 Price$0 |  Duration14 Weeks. 4-5 hours per week. |  DeliveryOnline |  Available24 February 2025 |
Improve your fishing game while you help to maintain a sustainable fishery
Science of Fishing is for people who want to develop their skills and knowledge in fishing, enhance their recreational fishing experience, and contribute to a sustainable fishery.
You will learn about the science behind fishing techniques and how these interact with the biology and behaviour of a species, how recreational fisheries are sustainably managed, and how you can be a responsible fisher.
Science of Fishing is designed for everyone, so we offer it fully online and at no cost. We expect you'll need to spend 4-5 hours per week, and you can engage with the content in your own time, so easily fit around your work, life, and fishing.
Learning from experts from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, and advice from Paul Worsteling from iFish TV, you will explore habits of different species based on their environment, learn about the variety of fishing gear and methods, and understand the science of fishing sustainably.
Important and interesting questions for fishers include: How are species correctly identified? What do they eat? How does their preferred habitats and behaviour influence fishing techniques?
After completing Science of Fishing you will change the way you fish, with both an improved fishing experience and a greater understanding of how to fish safely and responsibly for the future.
Learn to identify a range of fish species commonly caught in Australian recreational fisheries
Discover preferred habitats and behaviour of fish that can improve your fishing techniques
Understand how to contribute to safe, responsible, and sustainable recreational fishing in Australia
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this really offered at no cost?
Yes! What you would normally pay to study Science of Fishing is covered by a 100% tuition fee scholarship in 2025. We apply automatically the scholarship when you enrol in the unit. If you have any questions, please reach out to our dedicated student support team.
Is Science of Fishing all I have to do?
Yes. Science of Fishing is what we call a 'unit' of study, another word for a 'subject'. A university course is built from a combination of these units.
In this case, the course that you will study Science of Fishing within is the Diploma of Sustainable Living. The Diploma is made up of eight units. Once you complete Science of Fishing, there is no obligation to undertake any further study.
We do hope you enjoy it though, and encourage you to look into continuing your studies in the Diploma of Sustainable Living once you complete Science of Fishing, such as with Science of Fishing 2.
Who can apply?
Science of Fishing is available to Australian citizens, NZ citizens, Permanent Residents and Humanitarian Visa Holders provided all studies are onshore in Australia.
What are the start dates for this unit?
24 February to 1 June 2025.
When do applications close for the next offering of this unit?
We recommended you apply no later than Sunday 23 February 2025. This is to allow enough time for your application to be processed and get you set up to access your Science of Fishing content on time.
Are there any pre-requisites for the unit?
No. You only need to meet the General Entry Requirements of the University as you we will be enrolling you in the Diploma of Sustainable Living to study Science of Fishing.
All you need to do is complete an application, and you likely don't need to even submit any documents, just fill in the form. The steps are explained below in the "Applying for Science of Fishing" section. Once submitted, we'll do all the work to get you ready to study.
I don't own a computer; can I still apply for the unit?
You will need to have access to a computer to complete this unit. If you don't have your own computer, perhaps someone in your family or a friend has one, or you could use a computer at your local library, on campus in student areas, or at the university library.
You also require a reliable internet connection. You should expect to download about 1-2 GB of data each month while studying the unit online.
Do I need to be available online at specific times?
No. You can complete the work in your own time. Content is released on a weekly basis, and you can engage with the content whenever you choose. The assessment tasks have due dates you need to be aware of, and your teacher and our student support team can help ensure you get them in your calendar and have all the support you need.
Are there exams or assignments?
Science of Fishing doesn't have exams. Assessments are instead conducted throughout the unit, and include online quizzes participation in online discussion forums, and short assignments.
Is there any face-to-face teaching?
No. This unit is entirely online.
Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
You do not need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
How do I apply for Science of Fishing?
We're going to do as much of this for you as we can. Once you're submitted your application, we'll process it and get in touch directly to get you prepared for your first online class.
To help with that application, we've outlined all the steps here. They are also below, to help get you through.
Submitting a new application for Science of Fishing
- Visit our application page and select "Start a new application" to create an account
- You'll receive an email to verify your account. Once verified, enter your details into the application.
- After personal details, you can enter in any qualifications you have. If you don't have any yet, just fill in the 'tell us about you' section. You don't need to attach copies of any qualifications if you do have them, as we can find most of them on our system.
- Select "Science of Fishing" as your course preference.
- Review; and submit. That's it!
From there we will process your application and enrol you into Science of Fishing. Once this is done, we'll contact you to finalise the pre-commencement administration. This is primarily to ensure that the tuition fee scholarship gets automatically applied and you don't have any fees to pay.
In the rare event we need some more details to process the application, we'll also get in touch directly.
When do applications close for the next offering of this unit?
We recommended you apply no later than Sunday 23 February 2025. This is to allow enough time for your application to be processed and get you set up to access your Science of Fishing content on time.
How will I know if my application is successful?
We will get in touch directly.
What happens if my application is not successful?
We will also be in touch directly; however this is rare. We'll do everything we can to get you though, and you'll be informed the whole way.
What does the online learning look like?
Online learning may involve combining online lectures, tutorials, workshops, group work, problem-based learning or practical exercises with other approaches such as:
- Video-conferencing
- Resource-based learning (for example using print, video and audio)
- Independent/group projects
- Discussion forums
Learning modules will be scheduled for release across the semester (often weekly or fortnightly).
What happens if I start studying Science of Fishing and am struggling to keep up. Where can I get help?
Please contact your lecturer in the first instance.
Alternatively, please contact us by email course.info@utas.edu.au or phone 13 8827 we will be able to assist you with other options.
What happens if I begin Science of Fishing after the official start date?
This unit is delivered fully online. For this reason, you can study flexibly to make up for any time that you may have missed. Please note however that there will be assessment tasks due on certain dates, so please contact us by email course.info@utas.edu.au or phone 13 8827, to discuss starting the unit late.
When I have completed Science of Fishing. How do I obtain my results?
The official release of results will occur on the date specified in the UTAS calendar. These results will be accessible from 9am on the specified date and are accessible via eStudent.
You can access your eStudent account to obtain an informal statement of your results. Further information on academic records and transcripts may be found at Examinations & Results.
Can I use Science of Fishing as credit towards a degree?
This unit is part of the Diploma of Sustainable Living, which requires eight units to complete. If you enjoy Science of Fishing and want to continue, we encourage you to explore other units in the diploma. These include Science of Fishing 2, Science of Gardening, and Backyard Biodiversity. All units in the Diploma are offered fully online without tuition fees if studied in 2025.