Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Masters · 1500 h · 11 modules
Master's in Advanced Marine Biomaterials
The Master's in Advanced Marine Biomaterials Prepares you to develop, characterise and apply advanced materials obtained from marine resources. You will study marine biopolymers such as chitosan, collagen, alginates and carrageena
Duration1500 h
FormatOnline
Starts16 November
Places20 / 20
Prior knowledge
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Programme overview
What is the Master’s in Advanced Marine Biomaterials?
The Master's in Advanced Marine Biomaterials
Prepares you to develop, characterise and apply advanced materials obtained from marine resources. You will study marine biopolymers such as chitosan, collagen, alginates and carrageenans, bioceramics derived from shells, fish bones and corals, their extraction, processing and characterisation methods, and their applications in biomedicine, packaging and cosmetics, always with a focus on safety, traceability and the sustainable use of by-products.
Key advantages
- The full value chain: From marine raw material to the finished, applied material.
- Solid scientific grounding: Chemistry, biology and materials science brought together.
- Circular economy: Adding value to fishing and aquaculture by-products.
- Regulatory awareness: Safety and quality requirements for each application sector.
- Your own project: Developing a biomaterial for a specific application.
Programme type
Master's Degree
Study mode
Online
Duration
1,500 hours
Modules
11
Programme highlights
- Know the sources: Identify marine resources suitable for producing materials.
- Extract and purify: Master the extraction processes for biopolymers and biominerals.
- Characterise: Apply physicochemical and mechanical characterisation techniques.
- Apply: Design materials for biomedicine, packaging and cosmetics.
- Boost your career: Open doors to biomaterials companies, technology centres and industry.
- Train to turn ocean resources into high-value, low-impact materials.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 11 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Marine Resources for Biomaterials
- Overview of marine biomaterials
- Fishing and aquaculture by-products
- Crustaceans as a source of chitin
- Fish skin, bones and scales
- Seaweeds and their polysaccharides
- Microalgae and cyanobacteria
- Sponges, corals and other invertebrates
- Mollusc shells
- Availability and seasonality of raw materials
- Sustainable sourcing
02
Chemistry of Marine Biopolymers
- Structure of polysaccharides
- Chitin and chitosan
- Alginates
- Carrageenans and agar
- Fucoidans and ulvans
- Marine collagen and gelatin
- Adhesive and structural proteins
- Degree of deacetylation and molecular weight
- Chemical modification of biopolymers
- Structure-function relationships
03
Extraction and Purification Processes
- Raw material pre-treatment
- Demineralisation and deproteinisation
- Conventional chemical extraction
- Enzymatic extraction
- Ultrasound- and microwave-assisted extraction
- Supercritical fluids
- Purification and fractionation
- Drying and stabilisation
- Process quality control
- Economic and environmental balance
04
Marine Bioceramics and Biominerals
- Calcium carbonate from shells
- Hydroxyapatite from fish bones
- Coral skeletons
- Biogenic silica from diatoms and sponges
- Calcination and conversion processes
- Porous bioceramics
- Polymer-ceramic composites
- Applications in bone regeneration
- Industrial and construction applications
- Limitations and challenges
05
Characterisation of Biomaterials
- Infrared spectroscopy
- X-ray diffraction
- Thermal analysis
- Electron microscopy
- Rheology
- Mechanical testing
- Porosity and specific surface area
- In vitro degradation
- Cytotoxicity testing
- Integrated interpretation of results
06
Materials Processing and Design
- Hydrogels
- Films and membranes
- Fibres and electrospinning
- Foams and sponges
- Micro- and nanoparticles
- Porous scaffolds
- D printing of biomaterials
- Functional coatings
- Blends and composites
- Application-driven design
07
Marine Biomaterials in Biomedicine
- Biocompatibility and biological response
- Dressings and wound healing
- Tissue engineering
- Bone and cartilage regeneration
- Controlled drug release
- Medical devices and classification
- Sterilisation of biomaterials
- Preclinical testing
- ISO 10993 standards
- Regulatory framework for medical devices
08
Packaging, Cosmetics and Other Applications
- Biodegradable packaging
- Edible films and coatings
- Food preservation
- Marine cosmetic ingredients
- Functional textiles
- Water treatment and adsorbents
- Agriculture and biostimulants
- Biomaterials for construction
- Food contact requirements
- Market analysis by sector
09
Safety, Quality and Regulation
- Raw material traceability
- Allergens and contaminants
- Good manufacturing practice
- ISO 9001 quality management systems
- Cosmetics regulation
- Food contact materials regulation
- Medical device regulation
- Access to genetic resources
- Technical documentation
- Audits and certification
10
Industrial Scale-Up and the Circular Economy
- From laboratory to pilot plant
- Industrial process design
- Production costs
- Marine biorefineries
- Industrial symbiosis with the fishing sector
- Life cycle assessment
- Business models
- Intellectual property and patents
- Project funding
- Industry case studies
11
Master's Final Project: Developing a Marine Biomaterial
- Defining the application
- Selecting the raw material
- State-of-the-art review
- Designing the production process
- Formulating the material
- Characterisation plan
- Safety and regulatory assessment
- Feasibility analysis
- Writing the dissertation
- Defence before a panel
Workload
Study Time and Workload
1500 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Graduates in chemistry, biotechnology, pharmacy or materials engineering: who want to specialise in biomaterials Biologists and marine science graduates: interested in adding value to marine resources Fishing and aquaculture industry technicians: looking to make the most of their by-products R&D professionals in packaging, cosmetics or healthcare: who need bio-based materials Researche
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Understand marine biomaterials
- 02Master extraction
- 03Characterise materials
- 04Design formulations
- 05Assess safety and regulation
- 06Scale up and add value
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Biomaterials R&D technician: Materials development in companies and technology institutes.
02By-product valorisation manager: Making the most of by-products in fishing and aquaculture.
03Formulation specialist: Cosmetics, packaging and healthcare products.
04Quality and regulatory specialist: Documentation and compliance for biomaterials.
05Researcher: Projects at universities and research centres.
06Entrepreneur: Founding technology-based biomaterials start-ups.
Questions
Entry Requirements
No. Practical content uses experimental data, real cases and simulations; if you have lab access, you can use it in your project.
No. It explains the regulatory framework but does not replace the authorisations or official training required to manufacture medical devices.
Chitosan, collagen, alginates, carrageenans and bioceramics such as hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate.
Yes. Packaging, cosmetics, textiles, agriculture, water treatment and construction are all application sectors.
Designing a marine biomaterial for a specific application, including process, characterisation and feasibility.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded, and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The programme involves 1500 hours of study. You can work at your own pace within the timetable we give you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, shown on this page and confirmed by our admissions team when you enquire.
On completing the programme you receive the Master's in Advanced Marine Biomaterials qualification awarded by Navalis Magna Institute.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Academic/professional profile: A degree in chemistry, biotechnology, biology, pharmacy, marine science, chemical or materials engineering or a related field; or proven professional experience in R&D. Language: A good working level of English to follow classes and materials. Technical requirements: A computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a webcam for live sessions and project presentations. Admissions process: Online application, profile review and a short interview with the academic team. We confirm your start date when you enquire.
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
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