Study Oceanography Abroad

More than two thirds of the earth’s surface is covered with water. The oceans and their tributaries represent an immensely important habitat for countless animals and plants. They also play a decisive role in the entire climate structure of the earth. Due to their ability to store both heat and substances such as carbon dioxide and to transport them over long distances, the oceans have a major influence on the Earth’s climate development .

The oceans themselves and life in them is influenced by climate change. One can speak of a close interrelationship. With regard to energy supply issues, the oceans are also of great importance, as a large part of the remaining oil and gas reserves are located below the sea surface.

Course content

According to ehuzhou.net, the science of exploring the oceans is usually referred to as oceanography, but there is no subject in Germany with this name. Oceanography is an umbrella term for several natural and geoscientific disciplines that view the sea from different perspectives. If you want to study marine science in Germany, you have to choose one or more of these sub-disciplines .

Sub-disciplines of oceanography

One of the best-known sub-disciplines is physical oceanography , commonly known as oceanography . Oceanography deals with the complex movement processes within the seas such as currents, tides and waves. She also deals with their effects on the interrelationship between the oceans and the earth’s atmosphere. The study of oceanography includes many courses in the fields of physics , mathematics and statistics , especially in the first semesters . A high level of interest in these subjects is therefore an important prerequisite for academic success.

Another important sub-area is marine biology . Due to its focus and methodology, however, it can be assigned less to the geosciences than to the life sciences . More information on studying marine biology abroad can therefore be found there.

Other relevant sub-areas of oceanography include marine geology , chemical oceanography and marine technology .

Study oceanography globally

The framework of studying abroad practically on the side, acquired English skills, are of great importance for aspiring oceanographers, since the current research literature in the field of oceanography is predominantly in English .

What are the differences when studying oceanography abroad?

Compared to the degree programs in Germany, which tend to specialize in individual sub-areas of marine studies, there are a striking number of study programs abroad that cover almost the entire spectrum of marine studies . These courses, which are often called Marine Science , include topics and questions from a wide variety of sub-areas of marine science.

Also, courses with the name Oceanography are usually less focused on the physical aspect of oceanography than courses in oceanography, which are offered at German universities.

This makes studying abroad particularly interesting for those who do not want to commit themselves right from the start, but instead want to get a broad overview of marine studies and then want to specialize at a later point in time.

Regional focus

Those who have already made a commitment will benefit from the change in perspective that studying abroad brings with it. Because although marine research, like the subject of its research, does not in principle know any national borders, there are regional focal points that can be determined at the respective university location.

While the exploration of the North Atlantic plays a major role at German and English universities, for example, Australian and New Zealand universities, but also some Californian universities, are more interested in the Pacific Ocean. Studying abroad, especially in another part of the world, can provide valuable opportunities to experience and research phenomena that do not occur in Germany.

After studying oceanography

The majority of oceanographers and other oceanographers work in research and teaching , both at universities and at private and public research institutes. However, there are also opportunities at various offices at federal and state level or in the expert field .

The following activities are carried out:

• the implementation of measurements either from the ship or by remote sensing via satellite
• the evaluation and interpretation of the collected data
• the creation of models to simulate different scenarios

As a global science, oceanography offers global employment opportunities . The contacts made in the course of a degree that was partially or completely completed abroad can be of decisive importance. For example, when it comes to finding out about international research projects and being taken into account.