Master of Marine Conservation

With fieldwork both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas, get real-world experience and develop in-depth understanding of marine conservation principles and practices.

Make a difference to coastal and marine environments

New Zealand is a world-leader in marine conservation. It’s an ideal place to develop expertise you can use here and around the world. Our unique and lengthy coastline is home to an abundance of marine organisms, from tiny phytoplankton to the endangered New Zealand sea lion.

Here in Wellington, you’ll have the chance to learn at Te Toka Tū Moana—Victoria Coastal Ecology Laboratory, overlooking the spectacular rocky reef systems of Taputeranga Marine Reserve. You'll also visit other world-renowned marine conservation sites.

Examine marine conservation issues and practice in New Zealand, Australia, the South Pacific, and the wider Indo-Pacific region. Learn how to make a positive impact on these valuable ecosystems around the world.

Get the postgraduate handbook

Fill in the form to find out more about your study options in our Wellington Faculty of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Handbook.

Download the handbook

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Hands-on learning

Apply the theory you learn by going into the field to study different marine environments and ecosystems as part of the course field trips during the year, both in New Zealand and abroad.

Gain practical experience in the collection, analysis, and communication of data related to marine conservation and learn what life is like as a real marine conservationist.

Study options

Marine Conservation can be studied through two qualifications. The Master of Marine Conservation (MMarCon) is a taught Master's with no thesis component and is the only taught Marine Conservation Master's degree in New Zealand.

Or you can choose to study the Postgraduate Certificate in Marine Conservation (PGCertMarCon), a shorter qualification for those who want to expand their expertise into a new area of interest.

Community

Postgraduate study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington will help you build valuable relationships and networks with peers, University staff, and future colleagues. You'll have opportunities to attend events, workshops, social functions, and seminars.

The Postgraduate Students' Association can give you information and provides a voice for you on campus.

Live and study in New Zealand's creative, compact and vibrant capital, the perfect place to base your studies. Central to a range of temperate marine environments, including rocky shores, estuaries, fiords, and sea mounts, Wellington is also close to two marine reserves—Kapiti and Taputeranga.

Future careers

With increasing pressures on our marine environment, experts in conservation and management of marine organisms and ecosystems are in high demand.

You’ll be ready to work in marine conservation here in New Zealand and the South Pacific region, or further afield. You might find work in:

• Crown Research Institutes
• private research institutes
• national government agencies managing marine conservation and fisheries
• regional authorities such as city, regional and district councils
• consultancy firms carrying out contract marine biology work
• non‑government agencies and not‑for‑profit organisations.

Scholarships

To help fund your studies, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate scholarship.

• Browse postgraduate and doctoral scholarships
• Search scholarships.

Financial support

You can get support to stay on top of your finances by downloading our money management resources or by meeting with one of our student finance advisers.

We can show you how to manage your student loan or allowance, and help you sort out your budget. For students facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for support from the Hardship Fund. Depending on your situation, you might also be able to get government or community support. Talk to a student finance adviser Financing your study

Further research or study

The next step after a Master’s is a PhD. Usually entry into PhD study requires an Honours degree or a Master's with a research thesis. If you're thinking of continuing on to PhD study, you can take a research-based, special topics paper as one of your course choices to help you with entry requirements.

Find out about your options for Marine Conservation qualifications and discover what and how you'll study.

Master of Marine Conservation

The 180-point Master of Marine Conservation includes three core courses. You’ll also choose three elective courses covering topics like:/n

• marine biology
• biodiversity
• ecology
• ecological restoration
• conservation.

You can also choose courses that specialise in environmental management and conservation issues relating to New Zealand Māori and Pacific Island communities.

The Master of Marine Conservation (MMarCon) is taught by coursework with no thesis component. You’ll apply the theory you learn in the field to study different marine environments and ecosystems.

Hands-on learning

Two of your core courses are field courses. You’ll gain practical experience in collection, analysis, and communication of data related to marine conservation—and learn what life is like as a real marine conservationist.

There are extra costs for the field courses, which aren't included in the course fees.

Culture and community

You'll also examine marine conservation issues of cultural and socioeconomic significance to Māori and Pacific peoples, such as:

• exploitation of coastal regions and ecotourism
• seabed and foreshore rights
• community-led conservation strategies.

Postgraduate Certificate in Marine Conservation

For the Postgraduate Certificate, you’ll choose courses from the course list for the Master’s in Marine Conservation, including:/n

• one course from the ‘core courses’
• two more from any of the listed courses.

Choose from a range of courses that focus on:

• marine biology
• biodiversity
• ecology
• ecological restoration
• conservation.

The Postgraduate Certificate programme offers a mix of practical, fieldwork-based courses, and theoretical learning.

Field courses give you real-world experience in collection, analysis, and communicating data related to marine conservation. You’ll also have access to our world-class, award-winning research facilities, including Te Toki a Rata—our School of Science building with state-of-the-art science teaching and research laboratories.

Workload

If you are studying full time you can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year. Part-time students doing two courses per trimester will need to do around 20 to 23 hours of work a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working.

You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of [points] you'll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10 to 12 hours of work.

Duration

The Master of Marine Conservation can be completed in 12 months of full-time study, or in 24 months part time.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Marine Conservation can be completed in six months of full-time study or in 12 months part time.