Preparing coastal and marine graduates for a low-carbon future

29 Apr 2025

• Effective coastal and marine management ensures sustainable development of offshore wind, balancing energy infrastructure with marine biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal communities.
• Graduates of UCC’s MSc in Applied Coastal and Marine Management are uniquely equipped to lead in the offshore wind and marine energy sectors.

As the world moves steadily toward a low-carbon future, employers across the energy sector are placing greater emphasis on developing and recruiting green skills. Central to this transition are technical disciplines supporting renewable energy technologies — including wind, solar, and energy storage systems — alongside a diverse range of environmental specialisations.

Offshore wind, in particular, has emerged as a major focus area, requiring expertise in coastal management, marine engineering, and environmental stewardship. This evolving demand underscores the need for graduates with strong interdisciplinary skills — individuals who can bridge technical engineering knowledge with environmental science and policy-making expertise.

At University College Cork (UCC), the MSc in Applied Coastal and Marine Management is designed to prepare students for these challenges.

Dr Kieran Hickey, Co-Director of the M.Sc in Applied Coastal and Marine Management and Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography, explained: "As the challenges facing our oceans and coastlines become more complex, the need for skilled professionals who can integrate scientific knowledge, policy understanding, and practical management has never been more important. The MSc offers an programme that responds directly to this need, preparing students to contribute to the sustainable governance of coastal and marine environments in Ireland and internationally."

"Our students develop a balanced understanding of the theoretical, administrative, and scientific aspects of coastal and marine management. They gain applied skills such as hydrographic surveying and GIS, and build expertise in managing coastal and marine spaces and the activities that occur within them, including offshore wind energy,” Dr Hickey said.

The MSc programme equips graduates with a combination of scientific and practical management skills, ensuring they are prepared to support complex, multidisciplinary projects that are essential to the energy transition and sustainable resource management.

As demand grows for professionals who combine technical capability with environmental insight, programmes like UCC’s MSc in Applied Coastal and Marine Management provide critical preparation for the careers shaping the future of the coastal and marine sectors.

Discover how our graduates are already making an impact — read about Benjamin Lundus’s journey in coastal and marine management here.

Applications are now open for the programme, starting in September 2025.