MARiS convenes a coursework (full-time) Master in Applied Ocean Sciences (AOS), which is joint between the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Oceanography at the University of Cape Town. This course provides interdisciplinary training in applied aspects of oceanography and marine biology, with the aim of training future ocean professionals. It is designed for both recent graduates as well as those with some years’ experience and who wish to gain skills to operate in the ocean services sector, with a focus on operational and conservational activities, food, water quality and recreation, preservation and other aspects of the Blue Economy.
We are excited to announce that from 2026, the AOS program will serve as the pilot course for the South African Master in Ocean Sciences (SAMOS), a project funded by the EU ERASMUS+ Capacity Building in Higher Education programme. The coursework structure will expand on the established AOS course, with the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of the universities and experts, drawn from across the South African marine landscape who are participating in SAMOS.
The South African Master in Ocean Sciences (SAMOS) programme equips postgraduate students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to contribute meaningfully to research and practice across the diverse fields of Ocean Sciences. It offers a single, collaborative programme that draws together nine universities and national research institutes, along with associated infrastructure and international partners, to deliver a modern, high-quality degree.
Through an intentionally interdisciplinary and Afro-centric curriculum, the programme integrates physical and chemical oceanography, marine biology, marine social sciences, law and humanities, with strong quantitative, digital and professional skills. Within this framework, qualifying students will be able to apply current knowledge of Ocean Sciences to design, conduct and communicate scholarly research projects, building the disciplinary grounding and methodological capability needed to engage with the field at a postgraduate level.
This capacity is critically needed in South Africa, where ocean and coastal systems are changing rapidly under climate change, biodiversity loss and sustained human pressures such as urbanization, over-exploitation of resources and weak environmental governance. The new knowledge, insights, and technologies generated through interdisciplinary research – and the people equipped to produce and apply them – are essential to addressing these challenges and supporting a sustainable and just blue economy.
Applications for the 2027 cohort are managed through a single-entry point at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Applicants will then register at the University of Cape Town or Nelson Mandela University*. The coursework takes place at the Nelson Mandela University Ocean Sciences Campus in Gqeberha, which offers modern teaching and research facilities. Students then complete their minor dissertation at one of the SAMOS South African partner universities.
*Nelson Mandela University is currently awaiting its final accreditation from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for the South African Master in Ocean Sciences. SAMOS-NRF funded students will be required to transfer and register at Nelson Mandela University once the required accreditations are received.
More information on the coursework structure and logistics (including accommodation and travel fees) is available on the SAMOS Project website or you can watch the recorded information webinar explaining the AOS-SAMOS programme and how to apply.
