Physical Geography And Oceanography

Highlights

Undertake ship, field and lab-based analysis using Bangor University’s £3.5m Prince Madog shelf sea research vessel, smaller boats for nearshore data analysis, and supercomputers, state-of-the art survey and lab equipment and oceanographic moorings for data collection. Research-informed teaching that draws on internationally renowned expertise in terrestrial and marine sciences, which span fluvial, glacial, coastal and deep-marine environments. Specialist learning facilities, including scientific laboratories for fluid dynamics, geotechnics and sedimentology, and computing facilities for industry-standard GIS and analytical software to support your learning and develop strong employability skills.

National links with the offshore survey and marine renewables industries, leading environmental consultancies, and government bodies, including the Met Office, National Oceanography Centre, HR Wallingford, CGG, and National Resources Wales. Active student community with socials, excursions and talks from Endeavour, our long-standing Ocean Sciences Society, and Bangor Geographical Society (GeogSoc). You can also learn to surf or dive.

Course overview

In this BSc (Hons) Physical Geography and Oceanography degree, you will study the processes that control the movement of water, sediment and biogeochemical components, such as carbon and microplastic, from the land into the sea. Studying controlling factors such as sea level changes, river flows, tidal flows, waves and density currents will help you better understand the impact of environmental change, climate change, and pollution transport on the health and sustainability of different terrestrial, coastal and marine environments. We place a particular emphasis on developing knowledge and skills, including field, lab and computer-based techniques, of direct relevance to industry, particularly in relation to issues such as future climate change, sea level rise, marine pollution, and exploitation of marine renewable energy.

Situated next to the Menai Strait and Irish Sea, our location provides a rich context to your studies. You will observe the ocean and seabed on our £3.5 million ocean-going research ship, using state-of-the-art technology and sub-sea instruments in its onboard laboratories. Local fieldwork on the coasts and in the estuaries of North Wales will link climate change with coastal erosion, flood risk and water quality.

You will also join field trips to Eryri National Park (also known as Snowdonia) and the UNESCO designated GeoMôn Global Geopark - one of the world’s top 100 geosites. Bangor University is at the forefront of world-leading research in oceanography and geophysics, from climate change and ‘Atlantification’ - the increasing influence of Atlantic water - in the Arctic to the rapidly expanding offshore renewable energy industry. Actively supporting the global push for a net zero carbon future, we are improving understanding of marine renewable energy, climate and sea-level change, and coastal erosion.

With a dedicated School of Ocean Sciences, the University is one of the largest and oldest university centres in Britain for teaching and research in marine sciences, with some of the best specialist facilities and equipment. In this BSc (Hons) Physical Geography and Oceanography degree, you will be taught by staff whose specialisms include marine geology, coastal processes, tidal evolution, polar oceanography, physical oceanography, sedimentology, and climate science. The University is home to the Marine Centre Wales and Environment Centre for Wales, a partnership with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH).

Elsewhere in Bangor, you will find regional offices of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water. Strong links with these employers provide opportunities for work placements and research projects, and some contribute to teaching.