A good marine biology student knows that class-work should be complemented with field research and Australia provides a few of the most exciting places for field work in the world. The Great Barrier Reef on the east coast is renowned for its biodiversity while Ningaloo Reef to the west is well known for its amazing wildlife. Earn a marine biology degree in Australia and find exciting opportunities for rigorous research with amazing fieldwork.
Earn a Marine Biology Degree at Australia’s Top University
Located on the southeast coast of Australia, the University of Melbourne is ranked the number one institution on the continent and number thirty-six in the world (so says the “Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010-2011”). According to the school’s website the university as a whole has over 47,000 students from over 120 countries. Located in Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne is a multi-cultural hotspot with excellent public transit. The University of Melbourne offers a three year program for a B.S. in marine biology. Be sure to also check out their degrees in Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences, Environmental Sciences, and their Bachelor of Environments.
Australia’s Renowned Marine Biology University
James Cook University (JCU) located in northern Queensland amidst Australia’s Hot Tropics region and just off the Great Barrier Reef professes itself to be “one of the world’s leading institutions focusing on the tropics” (‘About JCU’, school website). The university has about 15,700 students split primarily between their Townsville and Cairns campuses with 1,470 staff. Marine biology is considered one of their major research disciplines and JCU writes on their website that 6 out of 10 of the top coral reef biologists are at their institution. Students can earn a Bachelor of Marine Science or a Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture within three years.
Marine Biology Programs in Sydney, Australia
Macquarie University located on Sydney’s coast offers a Bachelor of Marine Science with two specializations. Students can specialize in Biology, focusing on the ecology of coasts and the deep sea. Alternatively, students can specialize in the geosciences and learn about palaeoceanography and climate impacts. Macquarie is one of the four founding universities of The Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) giving it access to state of the art facilities and exciting research projects.
Earn a Marine Biology Degree in Perth, Australia
Located on Australia’s western coast, Murdoch University is just an 11 minute train ride from the sunny city of Perth. According to the school’s website, the Perth lifestyle is relaxed and focused on the outdoors with residents frequently enjoying fishing, windsurfing, and sailing on the city’s Swan River. The campus itself has 18,000 students and 1,400 staff. Students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science in three years and have plenty of opportunities to gain hands on experience through field-based research.
Get in to a Marine Biology University in Brisbane, Australia
The University of Queensland located on Australia’s east coast in Brisbane says it’s Centre for Marine Science “comprises one of the largest and diverse group of marine scientists and engineers in Australia” (school website, “Centre for Marine Science”). The school also offers its students opportunities to study at its field stations on the Great Barrier Reef and the richly biodiverse Moreton Bay. Students pursuing a marine science degree can earn a Bachelor of Science (BSc) with a Marine Science major in three years or a Bachelor of Marine Studies (BMarSt) within four years.
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