Oceanography or maritime studies: clarify your interests
Oceanography brings together several disciplines. The physical approach examines ocean circulation and the properties of water, among other topics; the chemical approach focuses on its composition and transformations; the biological approach studies organisms and ecosystems. Observations, experiments and models can complement one another within the same project.
Geology also has a place: Dalhousie’s Department of Oceanography identifies four research groups: biological, chemical, geological and physical. A project on sediments therefore does not necessarily lead to the same pathway as an interest in ecosystems or currents.
Maritime studies encompass a broader field. Memorial’s Marine Institute presents programs at various levels, with objectives that include technical and applied training. Two programs related to the sea are not necessarily equivalent.
To begin, express your interest using a verb: understand circulation, measure a property of water, study an ecosystem or analyse observations. This wording will help you compare courses and methods, rather than titles alone.
Undergraduate or graduate studies: choose the right entry point
At The University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver campus, the academic calendar confirms pathways combining oceanography and biology through the Combined Major and Combined Honours options. These combined pathways are the ones presented here, not a stand-alone general bachelor’s degree in oceanography. Their full titles appear in the table below. The calendar distinguishes between a 120-credit combined major and a more in-depth, 132-credit Honours pathway that includes a research project. Both are undergraduate pathways; Honours does not mean a master’s degree.
At another level, the Institut des sciences de la mer at Université du Québec à Rimouski, known as ISMER, presents a DESS, a master’s degree and a doctorate in oceanography. These options correspond to different stages, to be considered in light of your previous education and your objective.
The first decision is therefore not “which university?” but “what next step?” Building a scientific foundation, deepening a specialization or developing a research project calls for different comparisons. For each option, note the exact degree, campus, prerequisites and respective roles of coursework and independent work.
Universities and programs
These four institutions offer complementary starting points, not a ranking. The table deliberately distinguishes between confirmed pathways, thematic selections and research environments.
| Institution | Relevant starting point | Question to explore further |
|---|---|---|
| The University of British Columbia | In Vancouver, the undergraduate Combined Major: Oceanography and Biology and Combined Honours: Oceanography and Biology. | Which option matches your interest in coursework, fieldwork and research? |
| Dalhousie University | A research environment structured around the biological, chemical, geological and physical dimensions of oceanography. | Which team works on your scientific question and could consider supervising you? |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland | The Programs related to the maritime world selection, to explore through the Marine Institute. | Does your intended program have a scientific, technical or professional focus, and at what level? |
| Université du Québec à Rimouski | The Marine sciences selection, including the graduate programs in oceanography presented by ISMER. | Which program and research supervisor match your project? |
The StudyCanada profiles help you organize your selection. You should then read the admission requirements and program content on the corresponding official pages. An institution’s inclusion in this comparison means neither that a place is available on a team nor that funding has been reserved for you.
Research and fieldwork: look at what is actually included
Proximity to the sea does not, on its own, describe the student experience. An activity included in the curriculum, an opportunity offered by a laboratory and an institutional collaboration are three different things.
For UQAR’s master’s degree in oceanography, the official program page announces a mission aboard the Coriolis II as early as the first term, as part of experimental oceanography. At UBC, the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, or EOAS, describes a field course with a research project developed and carried out by the student in the Honours pathways. It also presents expertise in observation, remote sensing, biogeochemistry and polar ecosystems; the presence of this expertise does not, however, guarantee a place on a particular project.
At Dalhousie, the Aquatron and the Ocean Tracking Network illustrate different approaches: aquatic experimentation and tracking aquatic animals. The Ocean Tracking Network, headquartered at Dalhousie, is among the collaborations presented by the department.
To compare these environments, ask what you will do yourself: design an experiment, collect data, process samples, program a model or interpret results. Ask for clarification on what is required, optional or dependent on the team, as well as participation requirements and any fees.
Applications: prepare to find a supervisor as well
For research-oriented studies, the fit with a team deserves as much attention as the university’s name. Dalhousie asks applicants to graduate studies in oceanography to contact potential supervisors personally, preferably before submitting a formal application.
For UQAR’s master’s degree in oceanography, written agreement in principle from a thesis supervisor is required with the admission application. This requirement belongs to this program: it should not be generalized to all Canadian programs.
Prepare a targeted message rather than sending an identical one to several teams. Present your education, a relevant experience, the question that interests you and the specific reasons for your interest in the laboratory’s work. You can ask whether supervision and financial resources might be available for your intended start period.
Keep three stages distinct: an encouraging discussion, an agreement to supervise and an official admission decision. To organize your application, create a file for each option listing the required documents, the steps to take with the team, and the admission and funding timelines.
Funding: compare offers, not just amounts
An annual amount, conditional support per term and a policy for hosting researchers are not directly comparable. You need to examine their duration, scope and the expenses that remain to be paid.
| Documented funding arrangement | Stated amount or principle | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| EOAS at UBC, thesis-based master’s degree, 2026-2027 | Minimum annual stipend of 31,793.40 CAD during the first two years. | Tuition support is added to the base stipend before the net amount after university costs is calculated. This net amount does not deduct all personal expenses. For a first-year international student, the stated net amount is 30,650.27 CAD. |
| ISMER-UQAR, master’s support | Maximum of 1,325 CAD per term, for five of the first eight terms. | A faculty contribution at least equal to this amount is required; this support is not full annual funding. |
| Memorial’s Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources | Student researchers must be funded; acceptance depends on projects and resources. | A policy specific to the centre, not a general guarantee from Memorial. |
The ISMER arrangement is presented as accessible to Canadian and international students. Its page does not specify an academic year: this information must be distinguished from UBC’s table, which is explicitly dated 2026-2027.
Before accepting an offer, ask for a written breakdown: stipend, scholarships, remaining tuition fees, any paid duties, duration and renewal conditions. Also ask how an external scholarship would affect the proposed funding. Do not automatically treat the stated amount as money entirely available for living expenses.
Budget and proof of financial support: two separate calculations
First, build your personal budget: tuition fees corresponding to your status, housing, food, insurance, transportation and any project-related expenses. Ask for costs specific to the program and entry year rather than a national average.
For international applicants who need to provide proof of financial support, administrative thresholds are a separate calculation. According to the official pages consulted on October 26, 2026:
- Outside Quebec, IRCC indicates 23,448 CAD per year for one person with no accompanying family members, for applications submitted since September 1, 2026. This living-expense amount excludes tuition fees and transportation.
- In Quebec, the amount of financial resources for the basic needs of one person with no accompanying family members is 24,617 CAD for one year, for applications from January 1, 2026. Tuition fees and round-trip transportation are treated separately; basic needs include housing, food and health insurance, among other expenses.
These amounts are neither university fees nor complete estimates of the cost of living in your city. They must not be applied to Canadian students as an immigration requirement. For an international application, consult the official rules corresponding to the submission date, destination and family composition. This is general information, not individual immigration advice.
Skills and the final decision: connect the program to your objective
Working with data plays an important role in the learning presented by UBC: analysis, modelling, fieldwork and scientific software, including MATLAB, Python and R. This does not mean that every tool is included in every pathway. Compare the courses and projects that actually allow you to practise the methods that interest you.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada describes roles in research, biology, chemistry, hydrography and technical support. Its pages, modified in 2017 and 2020, are used here to illustrate disciplines and roles, not to measure current recruitment. They do not support any claims about salaries, employment rates or guaranteed hiring.
To narrow down your selection, answer five questions:
- Content: can I explain what I will study beyond the word “ocean”?
- Practice: which activities are included in the curriculum, and which remain only possibilities?
- Supervision: does the team match my topic, and has its availability been discussed?
- Funding: how much will remain available after university expenses, and for how long?
- Fit: what skills will this pathway allow me to develop for my intended next step?
The best choice is not necessarily the best-known institution on your list. It is the one whose scientific fit, proposed experience and financial balance you can clearly explain.