Introduction of the Marine Science Program

Against the background of the national strategies to build a “Maritime Power” and the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”，as well as local development needs, the undergraduate program in Marine Science was established at School of Marine Sciences of Guangxi University in October 2015 and started students enrollment in September 2016. In July 2016, the program was approved as a secondary discipline Ph.D. program in Marine Biological Resources and Environmental Protection, and in 2017, it was approved as a primary discipline master’s program in Marine Science. In September of the same year, "Marine Science" was selected as a core discipline of Guangxi University’s Civil Engineering and Advanced Materials discipline group, earning recognition as a "World-class Discipline."

Since then, the school of Marine Sciences at Guangxi University has become the only integrated base for cultivating talents in marine science across bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels in Guangxi. As of 2024, the school has enrolled nine cohorts of undergraduate students in the Marine Science program, totaling 595 students, six cohorts of master’s students in Marine Science, and eight cohorts of doctoral students in Biology, with a combined total of 313 graduate students (271 master’s and 42 doctoral). The school maintains an annual enrollment scale of 80 undergraduate students and 75 graduate students (including master’s students in Environmental Engineering).

In 2021, the Marine Science program was recognized as a Guangxi Higher Education Featured Specialty Program and a Provincial-level First-class Undergraduate Program. In 2024, the “Marine Science Elite Class” was selected as a Provincial-level Base for Top-notch Student Training in Basic Discipline. In the same year, the “Department of Marine Science” was recognized as a Provincial-level Basic Teaching Organization for regular undergraduate institutions.

The primary discipline master’s program in Marine Science and secondary discipline Ph.D. program in Marine Biological Resources and Environmental Protection

The Marine Science program offers four specializations: Marine Biology and Ecology, Marine Environment and Chemistry, Marine Geology and Environment, and Physical Oceanography and Remote Sensing. Core courses include: Introduction to Marine Science, Physical Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Fundamentals of Marine Biology, Marine Ecology, Marine Geology, Marine Remote Sensing (bilingual), Marine Surveying and Observation Technology, Marine Microbiology, Introduction to Coral Reef Science, Introduction to Reef Engineering, and Marine Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.

The Marine Science program focuses on cultivating research-oriented, high-level interdisciplinary talents in marine science. It has established a new model of talent development characterized by coral reef system science. This model balances the foundational and comprehensive nature of marine science while leveraging the unique features of coral reef ecosystems to enhance personalized talent development.

Degree Awarding and Employment Status

In 2020, the first 45 undergraduate students from the Marine Science program graduated successfully, with an employment rate of 94.23%, among which 38.50% students continued to graduate studies. Among the 12 master’s graduates in 2020, 11 secured employment, resulting in an employment rate of 91.67%, with a rate of 12.50% pursuing doctoral studies. Overall, the employment rate for the 2020 graduating class of the entire school was 90.7%, ranking fourth in the university.

The rate of Marine Science undergraduates pursuing further studies has been increasing annually. The rate for the first graduating cohort in 2020 was 38.50%, while the latest cohort in 2024 has reached 50.7%. Most undergraduate graduates continue their studies both domestically and internationally, including in Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong.

As of June 2024, the School of Marine Sciences has 235 undergraduate students, 84 master’s students, and 10 doctoral students enrolled. Five cohorts of Marine Science undergraduates, three cohorts of Marine Science master’s students, and four cohorts of doctoral students in Marine Biological Resources and Environmental Protection have successfully completed their studies and received their degrees respectively. In 2024, the quality of training for Marine Science master’s students was ranked first in the university.

The 2024 Graduation Ceremony of School of Marine Science, Guangxi University

Awarding of Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degrees in School of Marine Science in 2024

The Number of Graduates and Graduates Working in the Marine Field in the Past 5 Years