How practical is the programme compared with theory-based study?

NMIT's Bachelor of Aquaculture and Marine Conservation combines classroom learning with hands-on experience, with approximately 50% of the programme focused on practical learning.

You'll have opportunities to apply what you learn through laboratory work, aquaculture systems, field trips and real-world research projects.

What practical activities will I do?
Typical hands-on activities include dissections, building and maintaining aquariums and aquaculture systems, animal husbandry, hatchery work and mussel larval rearing. On the conservation and research side, you'll head out on field trips to monitor sites, collect data, design a research project, then analyse the results to see what story the data tells.

What facilities will I use?
You'll have access to specialist facilities, including dry and wet laboratories, a freshwater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) and saltwater aquaculture facilities at Cawthron Aquaculture Park in the Glen.

These facilities allow you to gain practical experience with aquaculture systems, conduct experiments and carry out your own feed trials. You'll also have opportunities to follow the development of salmon from eggs in the classroom through to growing fish in saltwater systems.

In your third year, you may have opportunities to contribute to ongoing industry research through your dissertation, including projects at Cawthron's Finfish Research Centre or shellfish research on farms and in hatcheries.

How does practical learning develop over the three years?
In your first year, you'll focus on building foundational skills, such as species identification, dissections and aquaculture system construction, with guidance from your tutors.

As you progress, you'll take on more responsibility and work independently. By your final year, you could be managing an entire feed trial, applying the technical, research and animal husbandry skills you've developed throughout your studies.