Oceanography study line

Please note that from 1 September 2023 the study line Oceanography will no longer be part of this programme but offered as a new study programme named Ocean Engineering from Lyngby Campus.

The oceanography study line is an interdisciplinary study which combines chemical, physical and biological oceanography with mathematics.

The students are provided with a solid understanding of how organisms are influenced by ocean physics and chemistry, and how individual interactions shape the population and ecosystem level processes.

In the oceanography specialization we aim at giving you both the skills to plan and perform experimental and field observations, and to combine them with different modelling approaches; thus linking observations with predictions.

The topics covered in the oceanography specialization not only provide fundamental knowledge required for research but also address marine management questions related to, for instance, coastal eutrophication, environmental impacts of off-shore industry or construction of artificial reefs.

Mandatory courses

A variety of courses allows you to put together a curriculum to suit your particular needs, but should include:

• 25310 Biological Oceanography
• 25302 Physical Oceanography
• 25327 Chemical Oceanography
• 25333 Aquatic Systems Engineering

In addition, the students must choose at least 10 ECTS from the following:

• 25314 Computational Marine Ecological Modelling
• 25311 Fisheries Oceanography
• 25325 Aquatic Ecosystems and Climate Change
• 25324 Aquatic Field Work
• 25323 Topics in Aquatic Science and Technology and special courses that relate to topics of oceanography can, after approval from the Head of Studies at DTU Aqua, also be included in the 10 ECTS.

Elective courses that can in addition be relevant for oceanography specialization include: 02409, 02411, 02424, 12237, 12138, 30530, 31200, 41312 and 42262 (not an exclusive list).

Obtained competences

The MSc graduate with a focus on Oceanography

• knows how organisms are affected by the physical and chemical properties of the sea, and how individual interactions shape population and ecosystem level processes
• can interpret measurements and model results of oceanographic quantities related to physics and biogeochemistry
• can describe how climate change and other anthropogenic disturbances influence the pelagic food webs, ocean productivity and biogeochemical cycles 
• can apply skills and knowledge about the physics and biological production of the sea to address issues in the field of marine management—for example, in connection with coastal eutrophication, environmental impact from the offshore industry, or the construction of artificial reefs.

Recommended courses at the oceanography study line

The following examples apply for a study start in September. 

See more course possiblities in the curriculum.