The University of Fort Hare (UFH) has joined a consortium of nine South African universities and five European partners to launch the South African Master in Ocean Sciences (SAMOS) programme – an ambitious initiative that promises to transform postgraduate training in Ocean Sciences across the continent.
Applications for the first intake are now open, with the closing date set for 31 August.
The programme, which will run from 2025 to 2028, is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and funded through the EU’s Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) programme. Associate Professor Niall Vine from UFH’s Department of Biotechnology & Biological Sciences described the collaboration as “the most ambitious effort yet to strengthen South Africa’s position in the global Ocean Sciences arena, while meeting pressing national and regional needs in the Blue Economy.”
Prof Vine represents the university on the SAMOS Steering Committee.
A modern, African-rooted curriculum
According to him, SAMOS has been designed to offer a “modernised, interdisciplinary curriculum that cuts across physical and chemical oceanography, marine biology, social sciences, law, and the humanities — all framed within an African context.”
The two-year Master’s degree combines coursework in the first year with a minor dissertation in the second, equipping graduates with both theoretical knowledge and practical research skills. “Our goal is to produce professionals prepared for careers in the blue bio-economy, marine research, and the conservation of South Africa’s coastal and offshore ecosystems,” Prof Vine added.
UFH’s contribution to SAMOS
UFH will play a significant role in both leadership and teaching. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Partnerships and Innovation, Dr Taole-Mjimba, serves on the Executive Committee.
Academically, UFH staff will contribute to teaching and supervision. Prof Vine will lecture on aquaculture as part of the Blue Economy module and supervise mini-dissertation projects. Biochemistry colleagues Professor Graeme Bradley and Dr Ntombekhaya Ntombi will also offer research opportunities for students.
Programme administration and structure
From 2026, students will register at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Coursework will be delivered at Nelson Mandela University’s Ocean Sciences Campus in Gqeberha during the first year, while the second year will focus on research at one of the nine participating universities, including UFH.
The programme is open to students holding a BSc Honours degree, or those completing one in 2025, in Biological Sciences or Oceanography.
Benefits for the Eastern Cape and beyond
The SAMOS programme is particularly important for regions such as the Eastern Cape, where postgraduate opportunities in Ocean Sciences are limited. Prof Vine highlighted that “at present, South Africa has seven universities offering Masters degrees in Ocean Sciences, but these are usually research-only and limited in scope. Expertise at many institutions is narrow, making it difficult to cover the full spectrum of contemporary Ocean Sciences.”
By pooling resources nationally and internationally, SAMOS addresses these gaps. “The ethos is collaboration — universities working together for the common good, sharing expertise and knowledge so that students, staff, and institutions all benefit,” he noted.
Preparing graduates for the Blue Economy
In addition to coursework, SAMOS prepares students for the workplace. Graduates will develop skills in problem solving, writing, communication, data handling, teamwork, entrepreneurship, project management, and fundraising — all highly valued by employers.
Students from other African countries will be able to enrol, and coursework modules will be made accessible to professionals in the workforce for ongoing professional development.
A milestone in collaborative higher education
Prof Vine believes SAMOS represents a milestone in South African higher education: “This is the first coordinated, interdisciplinary Master’s degree in Ocean Sciences designed from the ground up for Africa. By focusing on our southern oceans and coastal ecosystems, while developing the skills needed in the workplace, SAMOS will empower a new generation of scientists and leaders.”
For UFH, participation reaffirms the university’s growing role in impactful research collaborations while offering its students a direct pathway into one of the fastest-growing and most vital fields of the 21st century.
To apply visit the SAMOS website: http://samos-edu.eu/
