SPbU SPbU
  • For Partners
  • Job Opportunities at SPbU
  • Contacts
  • Library
  • RU
  • 中文
  • About SPbU
    • The University Board of Trustees
    • History
    • Administration
    • International Cooperation
    • The University in Persons
    • Museums and Collections
    • Green Campus
    • About St Petersburg
    • Pirogov Clinic
    • Academic and Research Departments
    • University Giftshop
    • For Alumni
    • By-laws and Regulations
    University Introduction
  • Admission
    • Educational Programmes
    • Admissions Procedure
    • Documents Required
    • Independent Aspirantura Studies
    • International Admissions Office
    • Preparatory Course
    • Recognition of Foreign Educational Credentials
    • Tuition
    • Visa Support
    How to Apply
  • Education
    • Student Life
    • Internship
    • Accessible Environment
    • Accommodation
    • Clinics
    • Courses Taught in Foreign Languages
    • Heads of the Academic Offices
    • Online Courses
    • Scholarships and Grants
    • Services
    • Useful Information for International Students
    • Students Exchange Programmes (SEP)
    • Career Centre
    • International Student Club
    • Medical Services
    Russian Education System
  • Research
    • Research Park
    • M. Gorky Scientific Library of SPbU
    • Funding Opportunities
    • Research Internship Programme
    • Research Repository
    • Council of Young Scientists
    • Journals at SPbU
    • University Spin-offs
    • Intellectual Property
    • Visiting Professors
    • Pure System
    Resources Overview
  • News and Events
Educational Programmes
  • Educational Programmes
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
    • Doctoral
    • Clinical Residency Programmes
    • Additional Educational Programmes
    • Russian Language Programmes
  • Admissions Procedure
  • Documents Required
  • Independent Aspirantura Studies
  • International Admissions Office
  • Preparatory Course
  • Recognition of Foreign Educational Credentials
  • Tuition
  • Visa Support
Admission Educational Programmes Graduate

Physical Oceanography and Bioproductivity of Ocean and Seas (PHOBOS)

In English and Russian

Level of education Master

Type of instruction Full-time

Duration 2 years

Programme description
  • The "Physical Oceanography and Bioproductivity of Ocean and Seas (PHOBOS)" programme provides training of specialists in the field of physical oceanography and related applied scientific areas: satellite oceanology, commercial oceanology, ecology of oceans and seas
  • Training under the programme provides professional competencies and research skills in the field of ocean study based on the analysis of a variety of satellite hydrometeorological and biotic information, as well as mathematical modelling of the physical, chemical and biological processes occurring in the ocean
  • The programme relies on the proven methods of statistical analysis and hydrometeorological forecasting, identification of increased commercial and biological productivity zones of the ocean, mathematical modelling of the ocean processes and results of research on physical mechanisms of spatial and temporal variability of the ocean. The programme is designed to train qualified specialists in the field of protection and rational exploitation of marine biological resources, study of interaction mechanisms among biological objects and marine environment, study the influence of external factors on the habitat of commercial species
  • Graduates of the programme are able to independently carry out fundamental and applied research in the field of physical oceanography and related scientific areas. Graduates can apply acquired knowledge and skills in: research institutes of various departments of the Russian Federation conducting research in the oceans and seas; commercial fishing companies; organisations carrying out engineering-hydrometeorological and environmental surveys in the Global Ocean’s shelves, including in the Arctic and Antarctic regions
Main courses

Courses in ocean dynamics and ecology

  • Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
  • Ocean waves
  • Hydrodynamic modelling of maritime spaces
  • Modelling of cycle of matter in marine ecosystems
  • Vortex generation and vortex flow of substances in the ocean

Courses in statistical analysis of hydrometeorological databases

  • Databases and visualisation of hydrophysical and biotoc fields
  • Programming and numerical methods in oceanology
  • Statistical hydrometeorology

Courses in physical oceanography

  • Physical Oceanography of Russian Seas
  • Water Masses and Oceanic Fronts
  • Climate variability of wind-generated waves
  • Inter-relationship between the ocean, atmosphere and ice cover
  • Dangerous and cataclysmic events in the Global Ocean

Courses in commercial oceanology

  • Fishery stock and rational exploitation assessment
  • Satellite methods for Marine Environment Assessment and identification of increased biological and commercial productivity zones
  • Physical and biological interconnections in the ocean

Courses in marine ecology

  • anthropogenic contamination of seas and oceans
  • ecology and dynamics of benthic sediments
Our advantages
  • The programme is designed in compliance with potential employers’ requirements to the skills and competencies of graduates-oceanologists
  • A comprehensive study of the seas and oceans in the context of climate changes, increased anthropogenic influence and economic crisis is provided by this programme. Graduates of the programme are ready to deal with a wide range of challenges, both in research and applied areas, related to the study and exploitation of Global Ocean’s resources, current and future marine resource conditions, potential anthropogenic adverse impacts on marine environment
  • The programme provides students with professional competencies and skills to study the ocean on the basis of analysis of a variety of satellite hydrometeorological and biotic information, mathematical modelling of physical, chemical and biological processes occurring in the ocean under a wide range of the spatial and temporal scales of variability of these processes
  • The programme relies on the proven methods of statistical analysis and hydrometeorological forecasting, identification of increased commercial and biological productivity zones of the ocean, mathematical modelling of the ocean processes and results of research on physical mechanisms of spatial and temporal variability of the ocean
  • The "Physical Oceanography and Bioproductivity of Ocean and Seas (PHOBOS)" programme is based on proven methods of physical statistical analysis and hydrometeorological forecasting, identification of increased commercial and biological productivity zones of the ocean, mechanisms of spatial and temporal variability, mathematical modelling of fields of hydrophysical and chemical biological processes
  • Students of the programme undertake training in oceanology in Russian and foreign advanced scientific centres, including academic and departmental research institutions in Russia, commercial organisations carrying out engineering hydrometeorological and environmental surveys in the seas and oceans, centres for scientific support for fishing industry and aquaculture development
  • Students of the programme take part in expeditions to different areas of the Global Ocean, including the Arctic and Antarctic regions. They also have an opportunity to take part in academic mobility programmes in specialised partner-universities
  • The programme is facilitated by the Academic Council of the Programme
International relations
  • University of the Azores (Portugal)
  • University of Tromso — The Arctic University of Norway (Norway)
  • Tallinn University (Estonia)
  • Finnish Environment Institute SYKE (Finland)
  • Centre of Oceanography(CO), Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), University of Lisbon (Portugal)
  • The University of Western Brittany (France)
  • The University Centre in Svalbard (Norway)
Practical training and career opportunities

The main profession of graduates is an oceanologist.

Programme graduates work at:
  • Research Institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences
  • Research Institutes and Regional Departments of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet)
  • Research Institutes of the Federal Agency for Fishery
  • Commercial fishing and engineering companies
  • Organisations of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation
  • Design Institutes and organisations engaged in shore protection projects, construction of ports, sea canals, dams, sea platforms and pipelines
  • St Petersburg University and other Federal level universities
  • Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
  • Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, NOAA, Miami, FL, USA
  • Météo-France, Paris, France
  • UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA
  • Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Florida State University, USA
  • Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz, Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
  • Akvaplan-niva, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Tromsø, Norway

International Admissions Office

Tuition

Create Your Personal Account

The programme descriptions for the 2025/2026 academic year are currently being updated. Information regarding admissions for the 2025/2026 academic year is available on the St Petersburg University Admissions Committee website.

SIMILAR PROGRAMMES

Geophysics and Computer Technologies in Data Analysis

Master

Bioinformatics

Master

Geourbanistics

Master
  • For Applicants
  • International Admissions Office
  • History of SPbU
  • Museums and Collections
  • Personal Account
  • Additional Programmes
  • Educational Programmes
  • Preparatory Course
  • Russian Language Programmes
  • For Partners
  • Clinics
  • Distributed Ledger Technologies Center of SPbU
  • Event Initiation
  • Language Testing Centre
  • Research Park
  • Multifunctional Payment Assistant
  • The Mediation Centre
  • University giftshop
  • For Students
  • Library
  • Accessible Environment
  • Blackboard
  • Timetable
  • Student's Personal Account
  • Accommodation
  • Internships
  • Students exchange programme and Freemover programme
  • Useful Information For International Students
© St Petersburg University, 2025
7-9 Universitetskaya Embankment, St Petersburg, Russia, 199034
By-laws and Regulations Contacts

This information resource may contain archival materials mentioning individuals or legal entities included in the register of foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, as well as organizations recognized as extremist and banned on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Educational Programmes Russian Language Programmes Preparatory Course
International Admissions Office Contacts