Programme covers many of the biological aspects of marine and freshwater animals and plants and their relation to the environment, giving particular emphasis to the effects of human activities on nearshore and estuarine systems; there is a general emphasis on marine and freshwater zoology, as well as microscopic and macroscopic plants and other microbial organisms; overseas field courses allow students to study Red Sea coral reefs and Indonesian reefs and rainforests; students also undertake a research project based in the field or laboratory; topics range from fundamental physiological studies to impacts of pollution, species conservation and behavioural studies.