We are living in a continually changing environment, with the changes largely caused by human activity and lifestyles. The climate is changing, irreplaceable natural areas are being destroyed, and flora and fauna are being affected. Your studies in environmental and marine biology will provide you with a broad understanding of how ecosystems, populations and species function and how they can adapt to change and can be protected. The subject environmental and marine biology is based on ecology, a discipline that studies the interaction of organisms, populations and species with each other and their environment.  During your studies, you will gain extensive knowledge in ecology and its applications.

The work of a marine biologist involves, for example, seagrass meadows and gulfs, the deep bottom areas of the Baltic Sea, or island vegetation. Benthic fauna, fish and aquatic flora are among the essential organisms. In addition, you will learn about the behaviours of fish and birds as well as evolutionary biology.

The main emphasis of our subject is the biology and environment of the Baltic Sea, specifically structure and function of coastal archipelago areas. Our teaching and research focus on the entire ecosystem encompassing phytoplankton, seagrasses, macroalgae, benthic fauna and fish (communities and behavioural biology) as well as terrestrial plants on islands and seabird ecology.

You may rather freely include courses that interest you – ranging from laboratory and field courses to lectures – in your Environmental and Marine Biology studies in order to find your own study profile and area of specialisation. Field courses and the practical part related to your Master thesis is carried out at our field stations on Åland Island or Korpo. In addition to your major subject, you will select a minor subject within biosciences or natural sciences, for example, Biochemistry, Geography or Geology.

If you want to become biology teacher, you must complete two long minor subjects, namely Pedagogics and another teaching subject. Students majoring in other subjects may include certain courses in Environmental and Marine Biology as a minor subject in their degree, and teacher students can study Biology as their secondary teaching subject.