Marine Science MS Program
Program Mission:
To advance fundamental and applied marine science through innovative research, education, and technology - leveraging the unique natural laboratories of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, as well as an extensive international network- to understand and conserve marine ecosystems and enable sustainable use of ocean resources. The program prepares future leaders in marine science, driving solutions for biodiversity protection, climate resilience, and sustainable ocean economies, in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and global sustainability goals.
Program Goals:
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Advance KAUST’s leadership in Red Sea and global marine research.
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Train graduate students to have disciplinary expertise and cross-disciplinary skills.
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Foster innovation and application of marine science for societal benefit in Saudi Arabia and internationally.
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Build capacity in marine conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable ocean economies.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Knowledge and Understanding:
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K1: Demonstrate understanding of core concepts in marine ecosystem structure, function, and biodiversity.
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K2: Know how physical, chemical, and biological processes interact in marine ecosystems, with emphasis on the Red Sea.
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K3: Understand the molecular and genomic bases of marine organism function and adaptation.
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K4: Recognize the regional and global significance of Red Sea and Arabian Gulf systems in the context of marine biodiversity, sustainability, and ocean economies
Skills:
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S1: Design and conduct marine science research using appropriate experimental, observational, and analytical methods.
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S2: Apply quantitative and computational approaches to analyze marine data.
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S3: Use innovative technologies (e.g., remote sensing, robotics, AI, genomics) to explore, monitor, and restore marine ecosystems
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S4: Communicate scientific findings effectively through written, oral, and visual media for both academic and non-academic audiences.
Values, Autonomy, and Responsibility:
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V1: Practice ethical conduct in field, laboratory, and collaborative research.
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V2: Work effectively and responsibly in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
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V3: Demonstrate responsibility for the conservation and sustainable use of marine ecosystems.
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V4: Commit to lifelong learning and to advancing global ocean stewardship.
MS Course Requirements
MS students must complete the following requirements:
- Core Courses (12 credits)
- Elective Courses (6-15 credits)
- Research/Capstone Courses (12-18 credits)
- Graduate Seminar (non-credit)
- Winter Enrichment Program (non-credit)
Core and Elective Courses must be technical courses and cannot be substituted with Research, Internship, or Broadening Courses to fulfill degree requirements.
Core Courses (12 credits)
Core Courses provide students with the background needed to establish a solid foundation in the program area. Students must complete 12 credits (4 Core Courses) and be aware that Core Courses may be offered only once per academic year. The following courses are mandatory for all MarS students:
Students must choose at least 2 of 8 from this core list:
Core courses not used for the core requirement may be used as electives.
Elective Courses (6 - 15 credits)
The Elective Courses allow students to tailor their educational experience to meet individual research and educational objectives with the permission of the Academic Advisor. Students must take a minimum of two Electives (6 credits), but can take a maximum of five Electives (15 credits) upon approval by the Academic Advisor.
Any other available course at KAUST upon approval of the Academic Advisor.
Graduate Seminars (non-credit)
All students must register for BESE 398 and receive a Satisfactory grade for a minimum of two Semesters. For more details about BESE Seminars please contact your GPSA.
Winter Enrichment Program (non-credit)
All students must complete the Winter Enrichment Program (
WE 100) for credit at least once during their studies at KAUST. Students who have previously completed WEP will be exempt from this requirement in their future studies.
MS Thesis
All students in the MarS program must pursue a thesis and must complete a minimum of 12 credits of thesis research (MarS 297). Students must complete the remaining credits through one or a combination of the options listed below:
MS Thesis Application
Students must complete the application and have it approved by the Program Chair no later than the end of week one of their third Semester.
The Thesis Advisor must be a full-time program-affiliated Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor at KAUST. This Thesis Advisor can only become project affiliated for the specific thesis project with the Program Chair’s approval. The application must include a Thesis Proposal endorsed by the Academic Advisor and a timeline for completion. Thesis withdrawal is not permitted, and students who cannot complete their Thesis will face academic dismissal.
Petition to Defend Thesis
Students must submit a petition to defend their Thesis by the deadline published in the Academic Calendar. Students are responsible for scheduling the Thesis Defense Date. All committee members must attend the Defense. Students must defend their thesis and obtain the final approval of the Defense within their duration of study (4 Semesters).
Thesis Committee Formation
The MS thesis defense committee must include a minimum of three members and may have up to four members. The composition of the committee is outlined as follows:
| Member |
Role |
Affiliation |
| 1 |
Chair |
Primary or alternative affiliation within of the student’s program |
| 2 |
Faculty |
Primary or alternative affiliation within of the student’s program |
| 3 |
Faculty |
Primary or alternative affiliation outside of the student’s program |
| 4 |
Faculty or Research Scientist
|
Affiliation within or outside of KAUST |
Notes:
- The committee must be approved by the Dean.
- Members 1-3 are mandatory, while member 4 is optional.
- The student’s advisor serves as the chair of the committee and must use the affiliation within the student’s program.
- Either member 1 or member 2 must have primary affiliation within the student’s program.
- The student’s co-advisor may serve as member 4.
- Professors of Practice and Research Professors may serve as members 1-4, depending on their affiliation and whether they are the student’s advisor or co-advisor.
- Adjunct Professors and Professors Emeriti may continue serving on committees in the roles they had at the time of their departure but are not permitted to serve on new committees.
- Visiting Professors may only serve as member 4.
- Once approved, any changes to the committee require the approval of both the student's advisor and the Dean.
Thesis Defense Results:
The format of the Oral Defense is left to the discretion of the Thesis Committee. At the end of the Final Defense, students will be evaluated with one of the following outcomes:
- Pass: The Committee agrees with no more than one dissenting vote. The Thesis must be archived within two weeks of the defense, and the student must send the Thesis Result Form to the GPSA within two days of the defense.
- Pass with Conditions: All committee members must agree on the required conditions. If they cannot agree, the Dean will make the final decision. The student has up to three months to meet these conditions, unless the Committee unanimously agrees to change the deadline.
- Fail with Retake: If conditions cannot be met within three months, or more than one member casts a negative vote, one retake of the defense is allowed. The retake must occur within six months of the original defense unless the Committee unanimously agrees to a shorter timeline. If the student fails the retake, they will be dismissed from the University. The Committee Chair must immediately inform the GPSA to initiate the necessary actions.
- Fail Without Retake: The decision must be unanimous, resulting in the student’s dismissal from the University. The Committee Chair must inform the GPSA immediately to take the necessary actions.
Additional Guidelines:
- Students who have exceeded their duration of study must apply for an extension as per the Time Limit and Extension Policy. All conditions must be fulfilled by the end of the extension period, which takes precedence over the Committee’s set deadlines.
- The outcome of the Thesis Defense must be recorded by submitting the Thesis Defense Evaluation Form to the Office of the Registrar within two days of the defense.
- Additionally, students must submit the Defense Results Form by the deadline published in the Academic Calendar.
- The required forms are available on the webpage of the Office of the Registrar.
Thesis Document
Students must follow the KAUST Library Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines when they write their Thesis. Once the Thesis is ready to be examined, students must determine the Defense date with the agreement of all members of the Thesis Committee.
Thesis Archiving
Students must archive the Thesis in the KAUST Library two weeks from the defense date. This must not exceed the duration of study or the deadline published in the Academic Calendar.