BSc in Geoscience

Program Overview

The program offers a wide range of optional modules, allowing students to specialize in areas of interest, and includes fieldwork opportunities for hands-on experience. Graduates are well-prepared for careers in Earth Sciences and related fields, including mineral exploration, environmental consultancies, and teaching.

Program Outline

The program aims to:

• Provide fundamental knowledge of Earth Sciences: covering areas like petrology, sedimentology, structural geology, and paleontology.
• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills: equipping graduates for careers in a variety of sectors.
• Foster an understanding of Earth's role in current global challenges: including climate change, resource depletion, and natural hazards.
• Cultivate independent research abilities: preparing students for further academic pursuits or professional careers in research.

Outline:

Year 1:

• Focuses on developing fundamental understanding of Earth Sciences through a combination of lectures, practicals, tutorials, and fieldwork.
• Introduces core concepts through modules like Field Studies, Understanding Earth Sciences, Introductory Data Science, and Sustainability.
• Offers optional modules in Mathematical Methods in Geosciences, Further Mathematics for Geoscientists, Earth Materials, and Environmental Earth Science.

Year 2:

• Deepens geological knowledge with a focus on igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, and tectonic processes.
• Offers a wider range of optional modules, including Structural Geology and Tectonics, Sedimentary Environments, Geophysical Methods for Geoscientists, Isotopes and Climate, Fieldwork, Igneous and Metamorphic Processes, Modelling Earth Processes, Geophysical Data Applications, Ancient Life and its Environment, Frontiers in Palaeontology, Earth System and Climate: The Quaternary, and Earth System and Climate: Long Term Processes.

Year 3:

• Includes a mandatory research dissertation based on student's chosen field of interest.
• Offers a wide array of optional modules, allowing students to specialize in areas like Monitoring the Oceans, Environmental Geochemistry, Volcanology and Magmatism, Earth Sciences into Schools, Habitable Environments (Astrobiology), Earth Structure and Dynamics, Earthquake Sources and Waves, Environmental Management, Western Alps Fieldtrip, Groundwater Hydrology, Atmospheric Circulation and Dynamics, Tectonic Processes and Renewable Geo-resources, Polar Quaternary Environmental Processes, and Geochemistry of the Earth.

Additional Pathways:

• Students have the opportunity to apply for the 'with Year Abroad' or 'with Placement' pathways during their second year.
• These pathways extend the program to four years and provide valuable real-world experience.

Assessment:

• Assessment includes coursework, class tests, and end-of-year examinations.
• A significant portion of the final assessment is based on the research dissertation in the final year.
• Assessment methods aim to evaluate geological knowledge, alongside critical analysis, project management, and scientific writing skills.

Teaching:

• The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, practical classes, tutorials, and fieldwork.
• The balance shifts toward greater emphasis on self-directed learning and research methods as students progress.
• Fieldwork opportunities are incorporated throughout the program to provide hands-on experience and independent research practice.

Careers:

• The program equips graduates with the knowledge and skills to pursue careers in Earth Sciences and related fields.
• Potential career paths include mineral exploration, petroleum geology, engineering geology, environmental and hydrogeology consultancies, GIS, geological surveys, teaching, business management, insurance and accounting, banking, and finance.
• Recent graduates have worked with renowned companies like ATKINS, ARUP, Centrica, and the Environment Agency.

Other:

• The program offers optional field courses within the degree to provide direct application of theoretical knowledge.
• Students are encouraged to take advantage of scholarships and bursaries to support their academic journey.

The tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved. The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government. The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).