Courses and programmes
Stockholm University offers courses in several marine sciences. Are you interested in what lives in the sea, how currents affect the transport of substances or how we can find historical information about climate change in our seabeds? Here are both courses and full programmes for those who want to know more.
Opportunities in all oceans
The Baltic Sea Centre does not run its own training courses, but our researchers often teach at university marine courses. Here we bring together everything you need to know about opportunities to study the sea, from the deepest seabed all the way up to the atmosphere (which both influences and is influenced by our oceans).
Stockholm University conducts research and education on our Swedish waters but also on tropical seas and polar zones. The University also offers historical, ethnological and archaeological courses on the sea within the subject of maritime studies.
There are several levels of education and you can study anything from a stand-alone course to undergraduate, postgraduate or doctoral programmes.
More about Sweden’s higher education system and the different course levels
Marine biology
The marine biology courses give you knowledge of the marine ecosystems along the entire coast of Sweden, from the brackish water environments of the Baltic Sea to our most marine environments on the west coast. You will also get a good overview of the environmental problems we face in Sweden and globally, and how they are being addressed. Field courses at the Askö Laboratory and the Tjärnö Marine Biology Laboratory are included in the courses.
In the course "Baltic Sea Ecosystem", which is given at advanced level, you will meet several of the Baltic Sea Centre's researchers and Baltic Sea Fellows. Teaching takes place both at the Baltic Sea Centre's premises and at the Askö Laboratory. The Baltic Sea Ecosystem course is offered every spring semester.
The Department of Biological Education - BIG administers marine biology courses, including the programmes and courses offered by the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences - DEEP.
As a marine biologist, you can work for municipalities, county councils, government agencies or consultancies, or as an environmental information officer, science journalist or teacher. You can also pursue research, nationally or internationally.
Read more about the courses and programmes
The course "Baltic Sea Ecosystem: Applications, Modeling and Management"
The Department of Biological Education - BIG
The Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences - DEEP
Oceanography
Oceanography describes the state of the ocean and analyses its dynamics. Oceanography courses are taught at the Department of Meteorology - MISU and focus primarily on ocean physics, but also include elements of meteorology and biogeochemistry. You will gain the skills to analyse oceanographic wave phenomena and explain the large-scale ocean circulation and its interaction with atmospheric processes, which is of great importance in the study of global climate.
Oceanographers work in environmental management, environmental monitoring, dispersion problems and marine forecasting of ice, water levels and waves. Work may also include satellite-based marine remote sensing and finding out how oceanic processes affect marine ecosystems. You can work in municipalities, county councils, government agencies or consultancies. You can also go on to do research, both nationally and internationally.
Marine geology and geography
Geography combines knowledge from both the natural and social sciences. It provides a holistic perspective on how and why our world is changing.
Many geologists and geoscientists work in nature management, environmental monitoring, and natural resource and community planning in municipalities, county administrative boards or government agencies. You can also work on global environmental issues such as climate change, water supply and natural disasters. Geographers have a natural labour market all over the world with issues related to community planning and resource management.
The Department of Physical Geography offers courses in geoscience, biogeoscience, geography and environmental management.
Marine geosciences
Geological science is the science of the planet Earth. It studies the formation and composition and the processes that have shaped the Earth, our climate and the hydrological cycle. Human impact on our environment is studied from both a global and local perspective. Several field courses are included in the programmes.
The marine sector has expanded enormously both in Sweden and internationally. Behind this expansion are activities based on the sea as a resource, often described as the "blue economy". Knowledge of the oceans and seabeds is necessary to sustainably utilise the oceans. This implies an increased demand for knowledge about global-regional-local issues related to marine environments. In particular, companies in the marine sector as well as authorities require expertise for seabed mapping, assessments of conditions for underwater installations as well as assessments of the environmental impact of marine installations and other activities in our oceans and along our coasts.
Courses and programmes in the geosciences are offered by the Department of Geological Sciences.
Bachelor's Programme in Marine Geoscience
In this bachelor's programme you will study the oceans and seabeds, their components and structure, the processes that contributed to their formation and how they have evolved over time. The programme is designed to meet the demand for knowledge and the growing labour market in the marine sector.
The programme includes field studies at the Askö Laboratory and R/V Electra.
Read more about the Bachelor's Programme in Marine Geoscience
Environmental Science
Environmental Science is multidisciplinary, rooted in natural sciences, but also encompasses the social sciences, law, medicine, and the humanities. It studies environmental problems such as global warming, water and air pollution, ocean acidification, and loss of biodiversity.
At the master’s level, Environmental Science is focused on the Earth’s natural systems and how they are disturbed. You will become familiar with challenges such as air and water pollution and climate change. Environmental Science will provide you the tools to contribute to potential solutions of the Earth’s Environmental problems.
Read more about Environmental Science at Stockholm University
Environmental Field Studies
Within Environmental Science, you can take the course Environmental Field Studies at the Master's level. In this course you will combine hands-on experience with advanced techniques. The course prepares you to design, plan and execute your own field investigations and draw nuanced interpretations and conclusions from the data. The course can for instance take you to the Stockholm archipelago with the research vessel Electra and the Askö laboratory.