Just 24 places are available for year 11 and 12 students to take part in the six-day course, A Practical Introduction to Temperate Marine Biology, during the April school holidays.

The course includes five days on Maria Island and one day at IMAS in Hobart.

Course coordinator Scott Ling said the course allowed students to experience university-level units alongside their pre-tertiary studies.

"Maria Island is a beautiful, unique place and a fantastic location for budding marine biologists to get a taste of life as a scientist," Dr Ling said.

"Students will go diving as well as monitoring marine life along the shore and will develop keen skills of observation and an eye for detail."

The course will delve into climate change, invasive species, pollution, debris, and social and economic impacts.

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"Tasmania's East Coast is at the forefront of climate change, with the Tasman Sea warming faster than almost anywhere else in the world," Dr Ling said.

"Each year, we observe more changes, including the arrival of warm-water invasive species from northerly waters.

"The data collected by course participants will be used for real scientific research and contributes to our ongoing monitoring of changes along the Tasmanian coastline."

"Many of the students who've done the course enjoyed it so much that they've gone on to the IMAS degree program at the University of Tasmania, ranked one of the best places in the world to study marine science."

Four Tasmanian and five interstate students will be awarded scholarships.

Those who apply must demonstrate a keen interest or experience in the marine environment, or socio-economic or geographic disadvantage.

The course costs $645 but will be free for the scholarship winners.

Visit the IMAS website to apply.

Applications close on February 24.