This programme of study is also offered on a part-time basis. Please consult the Registrar's website for more information pertaining to courses offered by the University.
The dissertation will describe your scholarly research, results and conclusions. The dissertation will generally be laboratory/field-based in nature, although it would be acceptable for the work to be based on literature research, provided that an original contribution is made. The dissertation must be based on work of a sufficiently advanced nature. The work should demonstrate that you are able to set up a research problem, plan experiments and/or observations, present and analyse data and draw logical conclusions from the results obtained. You are required to give a Seminar to which 5 credits are assigned, consisting of a presentation to be given to an audience that will include the Board of Examiners. The presentation shall consist of your appraisal of a subject area related to the dissertation project but which does not directly form part of the dissertation or include a discussion of the results of the dissertation project.
The Research Areas that are currently being offered for potential projects may be accessed here.
You are required to write a dissertation based on research work of an advanced and original nature performed during the Course. The dissertation, to which 85 credits are assigned, will describe this research and present results and conclusions in a scholarly manner.
The dissertation will generally be laboratory/field-based (i.e. experimental/observational) in nature although in specific cases it would be acceptable for the work to be based on literature research, provided that an original contribution is made (e.g. meta-analysis, modelling etc). The dissertation must be based on work of a sufficiently advanced nature, and should produce results that are publishable in the mainstream scientific literature. The work should demonstrate that through the project, you have gained experience in biological research and are able to set up a research problem, plan experiments and/or observations, present and analyse data and draw logical conclusions from the results obtained.
You are also required to give a Seminar to which 5 ECTS credits are assigned. This will consist of a presentation to be given to an audience that will include the Board of Examiners (i.e. the Panel of Supervision in its assessment function). The presentation shall consist of your appraisal of a subject area related to the dissertation project but which does not directly form part of the dissertation or include a discussion of the results of the dissertation project. Students are expected to demonstrate their familiarity with the literature of the subject area chosen for the seminar presentation.
Main areas in which supervision is offered:
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Aquatic Biology and Ecology
- Biotic change in the Mediterranean marine environment
- Ecology of marine alien and other newcomer species
- Ecology of Seagrass and Algal Habitats
- Influence of physical/chemical factors on marine habitats/species
- Marine and Coastal Ecology
- Marine Biodiversity
- Marine non-indigenous species
- Phycology (marine or freshwater)
- Studies on Whales and other cetaceans, sharks, or turtles
- Flora, fauna, and ecology of inland freshwater habitats
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Aquaculture and Fisheries
- Aquaculture
- Aquaculture-environment interactions
- Fish Diseases/Pathology
- Sustainable management of natural resources/fisheries
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Conservation and Restoration
- Anthropogenic impacts on the marine environment
- Conservation Biology
- Conservation genetics and genomics of wild species
- Control of invasive alien species
- Faunistics and Biogeography of the Maltese Islands and the surrounding waters
- Habitat restoration
- Vegetation Ecology
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Environmental Assessment and Management
- Ecological Assessment and Monitoring
- Environmental Management
- Human impact on coastal ecosystems
- Marine Ecotoxicology
- Marine Pollution Studies
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Biotechnology, Genetics, and Microbiology
- Bioremediation
- Biotechnology
- Genetics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms
- Isolation and Bioactivity of Natural Products
- Microbiology
- Biology and diversity of microorganisms
- Utilisation of plant and microbial resources
| Semester 1 | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| BIO5400* | Project and Dissertation in Biology | 85 ECTS | |||||||||
| * Work on the dissertation is expected to start in Semester 1 of academic year 2025/26 (October 2025) and continue up to the end of Summer Semester of academic year 2025/26 (September 2026). | |||||||||||
| Semester 2 | |||||||||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||||||||
| BIO5300 | Seminar in Biology | 5 ECTS | |||||||||
This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of Master of Science - M.Sc. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Science.
