The curriculum for the Master’s Degree in Marine Ecology (MECM) has been amended. This means a new version of the programme curriculum (MEC2) will come into effect from the 2024-25 academic year. In turn, the MECM will begin a discontinuation process in accordance with the information below:

MECM Discontinuation Calendar

• 2024-25: this is the sole discontinuation year for subjects on the MECM meaning they will be taught as per what is set out below
• 2025-26: subjects on the MECM will have been discontinued and, therefore, will no longer be available for enrolment, without prejudice to the limit for subject enrolments set out in the Academic Progress Regulations and in Article 8.2.d of the Academic Regulations.

Student Admission

New students on the Master’s Degree in Marine Ecology in the 2024-25 academic year will be admitted to the new curriculum (MEC2).

Re-enrolment for Continuing Students

MECM students will have one academic year (2024-25) to pass the subject required to be awarded their degree.

In exceptional cases, students who have reached the limit of two enrolments for a subject may request a last enrolment (without taking classes) in the following year. This enrolment must be authorised by the relevant Pro-Vice-Chancellor for teaching, who will make a decision after consulting with the programme coordinator.

The enrolment deadlines for each academic year will be published on the Centre for Postgraduate Studies website.

Teaching

The following subjects from the MECM programme will continue to be offered with teaching, as long as the new MEC2 curriculum includes an equivalent subject, and will be taught in the same semester as the new equivalent subjects (MEC2).

• 11665 - Marine Ecology
• 11666 - Oceanographic Biology
• 11667 - Management of Marine Resources
• 11668 - Experimental Design: Sampling and Data Processing
• 11669 - Integrated Practices
• 11671 - Marine Bioindicators
• 11672 - Ecosystem Dynamics and Exploitable Living Resources
• 11673 - Phytoplankton Ecology
• 11674 - Carbonate Sediments: Metabolism and Evolution of Oceans
• 11676 - Marine Microbiology

The remaining MEC2 subjects will be offered without classes since there is no equivalent subject on the new curriculum. Enrolments without classes will give students the right to attend tutorials with the allocated tutor and be assessed.

The enrolment fee for the subject will be same as the public fee that is published annually, regardless of whether the subject offers classes or not.

Adaptation to the MEC2

Students on the MECM programme who have not passed the requirements to be awarded their degree in the stated timeline, or those who simply wish to so, may request a curriculum adaptation to the MEC2, in accordance with the equivalences below.

Adaptation applications must be submitted to the Centre for Postgraduate Studies within the deadlines published for each academic year.

The fee for the curriculum adaptation process due to discontinuation will be set in accordance with the public fees published every year.

Subject equivalences:

• 11665 Marine Ecology > 11665 Marine Ecology
• 11666 Oceanographic Biology > 11985 Advanced Marine Biology
• 11667 Management of Marine Resources > 11667 Management of Marine Resources
• 11668 Experimental Design: Sampling and Data Processing > 11987 Experimental Design + 11995 Data Analysis with R
• 11669 Integrated Practices > 11988 General Techniques in Marine Ecology
• 11671 Marine Bioindicators > 11671 Marine Bioindicators
• 11672 Ecosystem Dynamics and Exploitable Living Resources > 11672 Ecosystem Dynamics and Exploitable Living Resources
• 11673 Phytoplankton Ecology > 11673 Phytoplankton Ecology
• 11674 Carbonate Sediments: Metabolism and Evolution of Oceans > 11989 Marine Palaeoecology
• 11676 Marine Microbiology > 11990 Marine Microbial Ecology
• 11677 Practical Placements > 11996 External Academic Placements
• Subjects that cannot be adapted: 11670 Coastal Ecology. Coastal Systems, 11675 Marine Organisms of Health Significance, 11678 Master's Thesis
• MEC2 compulsory subject that must be passed: 11986 Physical Processes in the Marine Environment

Adaptation Effects

All subjects in the MECM record will be adapted to the new MEC2 curriculum, regardless of whether they have been passed, recognised or failed. The cumulative number of exam sessions will carry over from the old curriculum to the new one, regardless of whether students have failed or were absent from any.

After the adaptation process is complete, the record for the former curriculum (MECM) will be closed and students will continue the programme with the new curriculum to be awarded their degree.