Aquaculture

The postgraduate aquaculture program develops an understanding of aquaculture principles and practices in a wide variety of fields. These include nutrition, water quality, reproduction, genetics, hatchery management, ecology, physiology, husbandry, production, health management, disease control, product quality, aquaculture systems, aquaculture technology, experimental design, statistics for biology, fisheries biology, management, and bio-business.

The courses draw on expertise from key industry figures in South Australia who serve on an industry consultative committee. Linked with these courses are work placements in tuna, yellowtail kingfish, oyster, abalone, mussel and freshwater crayfish sites. Flinders University is involved in research shared with Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).

The program involves practicals in laboratories, aquaria and tanks, aquaculture professionals and a flexible choice of elective topics available from different disciplines.

The Master of Science (Aquaculture) can be fast-tracked in 18 months.

Course aims

The primary aim of this course is to facilitate skills transfer from another relevant area of science to the study of aquaculture. The specific aims include providing students with:

• in-depth theoretical and technical knowledge in aquaculture and specialised skills in global aquaculture farming and practice
• advanced knowledge in nutrition, water quality, reproduction, production quality and health issues relevant to global aquaculture
• well-developed understanding of aquaculture operations through a combination of theoretical coursework and technical practicals and the ability to apply them to the profession
• extended practical experience through industrial work placement to prepare for future professional roles in aquaculture
• an ability to apply advanced numerical and statistical skills relevant to aquaculture
• strong business management skills that can be innovatively applied to aquaculture operations
• the ability to apply a range of skills independently in the design of aquaculture facilities
• training for independent critical analysis, well developed communication and complex problem solving skills in aquaculture
• the ability to work professionally as an individual and as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

The program provides you with an understanding of global aquaculture through a combination of theoretical coursework and technical practicals and will develop independent thinking and problem-solving skills within aquaculture. Topics cover areas such as aquaculture systems, aquaculture technology, water quality, product quality, plant diversity, algal diversity, and economics for business. Masters comprises coursework and an industrial work placement.

You will have the opportunity to undertake work placements and practicals in laboratories, aquaria and tanks, and meet with aquaculture professionals. An extended practical experience through industrial work placement in the masters prepares you for future professional roles in aquaculture.

To qualify for the Master of Science (Aquaculture), a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

Core - Year 1 & 2 topics

63 units comprising:

BIOL8700 Biology Research Project GE (4.5 units) 
BIOL8702 Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity GE (4.5 units) 
BIOL8732 Aquaculture System and Technology GE (4.5 units)
BIOL8741 Experimental Design and Statistics for Biology GE (4.5 units)
BIOL8751 Aquaculture Nutrition and Water Quality GE (4.5 units)
BIOL8752 Fisheries Biology, Science and Management GE (4.5 units)
BIOL8831 Aquaculture Reproduction GE (4.5 units)
BIOL8832 Aquaculture Health and Product Quality GE (4.5 units)
BIOL9001 Aquaculture Practicum (18 units) 
BTEC8001 BioBusiness GE (9 units) 

Option - Year 1 & 2 topics

Plus 9 units selected from

BIOL8004 DNA to Genome GE (4.5 units)
BIOL8711 Ecology GE (4.5 units)
BIOL8722 Conservation and Ecological Genetics GE(4.5 units)
BIOL8731 Plant and Algal Diversity GE (4.5 units) 
BIOL8742 Disease and Immunology GE (4.5 units)
BTEC8002  Molecular Biotechnology  (4.5 units)
BTEC9011  Plant Science to Food Biotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
BTEC9012  Environmental Biotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
BUSN9022 Marketing Principles (4.5 units)
BUSN9113 Accounting Fundamentals (4.5 units)
BUSN9116 Economics for Business (4.5 units)
BUSN9236 Leadership: Theory, Practice and Experience (4.5 units)
BUSN9262 Advanced Recruitment and Selection (4.5 units)
BUSN9263 Performance Management and Rewards (4.5 units)
BUSN9264 Consumer Behaviour (4.5 units)
ENGR9704 Project Management and Innovation  (4.5 units)
ENVH7722 Food Safety (4.5 units)
ENVH7742 Microbiology and Communicable Diseases (4.5 units)
ENVH9704 Risk Assessment and Management (4.5 units)
ENVS9731 Public Health Aspects of Water Quality (4.5 units)

Applicants must normally hold the Graduate Diploma in Science (Aquaculture) or a degree in any relevant discipline of science or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

The Master of Science (Aquaculture) is not available to graduates of the BSc (Aquaculture) or BSc (Aquaculture) (Honours) or equivalent.

International students must satisfy our English language proficiency requirements for admission. If your first language is not English you will need to have:

• Achieved the required level for the course you are applying for. The scores to meet the various levels are shown below; or
• Successful completion of an approved secondary or tertiary qualification, taught in the English language in a country where English is the official language or the main language spoken (for up to an overall IELTS of 6.5) with evidence no more than five years old on the proposed date of commencement of the course; or
• Successfully completed a pre-course English program from an approved ELICOS Provider.

Other evidence of English language proficiency may be accepted.

Evidence of English language proficiency must be no more than two years old on the proposed date of commencement of the course.

IELTS 

6.0 Overall
with
6.0 Speaking
6.0 Writing 

TOEFL

72 Overall
with
18 Speaking
18 Writing