About the Program
Immerse yourself in the study of marine science with a program of coursework and research that creates an ideal experiential learning environment. In addition to traditional class lectures and laboratory sessions, easily accessible and diverse tropical marine habitats allow for frequent and informative field trips. BIOS is a residential community of faculty scientists, technicians, interns and students, and participation in the Fall Semester will expose you to what it's like living and working at an active research station.
About the Area
- Bermuda’s location is a convenient short flight from the east coast of the United States, (approximately 700 miles).
- Air and water temperatures are moderate all year-round (55-85°F, 13-29°C, and 62-82°F, 17-28°C, respectively).
- The sub-tropical climate supports a rich diversity of plants and animals, coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.
- Our reefs, warmed by the Gulf Stream, form the northernmost coral reef ecosystem in the world. They are more vulnerable to outside variables than more southerly reefs, and are therefore a useful indicator of the effect of stresses on these species.
- The inshore reefs are easily accessible and provide a rich nursery for study. Deep water, which yields a totally different type of research, is accessible by ship in only a couple of hours.
- Bermuda has an interesting geological history; its origins as a volcanic seamount can be observed from the current topography of the Island.
- Bermuda is a small island – 21.5 square miles, 35 km² – so any location can be reached within an hour. This makes it easy to conveniently access different locations efficiently, within one day.
About Student Life
As BIOS is a residential community of researchers, students not only study and work with active scientists, but eat meals, play sports and socialize with faculty, graduate students and technicians who reside on the campus.
- Students must have completed a minimum of 45 semester credits
- Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
- Students must an acceptable judicial conduct record
- Students must have declared their minor and core concentration
- Students must have academic advisor and dean approval.
Students take a semester-long immersion into the study of marine science with a program of class work and research that is unique in marine education. The program, housed at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences in St. George's,Bermuda allows students to enroll in the following courses:
- BIO 361: Coral Reef Ecology
- BIO 336: Marine Invertebrate Zoology
- BIO 410 Research Diving Methods
- BIO 410: Marine Biology Research
Students share apartments with other program participants. All apartments are within walking distance of the Institute facilities and provided with fully-furnished kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and communal living spaces. Bed linens and pillows are provided although towels are not. Whenever possible, the Institute tries to accommodate housing requests regarding roommates and special needs. The staff is available throughout the term to provide assistance with housing needs, maintenance and utilities.
The 2017 Fall Semester Program will begin on August 28 and end on December 1; students are expected to arrive the day before the start of the program (August 27) and depart the day after the program ends (December 2).
Program Cost
Semester charges will be billed to the students by RWU following normal RWU billing and payment schedules.
•Students should note that personal expenses that are associated with studying abroad such as airfare, books, personal spending are not included in this break down. Students should consult with the Spiegel Center for more budgeting information.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
RWU students applying to RWU-sponsored semester study abroad programs are able to carry financial aid over to semester abroad charges. Students can apply for the scholarship(s) at the same time they submit their application for a semester program abroad.
The Bridging the World Scholarship:
Scholarships awards based on financial need and academic merit
The Morris Award:
Scholarship awards based on financial need only (limited funds available)
Click here for a printable brochure of the information found on this page.
