The Marine Institute is a unit of the University of Georgia's School of Marine Programs. Its facilities are available for use by graduate students who have completed their formal classroom studies at an accredited college or university and wish to pursue their degree requirement research in estuarine or marine ecological studies. See the research access Memorandum for further information on how to apply for research access.

The Marine Institute facilities are also available for use by official university classes and researchers (faculty and graduate students) with a reasonable need for access to Sapelo Island for education or research. If the UGA Marine Institute is not the most appropriate avenue for access to Sapelo Island you have several good options. See: FAQs and other information for official guests of UGAMI.

The Marine Institute offers a UGA Marine Institute Student Intern Program designed to allow first year graduates students and advanced undergraduate students to learn about basic environmental research through hands-on experience under the guidance of Marine Institute resident faculty. This program has been temporarily suspended for the 2004-2005 academic year please contact Jon Garbisch for further information.

The Marine Institute offers a Visiting Scientist Program designed to enrich the research programs of the Institute with the fresh perspectives of experienced outside scientists. Since 1986, a private foundation has provided funding to support 29 Visiting Scientists: eighteen from 13 foreign countries, and eleven from 10 of the United States.