experience

The programme is deeply research-led, incorporating the latest scientific findings into the curriculum, and encouraging you to engage in cutting-edge marine conservation science.

Through independent and group research projects, you will explore key issues such as species recovery, ecosystem rehabilitation, and conservation policy, using real-world case studies to inform your work.

Recognising that field-based and experiential learning are central to marine restoration, we offer inclusive field trip options, ensuring you can engage with marine ecosystems both locally and internationally. You will have the opportunity to participate in immersive field courses in the Red Sea, Gower Peninsula, and other coastal and estuarine environments, enabling you to study diverse marine ecosystems in different socio-political and environmental contexts.

Given the growing role of technology in marine conservation, the programme integrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and environmental data modelling to enhance your learning. Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) simulations allow you to explore underwater ecosystems and restoration scenarios remotely, making conservation science more accessible. Additionally, you can develop data analysis skills using R, Python, and machine learning applications, preparing you for careers that combine marine science, digital innovation and policy development.

The programme also employs problem-based and project-based learning, ensuring that you can apply your knowledge in complex scenarios. You will work on interdisciplinary group projects, where you can design and present restoration strategies to stakeholders, gaining experience in collaborative decision-making. A capstone conservation project also creates a direct link between academic learning and professional practice.

By integrating fieldwork, research, technology, problem-solving, and professional development, this MSc offers a research-led, practice-driven, and forward-thinking educational experience. You will be immersed in real-world conservation challenges, applying the latest research and innovative methodologies to address the global crisis of marine habitat loss and species decline.

Marine Restoration and Conservation Employment Opportunities

Global policy shifts and funding initiatives are rapidly elevating the need for trained conservation and restoration scientists, with billions of pounds being pledged by governments to protect our habitats. The private sector is also recognising the importance of restoration, with large corporations leading substantial restoration projects.

As the UK government moves toward implementing its marine net gain requirements, and the Welsh Government spearheads efforts, including the world’s first national Seagrass Action Plan, the demand for skilled restoration scientists will only increase.

This MSc will prepare you to lead and innovate in the field of marine restoration and conservation, ensuring you are equipped to drive impactful, science-based solutions in an evolving global landscape. Potential employment destinations include:

Conservation & Environmental Organisations

• International NGOs (WWF, The Nature Conservancy, Project Seagrass, Conservation International)
• Marine Conservation Charities (Marine Conservation Society, Blue Marine Foundation)
• Coastal and Marine Restoration Projects Across the World

Government & Policy Roles

• UK Government Bodies (DEFRA, Natural England, Marine Management Organisation)
• Welsh Government (Natural Resources Wales, Marine Policy and Sustainability Roles)
• European Commission & International Regulatory Bodies (UNEP, IUCN, IPBES)
• Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Management and Enforcement Agencies

Marine & Environmental Consultancy

• Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecological Restoration Consultancies (CEFAS, APEM, RPS Group)
• Climate and Blue Carbon Consultancy (The Carbon Trust, Sustainability Advisory Firms)
• Fisheries Management and Marine Resource Advisory Roles

Research & Academia

• PhD and Research Positions in Marine Conservation, Restoration, and Blue Carbon Science
• University and Research Institute Roles (Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research at Swansea University, Plymouth Marine Laboratory)
• Science Communication and Public Engagement Roles

Industry & Corporate Sustainability

• Marine and Coastal Industries Adopting Restoration (Offshore Wind, Aquaculture, Sustainable Fisheries)
• Corporate Environmental and Sustainability Divisions (example companies: Deloitte, Nestlé, Mars, Aviva)
• Carbon and Biodiversity Credit Market Roles Linked to Marine Restoration Financing