10 Free Online Marine Biology Courses for High School Students in 2024-2025
Are you a high school student interested in marine biology? Do you want to explore this subject from home, without any financial burden? If so, we have the perfect solution for you. By enrolling in free online courses that cover the fundamentals of marine biology and more advanced topics in biology, environmental science, and conservation, you can enhance your academic journey and career prospects.
Taking online courses as a high schooler can also strengthen your college admissions profile by showing admissions officers that you’re intellectually curious and willing to challenge yourself outside the classroom. With numerous marine biology courses available, it can be challenging to identify the most suitable options, particularly those that are accessible and free of charge.
To simplify your search, we have curated a list of 10 free online marine biology courses high school students can take in 2024-2025.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: All students
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: N/A
This free online course, presented by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and available on Coursera, offers a comprehensive look into the ocean's ecosystem, covering the wide-ranging impacts of both acute and chronic disturbances on marine biodiversity. It explores the critical relationship between ocean dynamics and global climate patterns, examining how climate fluctuations influence marine ecosystems and how oceanic changes reciprocally affect the Earth's atmosphere.
The course includes contributions from different experts representing organizations like the Fisheries and Habitat Conservation at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and the Bioacoustics Research Program at Cornell. This program is ideal for students interested in marine science, environmental policy, or sustainability, equipping you with the latest scientific perspectives and practical knowledge essential for addressing marine conservation challenges.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free to audit
Eligibility: No specific eligibility criteria
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: N/A
This course, jointly run by the American Museum of Natural History and Coursera, delves into the world of marine life, exploring ecosystems from the sunlit surface to the dark ocean depths and encompassing a wide range of organisms, from microscopic phytoplankton to the majestic blue whale. The ocean, while essential to life on Earth, remains one of the least explored and most challenging environments for scientific study. This course traces the evolutionary history of marine organisms, their unique adaptations to aquatic life, behavioral patterns, and functional morphology. Throughout the course, you will learn about innovative solutions to the challenges of ocean research.
The syllabus covers a wide range of essential topics, including how marine organisms have evolved and adapted to thrive in ocean habitats, how physical properties of the marine environment influence life, and the broader ecological importance of marine ecosystems. This course is ideal if you’re looking to understand the complexities of marine life and the significance of oceanic ecosystems to humanity.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: No specified eligibility criteria
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: N/A
This comprehensive marine biology course highlights the crucial role oceans play in sustaining life on Earth. The course will introduce you to marine ecosystems, exploring the complex interactions that allow marine life to create sustainable ecosystems and maintain ecological balance. Key topics include defining marine biology and explaining ocean ecology as well as examining the unique physical characteristics of polar regions like the Arctic and Antarctic. You will study the primary multicellular producers of marine life, the structure of marine environments, and vertebrate adaptations within oceanic ecosystems.
The course also assesses the impact of human activity on marine habitats, explores the concept and importance of marine protected areas, and identifies critical threats to marine biodiversity. With 3-4 hours of Continuing Professional Development-accredited learning and a final assessment, this free online course provides a foundational understanding of marine biology and conservation.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: No specified eligibility criteria
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: To be announced. Stay updated here
The University of Southampton, in partnership with FutureLearn, offers a 4-week course for those curious about ocean exploration and the underwater ecosystems of our planet. Led by Professor Jon Copley, an ocean explorer and science communicator, this course delves into the integral role the ocean plays in our daily lives and the challenges it faces. Topics range from the origins of oceanography to modern discoveries, including newly mapped sections of the sea floor. You will also gain insights into ocean currents, temperatures, and salinity.
Throughout the course, you will explore the diversity of marine life—from coastal regions and coral reefs to polar environments and the depths of the ocean. The course highlights how organisms adapt to various habitats and examines the impact of human behavior on ocean health, including issues like single-use plastics and microbeads. As a Science Advisor for BBC's Blue Planet II and author of Ask an Ocean Explorer (2019), Professor Copley brings expertise and real-world insights, making this course an ideal introduction to the ocean and the importance of its conservation.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to all
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: N/A
The Open University’s ‘The Oceans’ course provides a comprehensive introduction to marine biology, focusing on the crucial role oceans play in regulating climate, sustaining biodiversity, and shaping the physical characteristics of our planet. Through modules on topics like ocean mapping, seawater properties, and ocean currents, you will learn how to interpret temperature, salinity data, and ocean floor features—key knowledge for understanding global ocean circulation. Ideal for beginners, the course is a valuable starting point for anyone curious about the dynamics of our oceans and their impact on Earth’s climate.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to all
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: N/A
The Underwater World: Marine Biology course covers essential topics such as basic marine biology concepts, the fascinating world of corals, and the complexities of underwater ecosystems. You will gain an understanding of marine organisms and the interdependent nature of life beneath the ocean’s surface. The course is frequently updated, adding new episodes to ensure content remains current.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (if you want to enroll in the certificate course, you must pay a fee)
Eligibility: Open to all, knowledge of high school science recommended
Application Deadline: Enrollment is currently closed. Future dates to be announced here
Dates: Self-paced, total coursework of 9 weeks
TROPIC101x is a free online course offered by the University of Queensland that introduces you to the essential knowledge and skills needed to preserve tropical coastal ecosystems. The course covers the biodiversity of these ecosystems, the challenges they face, such as overfishing, coastal pollution, and climate change, and techniques used to address these issues. Lectures are delivered by experts and filmed on-site in the Great Barrier Reef, offering a unique learning experience. The course also includes a virtual ecology project and citizen science component, allowing you to apply your knowledge.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to all
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: N/A
‘Ghosts of Oceans Past’ is a free online course delivered through YouTube by Dr. Chelsea Woods, a professor at the University of Washington's School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. The course focuses on the impact of human activities on freshwater pathogens and parasites, exploring how these organisms respond to environmental changes over time. You will learn about various research methodologies, including "space for time substitution" and transmission strategies, and the effect of human-driven changes on historical and contemporary ecosystems.
The course is designed to be accessible and offers insights into the broader ecological impacts of parasites. However, it may be better suited to those with a basic understanding of ecology and freshwater systems, as the content is advanced and requires familiarity with scientific research. All the course lessons are available on YouTube.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to all
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: N/A
‘Octopus Fieldwork: Behavior to Bacteria’ is a free online course available on YouTube delivered by Dr. Chelsea Bennice in collaboration with the Florida Museum and the University of Florida's Thompson Earth Systems Institute. This course provides a deep dive into octopuses, exploring their behavior, diet, arm flexibility, and the microbiome of their skin. You will learn about the various research questions driving current studies, including octopus coexistence in marine ecosystems and their unique physical adaptations.
The course offers a detailed look into the methods used in octopus research, such as the use of floating labs and research baskets. While accessible to all students, those with a basic understanding of marine biology and research methods will benefit most from the in-depth content. All the course lessons are available on YouTube.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,094, need-based scholarships available
Eligibility: Any high school student with proficiency in English
Application Deadline: May 10, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Dates: July 15 – 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
This course, developed in partnership with MarineLab, immerses you in the marine ecosystems of the Florida Keys while equipping you with leadership skills for impactful community action. Led by marine biologists, the curriculum covers the biotic and abiotic components of key Florida Keys habitats—seagrasses, mangroves, and coral reefs—exploring how these habitats interconnect and the role of human influence, from marine debris to conservation efforts like marine protected areas. You’ll also gain insights into your leadership style, building communication and active listening skills to effectively drive positive change.
With access to rich ecological settings, biologist instructors present lessons through on-water and underwater footage, field-recorded presentations, and lab insights, often featuring live specimens. This blend of marine ecology and leadership training culminates in a final project where you’ll tackle a relevant environmental issue by applying your leadership skills. Supported by instructors and peers, you’ll create a realistic action plan for your chosen issue, with workshops guiding you in developing projects that reflect the unique ecological and social aspects of your home community.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.