The ocean plays a central role in the Earth's climate system by regulating the transfer of heat and carbon over the globe. The effect of the ocean can only be fully understood by addressing the fundamental physical and chemical processes operating in our environment. This degree route offers two distinct pathways in physics or chemistry combined with an understanding of the ocean and climate system. Each pathway has its own mix of modules from the School of Physical Sciences. Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre in Liverpool provide guest lectures and supervision of projects. On the physics pathway students acquire a strong grounding in physics together with applications to the atmosphere, ocean and climate system. Students gain an understanding of how the climate is changing, why jets and eddies emerge on a rotating planet, and how the atmosphere and ocean transport heat and tracers over the globe. On the chemistry pathway students acquire a strong grounding in chemistry and laboratory work, together with applications to the ocean. Students gain an understanding of how nutrients and carbon are cycled over the globe, how biological productivity is controlled, the effects of ocean acidification, and how life operates in a dynamic ocean. On the oceanography pathway students acquire a broad understanding of the ocean environment from a physical, chemical and biological perspective. This training in interdisciplinary science means that students acquire skills to tackle global challenges in Oceanography that are typically created by multiple stressors such as increased sea surface temperature, reduced ocean pH due to increased carbon dioxide levels and changes in nutrient loads. This programme is ideal for students who are interested in understanding the complexities of the ocean environment. This degree programme will focus on practical aspects of marine science and will provide grounding in ‘hands on’ quantitative studies of chemical and physical marine science. There will be the opportunity to participate in field/project work using the University’s research vessel throughout the course of your studies, as well as a full sea practical using other UK marine facilities during Year Three. You will undertake a major research project in your final year.

There has never been a better time to study Ocean Sciences. We have close links the National Oceanography Centre in Liverpool. The vast majority of our recent graduates gain employment within a degree-related field or continue within further education on graduation. Skills gained by our students during their degree programme are critical to the environment sector. Recent employers Recent employers include: British Oceanographic Data Centre Environment Agency Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences Lloyds (property insurance) Meteorological Office Arcus Renewable Energy Consulting Ltd VerdErg Connectors Limited Work experience opportunities Each year, the National Oceanography Centre in Liverpool offers at least one competitive research placement for one year. The placement involves working closely with research scientists on new and on-going oceanographic projects and there are opportunities to go to sea on a research cruise. Postgraduate opportunities More than 40% of our students go on to further study on Masters or PhD programmes in the UK and abroad. We offer postgraduate opportunities in Ocean Sciences via a new NERC Doctoral Training Centre jointly with Manchester University and the National Oceanography Centre. Qualifying you for life Our research funding organisation, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), recently performed a study to identify critical skills gaps in the Environment sector, defined as the ‘parts of the UK that significantly rely on, or generate, knowledge concerned with the state and condition of the Earth’. The top six skills identified as being needed in the environment sector were; computer modelling, multi- disciplinarity, data management, numeracy, communication and fieldwork. Our degree programmes are designed to provide Ocean Sciences students with these skills through training in industry standard software for modelling and data management, development of quantitative and communication skills and opportunities for at-sea training throughout the degree programme.