About

Coastal and marine environments are critical to local and national economies, support diverse habitats and communities, and provide a suite of ecosystem services. This field-intensive postgraduate Coastal & Marine Environments: Physical Processes, Policy & Practice programme at National University of Ireland, Galway examines emerging discourses surrounding the long-term health, use, and management of coastal and marine systems.Through lectures, workshops, ship time, field work, and independent research, MSc students are challenged to:

• Engage scientifically and critically analyse how coastal and marine systems function and are used by communities;
• Evaluate plans and policies that address the complex relationships between coastal and marine environments and communities;

• Assess how well policies and legislation work to ensure long-term ecosystem sustainability and mitigate negative impacts on coastal communities and sectors.

Career Opportunities

Recent MSc Graduates have gone onto PhD programmes, as well as joining the professional workforce as: consultants, ecologists, teachers and instructors, researchers, and managers. Employers have included: the Marine Institute, Irish Lights, EPA Ireland, MaREI, NPWS, Environmental Consultancies, Public Outreach and Education, Industry and the Private Sector.