Program Overview
The Master of Science in Sustainable Aquaculture at University of Stirling is a rigorous postgraduate programme delivered on-campus at University of Stirling. Designed for graduates and professionals seeking advanced expertise in agriculture & environment, the programme develops both theoretical foundations and applied skills essential for today's competitive environment.
Spanning 12 months, students engage with cutting-edge research, industry-relevant case studies, and practical projects. Instruction is delivered in English by research-active faculty with professional expertise.
The programme culminates in a dissertation or capstone project. Graduates are well-prepared for leadership roles, research careers, and doctoral study in agriculture & environment.
Key Program Features
- Immersive On-Campus Experience: In-person seminars, laboratory sessions, and professional networking at University of Stirling.
- Expert Faculty: Taught by research-active academics and practitioners with deep expertise in Agriculture & Environment.
- Diverse International Cohort: Study alongside students from around the world, broadening your global professional network.
- Research-Informed Curriculum: Content grounded in the latest academic research and real-world industry practice.
- Dissertation / Capstone Project: Culminating independent project applying your expertise to an original research question or industry challenge.
- Dedicated Career Support: Access to career coaching, employer networking events, and job placement assistance.
- 12 months Duration: Part-time and accelerated options may be available — enquire with the admissions office.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Sustainable Aquaculture programme at University of Stirling develop the advanced knowledge, analytical skills, and professional networks that leading employers in agriculture & environment value. Common career destinations include:
- Environmental Consultant: Assess environmental impact and guide sustainable practices.
- Agricultural Scientist: Research crop improvement, soil health, and food systems.
- Sustainability Manager: Lead corporate sustainability and ESG reporting initiatives.
- Conservation Officer: Protect biodiversity and manage natural ecosystems.
Graduates have secured roles at multinational corporations, government agencies, research institutions, NGOs, and high-growth startups. Many also progress to doctoral (PhD) programmes.
Program Curriculum
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree. Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses .
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
Academic requirements A minimum of a second class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply. Other routes of entry If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore University of Stirling International Study Centre to see the routes available. International entry requirements View the entry requirements for your country. English language requirements If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills: IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill. Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill. TOEFL exams taken before 21 January 2026: 80 overall with 18 in reading, 17 in writing, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking. TOEFL exams taken from 21 January 2026: 4 overall with no less than 4 in any band. See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements. Pre-sessional English language courses If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree. Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses .
Course details
The full Masters course for each degree outcome is divided into six taught modules, and a single research project module. The overall course is divided into three parts. Foundation modules (September to November) There are two compulsory modules taken consecutively, which give a broad introduction to aquaculture science and practice. The first focuses on aquaculture species, systems and environments and their interaction whilst the second considers aquaculture as a commercial activity, its governance and insights into aquaculture in practice. Successful completion of the foundation modules plus one advanced module will qualify you for a Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Aquaculture. Advanced modules (November to April) You must choose four advanced modules from the five offered. The advanced modules are sequential and there is a choice of two modules for the last of the four timetable blocks. Successful completion of the two foundation modules plus four advanced modules will qualify you for a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture. Research Project module (May to September) The Research Project module is completed in a subject area which complements the chosen course of advanced study or your named degree outcome. These projects can be lab based, field based, or involve a desk study analysis/report. Successful completion of the module, subsequent to foundation and advanced modules, will qualify you for an MSc in a selected degree outcome. Modules Teaching A variety of teaching approaches is used in the course. Our teaching makes use of both our campus-based teaching facilities and online learning environment. In addition to lectures, online materials, workshops, seminars, case studies, field and laboratory exercises, and a number of minor projects are assigned throughout the course. These are an integral part of the teaching and will involve the students working alone or in groups. These projects may require a written outcome or a presentation to peers and other staff and students. Fieldwork There will be a number of field exercises throughout the course. Some trips may involve several nights away from Stirling. Assessment Taught module assessment is continuous, involving short tests, seminars, essays, practical reports, critical and computational analysis, field assignments and set project reports. The Research Project module is examined through a written dissertation, a press release and seminar presentation which is delivered to peers, supervisors and the external examiner. Classroom hours The course involves intensive teaching and study. A standard day involves lectures, practicals, tutorials or group work between 09:00 and 18:00, with assignments taking additional time in the evenings or weekends. There are sometimes field trips which may start earlier or return later or involve several nights away from Stirling. Course director Dr Matthew Sprague Key staff Teaching on the Sustainable Aquaculture postgraduate course draws on the wide range of expertise available within the Institute of Aquaculture. Module and topic leaders include: Dr Armin Sturm (Foundations of Aquatic Production) Dr Amaya Albalat (Aquaculture in Practice) Professor Trevor Telfer (Environmental Systems) Dr Monica Betancor (Aquaculture Nutrition) Dr Almas Gheyas (Genetics and Reproduction) Dr Richard Newton (Aquaculture and Society)
Fees and funding
Fees and costs University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship . Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship . If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students. If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Postgraduate tuition fee loans The full-time option for this course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details. Additional costs There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees . Scholarships and funding Funding If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances. Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships. Postgraduate tuition fee loans Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £13,900 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs. English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,858 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme . Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £19,255 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales . Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI . International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships These scholarships are for candidates from developing Commonwealth countries, looking to study selected postgraduate Masters courses. Find out if you could be eligible for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship . Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) MSc Scholarships The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre scholarships are available to financially assist UK and overseas students. The award offers a full fee waiver to a strong candidate who demonstrates their aims and ambitions within the field of Aquaculture, making a case why they want to study at the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling. Other scholarships Scholarship awards are available from the Ronald Miller Scholarship and the Mister Gees Foundation Scholarship . Cost of living If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income. International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support. Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling Payment options We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Graduates of the MSc Sustainable Aquaculture can follow a direct route into industry such as: production, the supply sector (feed, health, equipment), post-harvest (processing and marketing). Roles within these areas of industry include: Scientist e.g. analytical researcher in research and development projects Fisheries technician e.g. in hatcheries Nutrition analysts e.g. in fish feed companies Fish farm manager Commercial fish farm operator Fish pathologist Fish vet Aquaculture specialists can earn a base salary up to £43,000 annually. The average salary is £30,750 (source: Glassdoor 2025). Stirling graduates of the Sustainable Aquaculture Masters have gone onto roles including: Molecular Biology Technical Specialist Manager Organisations our graduates work for include: AquaGen University of Stirling
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 18,970/year (international)
Fees and funding
Fees and costs University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship . Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship . If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students. If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Postgraduate tuition fee loans The full-time option for this course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details. Additional costs There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees . Scholarships and funding Funding If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances. Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships. Postgraduate tuition fee loans Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £13,900 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs. English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,858 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme . Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £19,255 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales . Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI . International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships These scholarships are for candidates from developing Commonwealth countries, looking to study selected postgraduate Masters courses. Find out if you could be eligible for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship . Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) MSc Scholarships The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre scholarships are available to financially assist UK and overseas students. The award offers a full fee waiver to a strong candidate who demonstrates their aims and ambitions within the field of Aquaculture, making a case why they want to study at the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling. Other scholarships Scholarship awards are available from the Ronald Miller Scholarship and the Mister Gees Foundation Scholarship . Cost of living If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income. International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support. Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling Payment options We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Graduates of the MSc Sustainable Aquaculture can follow a direct route into industry such as: production, the supply sector (feed, health, equipment), post-harvest (processing and marketing). Roles within these areas of industry include: Scientist e.g. analytical researcher in research and development projects Fisheries technician e.g. in hatcheries Nutrition analysts e.g. in fish feed companies Fish farm manager Commercial fish farm operator Fish pathologist Fish vet Aquaculture specialists can earn a base salary up to £43,000 annually. The average salary is £30,750 (source: Glassdoor 2025). Stirling graduates of the Sustainable Aquaculture Masters have gone onto roles including: Molecular Biology Technical Specialist Manager Organisations our graduates work for include: AquaGen University of Stirling
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Fees and funding
Fees and costs University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship . Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship . If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students. If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Postgraduate tuition fee loans The full-time option for this course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details. Additional costs There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees . Scholarships and funding Funding If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances. Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships. Postgraduate tuition fee loans Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £13,900 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs. English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,858 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme . Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £19,255 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales . Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI . International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships These scholarships are for candidates from developing Commonwealth countries, looking to study selected postgraduate Masters courses. Find out if you could be eligible for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship . Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) MSc Scholarships The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre scholarships are available to financially assist UK and overseas students. The award offers a full fee waiver to a strong candidate who demonstrates their aims and ambitions within the field of Aquaculture, making a case why they want to study at the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling. Other scholarships Scholarship awards are available from the Ronald Miller Scholarship and the Mister Gees Foundation Scholarship . Cost of living If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income. International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support. Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling Payment options We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Graduates of the MSc Sustainable Aquaculture can follow a direct route into industry such as: production, the supply sector (feed, health, equipment), post-harvest (processing and marketing). Roles within these areas of industry include: Scientist e.g. analytical researcher in research and development projects Fisheries technician e.g. in hatcheries Nutrition analysts e.g. in fish feed companies Fish farm manager Commercial fish farm operator Fish pathologist Fish vet Aquaculture specialists can earn a base salary up to £43,000 annually. The average salary is £30,750 (source: Glassdoor 2025). Stirling graduates of the Sustainable Aquaculture Masters have gone onto roles including: Molecular Biology Technical Specialist Manager Organisations our graduates work for include: AquaGen University of Stirling
About University of Stirling
University of Stirling
Stirling, United Kingdom
University of Stirling is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen fields. The...
University Profile- Application Deadline 2018-09-11
- Start Date 2017-09-11
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)