MSc Marine Biology

Master of Science in Marine Biology is a two-year postgraduate program which deals with the study of oceans and its biological manifestations. Marine biology is mainly concerned with the study of all the living organisms in oceans. Marine biology covers a wide variety of subjects such as biochemistry, pathology, ecology, anatomy, ocean farming, development, reproduction, parasitology, conservation etc.

Professionals who specialize in the respective course are known as marine biologists. The main function of the marine biologists is to collect and interpret the biological data and study the behaviour of different species and research about the ongoing environmental problems and their solutions.

Aspirants who have an affinity towards adventures, marine life and have an ability to work for long hours should opt for the course. There are various study topics in the field of marine biology and can choose as per their interests. Candidates must possess a curiosity for the marine environment and have an ability to conduct research. 

 MSc Marine Biology Highlights 

The candidates can check the major highlights of MSc Marine Biology Course mentioned below.

The students must fulfill the below mentioned eligibility criteria to pursue postgraduate courses in marine biology. The students usually do Masters in Science (MSc) in Marine Biology.

• The students must have completed a graduation degree in any discipline of life sciences such as Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Marine Biology, Aquaculture, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry.
• The students must obtain a minimum of 55-60 percent marks in bachelor’s degree to take admission at the postgraduate level in courses such as MSc in Marine Biology and related courses.
• There are some reputed colleges and universities that conduct their own entrance examination for admission to MSc in Marine Biology. The students will have to appear for the entrance examination in such cases. Apart from direct admission being offered on the merit basis, they take top entrance exam to check the caliber of the students to grant admission in PG programs. 

 MSc Marine Biology Admission Process

The candidates can check the admission procedure for taking admission in MSc Marine Biology.

• The university that offers  MSc Marine Biology course conducts its own entrance exam for admission. 

• Selection is based on candidates performance in the entrance examination and marks obtained in the qualifying examination. 

Entrance Exam for MSc Marine Biology

The candidates can check the top entrance exams conducted for admission into top institutes which offer Marine Biology given below.

• CSIR UGC NET
• AIIMS PG
• JRF
• AURCET

MSc Marine Biology Top Colleges in India 

The students who are willing to study MSc Marine Biology usually target the best colleges in India that offer MSc Marine Biology. The students can check the below mentioned top seven institutes in India.

•  Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala
• Annamalai University, TamilNadu
• Pondicherry University, TamilNadu
• College of Science and Technology, Andhra Pradesh
• Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat
• Karnatak University, Karnataka
• Andhra Pradesh University, Waltair

The MSc Marine Biology Syllabus is divided into 4 semesters in the entire course duration. The candidates can go through the entire course curriculum of MSc Marine Biology mentioned below.

MSc Marine Biology Syllabus for First Year:

The candidates can check the MSc Marine Biology Subjects taught in the 1st year mentioned below.

MSc Marine Biology Syllabus Second Year:

The candidates can check the MSc Marine Biology Subjects taught in the 2nd year mentioned below.

MSc Marine Biology Course Subjects

The students who wish to become a Marine Biologist must earn a MSc Degree of 2 years in the related field. They can look at the following syllabus and must have an idea about the same before doing the course.

• Marine Biochemistry
• Marine Chemistry
• Dynamic oceanography
• Marine Biology Dissertation
• Marine Ecology practical
• Marine microbiology
• Sedimentology
• Marine Microbiology practical

MSc Marine Biology Required Skill 

The candidates must possess few special skills if they want to pursue marine Biology. We hae provided the list of required skills needed for MSc Biology course below.

Technical Skills- The students of microbiology as a technician must possess laboratory skills like sequencing, and they must be aware about standard operating procedures. They also know how to write risk assessments and must have strong numerical and IT skills. 

Passion- Marine Biology is a specialized course and only those students can do justice with this course who is passionate about doing marine biology and spending time with the aquatic environment. The students who are interested in aquatic life can only excel in this field.

Soft Skills- Apart from having an excellent numerical and statistical skill, the students must possess presentation skills and soft skills to represent them at the global platform. They also must possess good observation skills and must have patience to deal with clients across the globe. They should also have good oratory and writing skills. They should be able to communicate well and be an effective team leader.

Analytical Mind- The job of marine biologists or aquatic analysts requires a lot of precision and they must have an analytical mind. They must be methodological enough to analyze and interpret all forms of data.

There is a broad range of career options for a candidate with an M.Sc Marine Biology. They can choose to opt for fieldwork, go into academic research, opt laboratory work etc. The list of job roles available are as follows:

•  Marine Biologist

• Senior Coordinator - Marine Conservation

• Research Analyst

• Marine Conservationist 

• Marine Ecologist

•  Dive Operations manager

MSc Marine Biology Job Roles

There are varieties of job roles that the students of Marine Biology can do after their graduation or post graduation. The students can choose jobs as per their interests and expertise. Some of the common jobs that the students can do are mentioned below. 

Marine Biologist

A Marine Biologist is responsible for understanding and doing research on oceans and different types of saltwater environment. They also carry our numerous experiments, observe data and analyze them.  They also take care of injured animals and try to rehabilitate them.

Fisheries Biologist

Fisheries Biologists are responsible for understanding the aquatic ecosystem. They also determine the population dynamics of the aquatic system and the impacts on them. They are also experts in recognizing different kinds of fish and other types of marine life.

Biological Technician

A Biological Technician is responsible for taking care of all the laboratory equipment. They also set up equipment along with maintaining and cleaning laboratory equipment and instruments. A biological technician also collects samples of blood, biological samples of food and bacteria cultures for laboratory analysis. 

Aquatic Biologist

An Aquatic Biologist is responsible for studying organisms in lakes, streams and ponds. They also assess all types of aquatic life and inhabitants. The aquatic terrestrial ecosystems, wildlife habitat, fish and similar other aquatic populations are assessed by aquatic biologists.

Professor

A Professor is responsible for teaching and creating awareness on different issues related to marine biologists. They also talk about policies, planning, and management of aquatic lives. They conduct expeditions on fishing and research vessels.

Fishery Data Manager

A Fishery Data Manager operates and maintains all the data and oversees the activities that take place in a fishery. They are responsible for monitoring the growth off fishing, maintaining equipment, prepping, and screening cultivation areas.

Reef Restoration Project Manager

A Reef Restoration Manager is responsible for over viewing restorations. They ensure that the restoration can keep functioning well smoothly without any problems. They play a very important role to rule out all the possibilities of error. 

Top Recruiters in Marine Biology Sector

The students who have studied MSc Marine Biology course can work both in private and government sectors.  The demand for Marine Biologists has increased over the years as there are many research projects being carried out by the leading companies of India. There are many recruiting areas for Marine Biologists such as universities, marine research institutes, international organisations, commercial companies, government agencies, and non-profit organisations. Some of the top recruiting companies for MSc Marine graduates are mentioned below. 

• Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
• Jacobs Engineering Group Inc
• Pfizer Inc
• Meteorological Survey of India
• National Institute of Oceanography
• Vertex Infosoft Solution Pvt Ltd
• Department of Oceanography
• Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture
• Il India
• Geological Survey of India
• WaterSports Simple India Pvt Ltd.

MSc Marine Biology Salary

The students must keep a note of the average salaries for some prominent job profiles in marine biology as mentioned below.  The references of job salaries will help the students to choose the right profile for themselves.