Postgraduate Programs 2025/26
Master of Science Program in Global Marine Resources Management
Award Title

Master of Science in Global Marine Resources Management

(Dual degrees by HKUST and University of Southampton)

Program Short Name

MSc(GMRM)

Mode of Study

Full-time

Normative Program Duration

1 year

Program Fee

Instalment to University of Southampton:
- £9,633 (non‐UK students)
- £3,083 (UK students)

For definition of UK/non-UK students, please refer to: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/fees/status.page

Instalment to HKUST:
HK$110,000

Program Advisor

Academic Directors:

Prof. Stanley LAU, Associate Professor of Ocean Science, School of Science, HKUST

Prof. Andy CUNDY, Professor of Environmental Radioactivity, School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton

The marine environment is the largest ecosystem on our planet. It has been providing essential ecological services to all living things and a large variety of goods to human society. As the resources in the terrestrial environment continue to deplete, marine sources are the future of humanity. A key to sustainable utilization of the marine resources is to train talents with the knowledge and skill sets to understand, integrate and communicate the scientific, technological and socioeconomic issues that are involved in the exploration, management and conservation of marine resources.

 

The School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton (UoS) and the Department of Ocean Science of HKUST jointly offer the Master of Science (MSc) Program in Global Marine Resources Management. The program aims to equip students with the cross-disciplinary knowledge and international experiences that are needed to tackle emerging issues in sustainable utilization of marine resources. The program takes the latest insights from marine research from both the UK and Hong Kong, and puts them into a global context. Courses are taught by world-class faculty from UoS and HKUST with research profiles covering a wide range of topics related to marine resources management, from coastal pollution to deep-sea ecology. Classes are held in Southampton and Hong Kong.

 

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will receive two separate certificates from the two universities for the degree of “Master of Science in Global Marine Resources Management”. Graduates will become alumni of both Universities.

 

On successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Recognize the natural processes that are involved in the formation, functioning and regeneration of biological, chemical and physical compartments of the marine environment;
  2. Identify different biological, chemical, physical or geological components of the marine environment that serve as conventional and emerging resources for the human society;
  3. Analyze the impacts of natural and anthropogenic stressors on the long-term sustainability of marine resources;
  4. Integrate scientific, technological, socioeconomic and political issues that are involved in the exploration, management and conservation of marine resources, and communicate the issues to the public, business sector and policy makers;
  5. Make scientific evidence-based recommendations to the public, business and governmental stakeholders with regard to strategies and practices in sustainable utilization of marine resources; and
  6. Learn, communicate and work effectively as a professional in cross-national environment.
  1. Minimum Credit Requirement

45 Credits (90 ECTS)
 

  1. Credit Transfer

Credits (ECTS) earned at the University of Southampton (UoS) will be transferred to HKUST as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the HKUST degree award. The conversion is 2 ECTS to 1 credit. Credits that are qualified for the UoS degree award are eligible for transfer to HKUST. A maximum of 15 credits (30 ECTS) may be transferred.
 

  1. Fall Term at UoS

15 Credits (=30 ECTS)
 

Students are required to complete five required courses (22.5 ETCS) and one elective course (7.5 ECTS). The passing mark of a course is 50%.
 

Required Courses
 

SOES
SOES 6013
SOES 6014
SOES 6015
SOES 6016

 

Elective Courses
 

Any one of the following (availability of courses may vary each year):
 

SOES 6004
SOES 6007
SOES 6008*
SOES 6025
SOES 6080
* Students who select SOES 6008 Deep Sea Ecology at UoS will not be allowed to select OCES 5403 Deep Sea Resources at HKUST.

 

  1. Spring Term at HKUST

18 credits (=36 ECTS)
 

Students are required to complete four required courses (12 credits), one elective course (3 credits) and one project course (3 credits) with an overall CGA no less than 2.850.
 

Required Courses
 

ENVS 5116
ENVS 5118
OCES 5401
OCES 5402

 

Elective Courses
 

Any one of the following (availability of courses may vary each year):
 

ENVR 5290
ENVS 5119
EVSM 5240
OCES 5403*
* Students who select SOES 6008 Deep Sea Ecology at UoS will not be allowed to select OCES 5403 Deep Sea Resources at HKUST.

 

Project Course
 

OCES 6111

 

Students must identify a supervising faculty and obtain his/her written approval on the project title. Students will conduct research activities with a total of 120 learning hours (literature review and/or lab/field work + self-learning activities). Students are required to submit a research plan at the end of Spring Term.
 

 

  1. Summer Term at HKUST

12 credits (=24 ECTS)
 

OCES 6112
OCES 6113

 

During Summer Term, students will conduct full-time research activities with a total of 480 learning hours (lab/field work + self-learning activities). In OCES 6112, students are required to submit interim reports and present their research progress. In OCES 6113, students are required to submit written reports of their works and present the major findings in a symposium attended by peers and faculty members.
 


Last update: 22 August 2022
 

 

 

To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all of the following requirements. Admission is selective and meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
 

1. General Admission Requirements of the University
  • Applicants seeking admission to a master's degree program should have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution, or an approved equivalent qualification.

2. English Language Admission Requirements

Applicants have to fulfill English Language requirements with one of the following proficiency attainments:

  • TOEFL-iBT: 80 *

  • TOEFL-pBT: 550

  • TOEFL-Revised paper-delivered test: 60 (total scores for Reading, Listening and Writing sections)

  • IELTS (Academic Module): Overall score: 6.5 and All sub-score: 5.5 *

* Refers to scores in one single attempt only. Test at home option is not accepted.


Applicants are not required to present TOEFL or IELTS score if

  • their first language is English, or

  • they obtained the bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an institution where the medium of instruction was English.

3. Program-Specific Admission Requirements
  • A bachelor’s degree relevant to Ocean Science, Marine Science, Life Science, Environmental Science or Earth Science, with at least second class honors or an overall GPA of at least 70% of the maximum.
4. Additional Information

Applicants who received an offer with IELTS (Academic Module) overall score of 7 or above, with sub-scores 6.5 or above in all components (or equivalent TOEFL Test score) are NOT required to attend the Pre-sessional English language course offered by UoS.

 

Applicants who received an offer with IELTS (Academic Module) overall score 6.5 or 7, with sub-scores above 6.0 but lower than 6.5 in all components (or equivalent TOEFL Test score) are required to attend a 6-week Pre-sessional English language course offered by UoS.

 

Applicants who received an offer with IELTS (Academic Module) overall score of 6.5 with sub-scores above 5.5 but lower than 6.0 in all components (or equivalent TOEFL Test score) are required to attend an 11-week Pre-sessional English language course offered by UoS.

 

The tuition fee for the Pre-sessional English language course offered by UoS is subject to annual review and adjustments. For details, please refer to: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/study/pre-sessiona

Apply online before the application deadlines.

 

Application Fee

HK$350

Application Deadlines

For 2025/26 Fall Term Intake(commencing in Sep 2025):

Non-local Applicants*
Full-time: 1 Jun 2025
 

Local Applicants
Full-time: 1 Jun 2025


The program will first commence in UoS. For the details on student visa requirements in the UK, please contact the program office.


Meanwhile, applicants are considered as non-local students in Hong Kong if they hold (i) student visa/ entry permit; or (ii) visa under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG); or (iii) dependent visa/entry permit who were 18 years old or above when they were issued with such visa/ entry permit by the Director of Immigration. For details on student visa/ entry permit requirements, please click here.