Environment and geography · Physical sciences
Oceanography
BSc
Overview
Oceanography studies the ocean as a physical, chemical and biological system. Depending on the course, you may do more physics of currents and waves, more chemistry, or more marine life. Mathematics is more important than many students expect. It is offered by fewer universities than biology, so published requirements of those courses matter. Students who enjoy it like large-scale systems and are willing to combine fieldwork with calculation.
You want the ocean as a system, not only the animals in it.
Marine biology is organism-centred. Geography is broader and usually less mathematical.
People who like physics or chemistry applied to the sea.
What you will study
Universities do not teach the same modules. The lists below are a general shape, not a syllabus.
Year 1
- Ocean basins
- Maths and physics or chemistry
- Marine fieldwork
Later years
- Currents and climate
- Marine chemistry or biology options
- Project
Skills
Useful before you start
- Mathematics
- A science
- Field confidence
Developed during the degree
- Modelling
- Marine observation
- Data analysis
Teaching and assessment
Teaching often includes Lectures, Fieldwork, Computing workshops.
Assessment often includes Exams, Reports, Project.
Typical weekly commitment
Estimate.
Entry requirements
Indicative patterns from published UK admissions information. Not an offer. Actual requirements vary by course, university and year. Pearson Edexcel International A Level and Cambridge International A Level are not treated as the same qualification as GCE A level.
Indicative requirements by qualification
The A-level band is the catalogue reference. IB and American lines come from the named university guides under the table. They are not a conversion every university uses, and they are not an offer.
| Qualification | Indicative requirements |
|---|---|
| A Levels | BBB–ABB. A mathematical or science subject is commonly expected. Physics and mathematics matter more on physical oceanography courses. |
| IB Diploma | UCL publishes 34 points for ABB. The other end of this band is not in that table. A required A-level subject must be Higher Level in UCL's rule. Each Higher Level subject in that table is at least 5. UCL equates A* to 7, A to 6 and B to 5. This is one university's table. |
| American curriculum | That Manchester guide gives AP 5, 4, 4 for ABB. The other end of this band is not in the guide. Bristol publishes a GPA of 3.2, or 3.4 for competitive courses, and does not use one AP pattern for every degree. |
- University College London: Undergraduate entry requirements. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
- University of Manchester, School of Social Sciences: Americas country guide. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
- University of Manchester, Civil Engineering: USA country entry requirements. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
- University of Bristol: USA international qualifications. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
A-level subjects
A mathematical or science subject is commonly expected. Physics and mathematics matter more on physical oceanography courses.
Often recommended: Mathematics, Physics.
Useful preparation: Biology, Geography.
GCSE and IGCSE
English and mathematics at GCSE or IGCSE are commonly requested. Science grades matter more for science degrees. No single national grade is stored. International GCSEs are not automatically accepted as GCSEs.
Indicative only. Few universities offer this title, so check those pages rather than a national average.
Other ways in
- A physics, mathematics or marine biology degree plus a postgraduate course is a common alternative.
Admissions tests and extra requirements
No admissions test is stored as usual for this course. A university can still set one for a particular year.
Course costs
For many standard full-time courses in England, the home-fee maximum in 2026 to 2027 is Up to £9,790. This is the maximum standard full-time fee published for approved English providers with a TEF award and an access and participation plan. It is not the fee a named university charges, and it does not decide whether you pay home or international fees.
Clinical, laboratory and studio courses are not given a different home-fee figure here, because the regulated maximum is not the same thing as an international or clinical fee.
International tuition is set by each university and is not stored here. Clinical courses are often much higher than classroom-based courses. A school in Qatar does not decide home-fee status.
Source: Changes to tuition fees: 2026 to 2027 academic year. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Living costs, field trips and professional fees are not included.
Where you could study
UK degrees in this subject are numerous. This page does not list every university, because a list without a checked entry requirement would look more certain than it is.
No individual UK course page is stored yet for this subject. Use the university site.
No overseas course has been checked for this subject yet.
Where could this degree take you?
Oceanographer
Direct qualifying route
The closest title. Physics or mathematics plus postgraduate study is also a real route.
Meteorologist
Alternative route
Shared physical-science skills. It is not a meteorology degree.
Explore your pathway
A course sits between school subjects and a career. It does not guarantee either admission or a job.