Methodology

The programme is studied full-time over 16-22 months (120 ECTS) and consists mainly of advanced courses (90 ECTS) and of a Master Thesis Project (30 ECTS) with a dissertation.Every student will achieve an individualized particular curriculum, by combination of the different disciplines that can be studied either at each of the three universities: Coastal Management or Advanced Oceanography in Soton, Marine Non-living Resources or Marine Environment in UBx1, and Marine Living Resources or Marine Pollution (Ecosystem Health Assessment included) in UPV/EHU. The research project (pathways: Environment, Living Resources, and Non-living Resources) is undertaken at the Semester 4 and can be entirely or jointly undertaken in Soton, UPV/EHU or UBx1, or in an associated or collaborating research or education institutions, such as AMS, OFG, AZTI, UCAN or IEO. As the student progresses through the programme the modules will become more challenging. Modules and their associated learning outcomes, credit point values, assessment methods, and pre-requisites are described in detail in the Module Description Form and on line (ww.ehu.es/MER). Consistent with our philosophy of learning and teaching, many of the modules reflect the research interests of staff within the Consortium, details of which are also available on the web sites. These research interests are in sympathy with international research priorities so we are able to contribute significantly to high-profile debates.

Assessment

It is expected that all students will progress to the MSc. To progress from Semester 1 (30 ECTS in Soton or UBx1) to Semester 2 (30 ECTS in UPV/EHU) and from Semester 2 to Semester 3 (30 ECTS in Soton or UBx1) the student must achieve a minimum ECTS grade of E (i.e. a pass) in all modules. To progress from Semester 3 to the Dissertation the student must also achieve a minimum ECTS grade of E in all modules. However, research project may be started just after progressing to Semester 3, if so scheduled in the mentor's agreement, since for some research subjects seasonality may be crucial. Nevertheless, this opportunity to start the project earlier does not imply any change in the general requisites: the student must achieve a minimum ECTS grade of E in all modules at Semester 3 to progress to Dissertation.Each of the Institutions will use is own grading system and the results have been translated into the European standard grades proposed by the Bologna Agreement. Examination criteria:- Assessment of knowledge and understanding is undertaken primarily via these summative assessment methods; in addition the student will receive feedback on all formally assessed work.- Assessment of the skills will be achieved through a combination of written examinations, essays, computer and laboratory exercises, oral presentations, fieldwork/boatwork reports, short coursework assignments, poster presentations, and a substantial research project report. The Master Thesis is judged following the procedure of the institution hosting the (supervisor of) the student presenting the thesis. The thesis has to be written up and defended in front of an academic jury nominated by each corresponding UAB at each university, according to its corresponding regulations.