Who is this course for?

This course is ideally suited for graduates with a degree in science, engineering, or geography, or those with relevant work experience. It is also targeted at professionals in industry, government, and the regulatory sector who wish to upskill or further develop their resources and knowledge base. Realistically, anyone who has a passion for water or an interest in the topic is suited to this course. The course aims to equip students with the skills required to start addressing some of the critical challenges society will face regarding human impact on the aquatic environment during the 21st century.

What will I study?

The MSc is a 90 ECTS programme, based on a model that includes 60 ECTS from taught modules and a 30 ECTS research project in Semester 3.

The 60 ECTS taught component is comprised of 40 credits from core modules and 20 credits from optional modules, split across Semesters 1 and 2. Modules are delivered via lectures, seminars, workshops, teaching technologies, online participation, and individual research.

Core modules:

• Environmental Problems in Marine and Freshwater Environments: Methodological Aspects and Applications
• Environmental Problems & Solutions from Land to Sea
• Operational Oceanography
• Water Framework Directive (WFD)
• Environmental and Human Health
• Communicating Research
• Green Labs Principles & Practice

Optional modules:

• Sustainability Planning and Policy for Marine Environments
• Global Change
• Introduction to Data Analysis Tools for Earth and Ocean studies
• Invasive Species and Biodiversity
• Ecosystem Science
• Project Management
• Programming for Data Science
• Geospatial Techniques
• Data Analysis for Sustainability Research
• Legislation for Environmental Scientists

Students complete an individual research project (30 ECTS) in Semester 3, which involves preparing a literature review, identifying research questions, and writing a final report. This project offers an opportunity to conduct independent research and apply learning from the course content to original work.

This ‘Curriculum Information’ is an automatic sync with Akari and displays the current academic year curriculum as represented in AKARI. The next update to this will take place in Aug/Sept 2025 when the new academic year information is rolled over on AKARI. There are a couple of important notes on this:

• The information that was inputted into AKARI by the Apr 2024 deadline is what is currently appearing on the course pages. This will carry over to the new template.
• Any changes that are made throughout the year on Quercus are fed into Blackboard but not AKARI, therefore will not be presented on the course page of the website. Manual updates are not possible to the curriculum information that is synced between Akari and website.
• You may notice that the AKARI Curriculum Information is not displaying at all on your course page. Please advise us of this and the sync can be turned back ‘on’.
• There are some courses where the AKARI feed is not suitable for display (due to complex course structures etc.). For these courses, the previous section ‘What will I study?’ will be the place where detail should be added.
• In time this will be replaced with CourseLeaf content.

• Unique Combined Focus: This Master’s is unique because it combines both the marine environment and the freshwater environment, taking a holistic approach to the source-to-sea (land-to-sea) pathways.
• Industry-Informed Design: The course structure was developed based on a feasibility study and survey findings from prospective employers in both the private and public water science sectors.
• Cross-Sector Employability: The program provides training in cross-sector skills and competences that support national and international occupational mobility and enable graduates to work in and lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Practical & Field Experience: Students receive hands-on practical experience, including laboratory work, environmental sensitivity mapping, and time sampling on boats.
• Policy and Legislation: Training provides comprehensive knowledge regarding international directives and national legislation related to marine and freshwater resources, and the legal frameworks that underpin them.
• Scientific Leadership: The curriculum is designed to develop the capacity and capability for scientific leadership and solution-based approaches relevant to graduates' career trajectories.

The MSc in Marine and Freshwater Resources: Management will produce well-rounded, dynamic problem-solvers and leaders who can work in any area related to the marine and freshwater environments and associated industry. Graduates often gain meaningful employment immediately in the sector.

Sectors and Employers: Opportunities exist in sectors such as government, NGOs, and private companies, all driven to meet environmental targets set within international agreements. The course is relevant to professionals in Local Authorities, regulatory sectors, and environmental consultancy firms.

Examples of Roles: Graduates acquire multidisciplinary skills in science, communication, and management. Career paths include roles such as project managers, consultants, and advisors within public and private sectors in Ireland and internationally.

Further Study: The course provides a strong foundation and a portfolio of generic skills that help graduates compete for PhD programmes and improve their ability for other research roles in academia. The subject knowledge, transferable skills, and thesis elements are designed to provide the opportunity to carry out further research.

• Dr Liam Morrison
• Dr Gesche Kindermann
• Dr Caitriona Carlin
• Dr Robert Kennedy
• Peter Croot
• Dr Una FitzGerald
• Dr Oisín Callery
• Dr Kathryn Cormican
• Dr Rónán Kennedy
• Dr Napron Popattanachai
• Dr Karl Mason
• Dr Liam Carr

And also a series of Guest Lecturers

How will I learn? 

You will learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, teaching technologies, online participation, and individual research. Students get lots of hands-on practical experience, including intensive laboratory work and fieldwork such as sampling on boats and environmental sensitivity mapping. The program fosters the development of advanced problem solving, analytical, and management skills necessary for scientific leadership.

How Will I Be Assessed?

Assessment is module specific but is primarily conducted through continual assessment, assignment, and project work. The overall combination of coursework and assessments provides a rational balance for students to excel. The major assessment component is the 30 ECTS Research Project in Semester 3.

Course queries:
lorna.larkin@universityofgalway.ie 

Programme Director(s):
Dr Liam Morrison
School of Natural Sciences and the Ryan Institute
College of Science and Engineering
E: liam.morrison@universityofgalway.ie
T: 091 493 200

University of Galway recognises that knowledge and skills can be acquired from a range of learning experiences. This is in line with the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) goals which aim to recognise all learning achievements by supporting the development of alternative pathways to qualifications (or awards) and by facilitating the recognition of prior learning (RPL).

The Programme Board for Marine and Freshwater Resources: Management will consider non-standard applications, where both the appropriate discipline and required relevant experience are at the discretion of the Programme Board.

Further information is available on the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning website

Graduates of the MSc in Marine and Freshwater Resources Management will acquire key knowledge and transferable skills that they can utilize in any workplace, whether in academia or industry. Graduates develop the capacity for scientific leadership and solution-based approaches. Key skills include:

• Advanced problem solving, management, analytical and communication skills.
• The ability to apply analytical and technical skills required for research and application in marine and freshwater systems.
• Planning, organising and controlling activities to ensure successful project completion.
• Data assessment skills necessary to inform decision-making and management.
• Communicating results of monitoring, research and innovation, and engaging the public on ocean literacy.
• Transversal and multidisciplinary skills essential for national and international occupational mobility.

Minimum Entry Requirements 

Proposed 2.1 honours (or equivalent) in a related subject area is the minimum academic standard, though 2.2 students (or equivalent) with relevant experience will also be considered. The Programme Board will consider non-standard applications. The appropriate discipline and required relevant experience are at the discretion of the Programme Board.

Academic entry requirements standardised per country are available here. 

English Language Entry Requirements 

For applicants whose first language is not English, an English language proficiency of IELTS score of 6.5 is required (with no less than 6.5 in Writing and no less than 6.0 in any other band) or equivalent. 

More information on English language test equivalency are available here.

Supporting Documents 

You will be required to provide supporting documentation as part of your application. You can check here what supporting documents are required for this course.  

You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here. 

Please review the entry requirements set out in the section above.

You will be required to upload supporting documentation to your application electronically. See the section above on entry requirements for further information on the supporting documentation required for this course.

Closing Dates

For this programme, there is no specific closing date for receipt of applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and course quotes will be reviewed continuously throughout the application cycle.

Notes

• You will need an active email account to use the website and you'll be guided through the system, step by step, until you complete the online form.

Browse the FAQ's section for further guidance. 

Fees for Academic Year 2026/27

For 26/27 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 1.8% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,500 towards your tuition (2026/27).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here. 

This scholarship is valued at €1,500 for EU students applying for full-time taught master's postgraduate courses. You will be eligible if:

• You have been accepted to a full-time taught master's course at University of Galway,
• You have attained a first class honours (or equivalent) in a Level 8 primary degree.

An application for the scholarship scheme is required (separate to the application for a place on the programme). The application portal for 2025 is now open and available here. Applications will close on the 30th September 2025. Full details available here.

Global Scholarships  (standard text for all courses)
University of Galway offers a range of merit-based scholarships to students from a number of countries outside of the EU. Visit here for schemes currently available.

School of Natural Sciences Scholarship

https://stories.universityofgalway.ie/college-of-science-and-engineering-scholarships-overview/index.html

Application Process

Students applying for full time postgraduate programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here. 

Our application portal opens on the 1^st October each year for each the following September.   

Further Information

Please visit the postgraduate admissions webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.