-
Asked by Holly on 22 Sep 2016.
Question: Hello, do you know what GCSEs i would need to take to be a marine biologist?
- Keywords:
-
Evan Keane answered on 22 Sep 2016:
So it’s weird for me to tell UK students to do maths, as in Ireland maths is compulsory all the way to A Level for all students, so I just assumed it was the same everywhere! Maths is very important, for everything.
For marine biology you should certainly do biology. I am not sure if physics, chemistry or both would be a good supplement to that, as I’m not a marine biologist, but maybe there is one amongst the other scientists who can give more advice on that. I suspect chemistry might be more useful than physics for you, in addition to biology (and of course maths!!).
Marine biologist sounds like a cool job 😀
-
Rebecca Dewey answered on 22 Sep 2016:
I would say that you absolutely need maths and biology – perhaps geography would be useful too – otherwise, it is probably more important to do well enough in your GCSEs to go on to do A-levels. Do what you enjoy and what you are good at.
-
Hayley Moulding answered on 22 Sep 2016:
Hey Holly, I always wanted to be a marine biologist when I was younger! I used to write books about dolphins and stick pictures of dolphins and porpoises in it with my friend! Anyway, to be a marine biologist you will definitely need your sciences, maths and english for sure. I don’t think it would make a different if you did Geography or History though, but if you aspired to work in marine biology say abroad and you were good at a language, maybe doing geography and a language? That would be super cool!
-
Ian Hands-Portman answered on 22 Sep 2016:
Whatever you want to do, doing Maths plus the three main sciences is a really good plan at GCSE – it keeps your options open.
-
Katie Mahon answered on 23 Sep 2016:
The best subjects would probably be maths, biology, geography – but keep up the subjects you like & are interested in!
-
Heather Ritchie answered on 14 Jul 2017:
I studied in Scotland so I did Standard Grades which I believe are the equivalent to GCSEs. I would agree with everyone else’s answers that Maths, English and some Science subjects are essential but to give yourself some other subjects that you enjoy too!
Just as a reference I studied English, Maths, French, Biology, Chemistry, History, Modern Studies (Politics) and Art at Standard Grade/GCSE. Then I studied Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry, Drama, Sociology and History at Highers and Maths and Biology at Advanced Higher level (I think A levels are around Higher/Advanced Higher level).
When I applied for my BSc in Marine Biology the requirements at the university I attended were 5 highers at B which had to include English, and two sciences (where Maths is included as a science).
Comments
Heather commented on :
Hi Holly,
I’m a marine biologist but I studied in Scotland so I think our Standard Grades are comparable to your GCSEs. Like the others have said definitely Biology and almost certainly Maths and English too but I think something people often overlook are other subjects that help with interrogating sources such as History.
To give you an idea of what I did for my SG/GSCEs I took: Biology, Chemistry, English, Maths, History, Modern Studies (I think it’s maybe called Politics or something similar in England), French and Art. For my Highers (sort of like A levels) I took: Human Biology, Chemistry, English, Maths and History. Then in my final year I took further highers in Sociology and Drama and Advanced Highers in Biology and Maths.
If you have any particular universities in mind you can always check their prospectus to see what they ask for. Usually it was be a number of As and Bs in English and a minimum of 2 or 3 sciences (where Maths counts as a science).
Hope that helps!
Craig commented on :
Apart from school subjects – you should look into doing your PADI which would give you a competitive advantage and would be really run to do!
Debbie commented on :
Hi Holly, I’m a marine biologist but I’m also a teacher so this question is right up my street! You will need at least double science to do marine biology because you will need to have biology at A level, but as others have said maths and geography are really helpful too.
Tim.M commented on :
I would add in Chemistry A level as well. Very important with the Biology and would keep those options open. Many Biological Sciences courses have a marine component and then you could specialise for your PhD… (we have the National Oceanography Centre here in Southampton too!)