LONDON The university degree in the science of surfing is to be offered in Britain from next September. The three-year B.Sc. degree in surf science and technology will be taught at Plymouth University on the south coast. Course coordinator Malcolm Findlay, a senior lecturer in marine studies, said the degree would provide graduates with excellent career prospects in the surfing industry.

This is the first academically rigorous surf science course in the world we couldn't even find one in California, he said. Right from the start there is a practical element we will go to the beach and surf but we will be doing research and academic tasks alongside that. We have people who are international surfers and surfing administrators but who also have doctorates.

Findlay said the course would link aspects of ocean science, business and design and would be a springboard for young people looking for jobs designing and manufacturing surf equipment and clothing, running surf businesses or working in marketing and trade for big surf companies. We have been preparing this for a year and we have done a lot of market research.

Surfing is a multi-million dollar and probably multi-billion dollar industry worldwide so there are an awful lot of career opportunities. The first intake of surf science students, a maximum of 25, will be in September but Findlay hopes to increase that to 50 or 60 in a few years' time. (AFP)