MSc in Aquaculture: Sustainable Aquaculture (Named Degree Outcomes)

Introduction

As part of the highly flexible method of learning, the following degree outcomes are offered, all of which offer a route to an MSc, Postgraduate Diploma, and Postgraduate Certificate qualification. All students will register for the degree in Sustainable Aquaculture in the first instance and be given the opportunity to change degree outcome at the end of the Foundation modules. All avenues to achieving your qualification are possible on a full-time or discontinuous basis to fit your individual needs.

• Aquaculture Business Management
• Aquaculture and Development
• Aquaculture and the Environment

Aquaculture Business Management

Aquaculture Business Management provides appropriate and flexible learning opportunities to allow students to understand the economics of aquaculture and set up business plans necessary to establish and consolidate new and existing aquaculture enterprises. The course places an emphasis on investment, financial management and marketing considerations, fundamental to the success of commercial aquaculture operations in any operating context.

The course is modularised, so SCQF credits can be accumulated (at the end of each assessed module) towards a postgraduate qualification. As a student of Aquaculture Business Management, there are two compulsory advanced topics of study: Business and Financial Management, and Policy, Planning, and Management. The student must also complete a research project in a field relevant to the degree outcome.

Aquaculture and Development

The Aquaculture and Development course offers students the opportunity to hone skills necessary to plan, manage and evaluate aquaculture development projects. This course places an emphasis on ensuring the sustainability of aquaculture development initiatives in environmental, social and economic terms.

The course is modularised, so SCQF credits can be accumulated (at the end of each assessed module) towards a postgraduate qualification. As a student of Aquaculture and Development, there are three compulsory advanced topics of study: Environmental Management; Livelihoods and Aquatic Resource Management and Policy; and Planning and Management. The student must also complete a research project in a field relevant to the degree outcome.

Aquaculture and the Environment

Environmental management of aquaculture to enhance sustainability is becoming ever more important. The MSc course in Aquaculture and the Environment provides flexible learning opportunities to acquire and extend the knowledge and expertise to develop environmental assessment strategies, management systems and regulatory frameworks for the aquaculture industry or development projects throughout the world.

The course is modularised, so SCQF credits can be accumulated (at the end of each assessed module) towards a postgraduate qualification. As a student of Aquaculture and the Environment, there are two compulsory advanced topics of study: Environmental Management and Environmental systems modelling. The student must also complete a research project in a field relevant to the degree outcome.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A minimum of a second-class Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS: 6.0 with 5.5 minimum in each skill
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): Grade C
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): Grade C
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): 54 with 51 in each component
• IBT TOEFL: 80 with no subtest less than 17

If you don’t meet the required score you may be able to register for one of our pre-sessional English courses. To register you must hold a conditional offer for your course and have an IELTS score 0.5 or 1.0 below the required standard. View our range of pre-sessional courses.

Scholarships & funding

SAAS Postgraduate Loans

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) is now offering a generous loan scheme to assist eligible Scottish and EU-domiciled students pursuing a Masters at the University of Stirling during 2018/19. Find out more about SAAS Postgraduate Loans

Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan

This course is currently approved for PTFL (Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan) funding from SAAS.

Delivery and assessment

In addition to lectures, tutorials, and seminars, a number of assignments must be completed. Laboratory-based practical sessions and fieldwork are also important elements of the course. Taught module assessment is continuous, involving short tests, seminars, essays, practical reports, critical and computational analysis, field assignments and set project reports. The research project module is examined through written dissertation and seminar presentations by both examiners and the external examiner.

Strengths

The Institute has been closely associated with the global expansion of aquaculture initially through developing and improving the existing production systems and the development of new farmed species.

In recent years our research has focused on increasing the sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of these activities.

This gives out students the unique opportunity to be associated with these activities and obtain an insight into all aspects of aquacultural sciences and development worldwide.

Career opportunities

90.5% of Stirling graduates are in employment or further study six months after graduation.

The Aquaculture and the Environment degree outcome is particularly suitable for students who wish to pursue a career with environmental regulatory agencies, environmental consultancy and services, or as environmental managers in aquaculture production companies, as well as in environmental research.

The Aquaculture Business Management degree outcome could lead to management roles within aquaculture enterprises, aquaculture consultancy, aquaculture finance and insurance, or business-related research.

The Aquaculture and Development outcome is particularly suited to future careers with government agencies, non-government organisations and consultancy companies engaged in supporting aquaculture sector development and management.

Cost & Fees

2018/2019

• Overseas £18.970
• Home/EU £6,300