Marine top predators, including marine mammals, seabirds, and sharks, form important components of marine ecosystems. They are typically wide ranging and depend on patchy prey which are closely tied/linked to a dynamic physical marine environment. Therefore, an understanding of how marine top predator populations associate with the marine environment is crucial for their conservation. However, researching and monitoring these often inconspicuous animals that spend part or all of their lives underwater requires specialist field, technological and quantitative approaches that considers their unique physiology, behavior, in parallel with their

marine environment.

This challenging course is unique in its multi-disciplinary approach - it brings together world-leading expertise in marine top predator ecology and oceanography at the School of Ocean Sciences.

This Marine Top Predator Ecology MSc is a full-time, one-year course, consisting of two taught semesters and an independent research project. You will study specialist modules, introducing both field and quantitative skills in the study of marine top predators and oceanographic research, and advanced topics in generic quantitative marine ecology. You will start the initial preparatory work for the research dissertation in early January, although most of the work will occur from late May to September.