Master of Science in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management (Oceans and Lakes)
Ixelles, Belgium
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 5,720 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for EEA nationals | non EEA nationals : 31 March 2026
** for non EEA nationals| EEA nationals: EUR 1182 per year
Key Summary
About: The Master of Science in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management trains science-background students in multidisciplinary study of oceans, seas, lakes and estuaries. It covers physical, chemical, geological, ecological and societal aspects, emphasizing biodiversity, conservation, environmental impact and sustainable development. The programme is 2-year and prepares students for research and ecosystem management roles.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter research, policy and management on marine and lacustrine systems. Roles include research scientist, environmental consultant, conservation manager, policy advisor, coastal manager, aquaculture specialist. Employers include universities, government agencies, NGOs, consultancies and international organizations. Skills include monitoring, data analysis, impact assessment, stakeholder engagement.
The program provides insight into the diversity and complexity of the life and processes in the oceans, seas, lakes, and estuaries and skills to study and manage them. In many cases, this diversity is endangered because the aquatic environment is increasingly coming under pressure—climate change, biodiversity erosion, increasing fishery requirements and overfishing, pollution, developments in aquaculture, coastal reclamation, etc.
This 2-year master's program addresses students with a background in Sciences. It provides you with strong fundamental and applied knowledge and prepares you for an active role in the scientific research and management of marine ecosystems. The program adopts a multidisciplinary approach integrating physical, chemical geological, ecological, and societal aspects and including nature conservation and sustainable development.
This program trains students in playing a key role in high-quality scientific marine research providing advice in marine management based on sound scientific knowledge becoming critically minded, problem-solving, and communicative scientists
You can major in one of four specializations:
Biodiversity and Ecology Conservation Biology and Ecosystem Management Environmental Impact and Remediation Earth System SciencesDutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO)
Accredited
The program puts a strong emphasis on acquiring skills, both in marine and lacustrine research and management. It requires full-time attendance and active participation in lectures and practical exercises, visits to marine research centers, field trips, and excursions.
The course program consists of:
- Core courses (45 ECTS credits)
- Broadening courses (12 ECTS credits)
- Supporting courses (9 ECTS credits)
- One major (24 ECTS credits) to choose from out of 4 specializations:
- Global Change Impacts on Ecology and Biodiversity
- Conservation Biology and Ecosystem Management
- Environmental Impact and Remediation
- Marine and Lacustrine Geosciences
- The master thesis (30 ECTS credits)
- Knowledge in the field of marine and lacustrine studies, advanced knowledge in one of the subdisciplines, and in the interaction of the various subdisciplines within the broader field of application.
- The ability to delineate, recognize and situate biological or geological elements in the context of the scientific domain, in particular in relation to aquatic ecosystems.
- The ability to formulate a relevant research question concerning a complex problem in the field of marine and lacustrine studies, to develop a scientific research approach in conformity to accepted scientific methods, and to bring this approach into practice.
- The ability to formulate hypotheses concerning complex problems in the scientific domain and to evaluate them after a thorough literature study and data collection, to apply advanced knowledge of concepts, models, theories in order to solve concrete problems.
- The ability to assume a responsible role in a multidisciplinary team and, with overarching knowledge and insight, to develop collaboration with various sectors of society including the corporate sector (e.g. the harbor industry, tourism, fisheries, aquaculture).
- Advanced and thorough practical skills in field research, experimental research, research in a laboratory context, and in processing data, in order to solve scientific questions.
- Advanced organizational skills in relation to research (teamwork, task division, development, and logistics of a research approach).
- Communicative skills regarding (personal) research results to specialists as well as non-specialists, using various adapted media and formats.
- A critical attitude with respect to the value, reliability, and usefulness of non-self-generated data, with advanced skills in data-mining, analysis of data files, analysis of sources, and literature study.
- The ability to situate scientific problems, results of scientific research, and technical views from an ethical and social perspective.
- The ability to translate scientific views and results into a feasible and realistic management plan or to give an expertise-based contribution to a governance plan in (inter)national perspective.
- The ability to formulate a proposal for a scientific project and to search for the necessary financial resources.
- The ability to function within an international professional environment keeping in mind the values of a multicultural society.
- The ability to situate scientific insight, results of scientific research, and technical achievements in a social perspective, against a political-historical (especially for the development-oriented finality), economical and governance-related background.
After graduation students can continue their academic careers as PhD researchers.
We are a public university and thus subsidized by the government. This results in relatively low tuition fees for the bachelor’s, master's, and PhD programs. We have some scholarships available for our master’s programs.
The program aims to provide you with strong fundamental and applied knowledge for scientific research and management of marine and lacustrine systems. It prepares you to play an active role in research, policy, and management. This multidisciplinary Master’s diploma is your ticket to a fascinating professional world and can be the start of an international career. The integration of knowledge from across various disciplines is valuable, and you can contribute significantly to various jobs that are concerned with marine and lacustrine domains anywhere in the world.
Due to the increasing pressure on the natural marine and lacustrine ecosystems, there is an ever-increasing need for highly educated and trained people to collaborate, from their multidisciplinary expertise, on the sustainable utilization and management of these ecosystems. This offers many challenging prospects for the future.
As a Master with expertise and experience in marine and lacustrine science and management, you are a scientist who has the underlying foundation and the necessary capacities to contribute to the most up-to-date forms of education, pure and applied research, and policy-supporting assignments.
Are you interested in one of our English-taught programmes and want to know more about studying in Brussels at VUB? VUB organises general and programme specific online info sessions. Book your timeslot today!