Marine & Freshwater Resources - Management

Course Overview

The MSc in Marine and Freshwater Resources: Management will enable graduates to develop a core understanding and advanced level of knowledge and skills in key areas relevant to the marine and freshwater environment. This will give them the skills required to start addressing some of the critical challenges’ society will face during the 21st century from human impact on the aquatic environment. Graduates will learn advanced problem solving, management, analytical and communication skills. It will develop their capacity and capability for scientific leadership and solution-based approaches relevant to their career trajectory. An MSc in Marine and Freshwater Resources: Monitoring and Management will build on undergraduate courses in Earth and Ocean Sciences, Marine Science, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, Geography and Geosystems and the Bachelor of Science degree programme. It will provide a pathway for students interested in pursuing a career in industries concerned with the protection and use of water. The course will also be targeted at professionals in industry, government, and the regulatory sector who wish to further develop their skills and resources.



This course sets out to equip students with a broad range of skills and an understanding of the fundamental concepts underpinning the functioning of aquatic systems, the ability to communicate about them in a meaningful way and the ability to make informed and responsible decisions regarding marine and freshwater resources.



Globally, we are very dependent on our marine and freshwater resources. Marine and freshwater environments support a diverse economy, including, (but not limited to) food (agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries), tourism and recreation, drinking water, oil and gas production, aggregate extraction and shipping, nature protection and renewable energies. Both marine and freshwater habitats are home to a rich diversity of animals, plants and microbes providing a range of tangible and intangible goods and services, while the impact of humanity on these resources is part of our inheritance and future. Human impacts and climate change will shape the future of these resources and the ability of these resources to provide the ecosystem goods and services which are essential to human well-being overall. Consequently, proper monitoring and management of marine and freshwater resources are vital to ensure the ecosystems they support are healthy and is also a legal requirement. The successful monitoring and management of these resources requires an adequate understanding of human activities and the context in which it takes place, especially when management responsibilities are split among many stakeholders.



Legislation and policy pertaining to the marine and freshwater environment reflects EU and international trends and therefore there is a need to provide expertise to support emerging policy and protect these resources on which many economic and social activities depend. The taught MSc in Marine and Freshwater Resources: Management gives graduates the training in the relevant areas of marine and freshwater processes, resource management, data management, practical skills, observation and policy and legislation that will help meet targets for sustainable ecosystem management and the circular economy.



The course has a focus on cross-sector skills and competences that can be transferred from one topic/occupational area to another, enabling national and international occupational mobility for its graduates, and giving them the skill set to work in and lead multidisciplinary teams. Cross-sector skills and competences are of growing importance all over Europe and are considered relevant to occupations across several economic sectors (ESCO).



The taught MSc in Marine and Freshwater Resources: Monitoring and Management that provides training in critical knowledge areas and an understanding of knowledge gaps in our aquatic environment and related human activities, as well as the capacity to engage in activities for their assessment, governance, management and communication, relevant to the environmental sector will (1) provide graduates with the competences to obtain employment in industry, research, policy development, monitoring or management and (2) help meet targets in relation to environmental obligations under EU and international Directives and the transition to a sustainable economy.

Core Modules (40 ECTS)

• Environmental Problems in Marine and Freshwater Environments: Contaminants (EOS5103) (5 ECTS)

• Environmental Problems in Marine and Freshwater Environments: Methodological Aspects and Applications (EOS5104) (10 ECTS)

• Marine and Freshwater Acidification (EOS5107) (5 ECTS)

• Literature Review, Project Planning and Proposal (EOS5101) (5 ECTS)

• Water Framework Directive (EV5101) (5 ECTS)

• Metals in the Environment, Speciation, Bioavailability, Remediation (EOS6102) (5 ECTS)

• Green Lab Principles and Practice (BI5108) (5 ECTS)



Research Project (30 ECTS)

• Marine and Freshwater Resources: Monitoring and Management Dissertation Project (EOS5106)



Optional Modules

• Water Quality (CE6107) (5 ECTS)

• Global Change (EOS6101) (5 ECTS)

• Introduction to Data Analysis Tools for Earth and Ocean studies (EOS610) (5 ECTS)

• Ecosystem Science (EV507) (5 ECTS)

• Invasive Species & Biodiversity (EV534) (5 ECTS)

• Marine Spatial Planning and Policy (TI6012) (10 ECTS)

• Project Management (IE446) (5 ECTS)

• Communicating Science and Research (EV5102) (5 ECTS)

• Biodiversity Legislation and Policy (EV515) (5 ECTS)

• Data Analysis for Sustainability Research (PAB5128) (5 ECTS)

• Geospatial Analysis and Remote Sensing (PAB5127) (5 ECTS)

• The Environment and Human Health (EV6101) (5 ECTS)

• Legislation for Environmental Scientists (LW3124) (5 ECTS)



Please see Course Web Page above for module details.

Minimum academic standards (proposed 2.1 honours, or equivalent, though 2.2 students [or equivalent] with relevant experience will also be considered), English language proficiency: IELTS 6.5 (University of Galway minimum requirement). Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is considered.



The ‘Marine and Freshwater Resources: Management’ Programme Board will consider non-standard applications. Both the appropriate discipline and required relevant experience are at the discretion of the Programme Board.



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is considered. The Programme Board will consider non-standard applications. Both the appropriate discipline and required relevant experience are at the discretion of the Programme Board.

Applications must be completed online at: https://nuigalway.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login.



An application requires a registration fee of €35. You will be asked to upload proof of identification, academic transcripts, a personal statement, an academic reference and documentation to fulfil the English requirement (where English is not your first language).

1 year, full-time

Next start date: September 2025

Career Opportunities

The course will produce well-rounded, motivated, mobile and dynamic problem-solvers and leaders who can work in any area related to the marine and freshwater environments and related industry. The subject knowledge, transferable skills and thesis elements of the course are designed to provide graduates with the opportunity to carry out further research, work in the public or private sector, or create their own employment.



Many opportunities exist within the areas of environment, marine and water such as government, NGOs, and private companies, all driven to meet environmental targets set within international agreements (http://skillsireland.ie/all-publications/). Graduates will acquire transversal and multidisciplinary skills in science, communication and management, enabling them to take on roles within an industrial setting, or within a regulatory body or private consultancy firm. Careers such as project managers, consultants and advisors exist within public and private sectors in Ireland and elsewhere. In addition, the course will provide graduates with a portfolio of generic skills that will help them compete for PhD programmes and improve their ability for other research roles and upskilling for professionals in Local Authorities, government, regulatory and industry sectors.