Program Overview

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Earth Sciences MGeol (Honours) 2025 entry

Overview

The MGeol in Earth Sciences is a five-year Integrated Masters course that combines undergraduate and postgraduate (Masters level) study, graduating with a Masters degree. The program equips students with the skills and knowledge to investigate Earth as an interconnected system, integrating the study of the oceans, atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere throughout Earth’s 4.6 billion year history and project potential paths for Earth’s near-future.

Accreditation

The MGeol in Earth Sciences from St Andrews is accredited by the Geological Society of London, which provides a faster track to gaining Chartered Geologist status.

UCAS code

F641

Start date

September 2025

End date

September 2030

Duration

Five years full time

School

School of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Entry requirements

SQA Highers

• Standard entry grades: AAAB, including two of the following subjects: Biology (or Human Biology), Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics, and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: AABB, including two of the following subjects: Biology (or Human Biology), Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics, and Physics.
• Gateway entry grades: Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

GCE A-Levels

• Standard entry grades: AAB, including two of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: ABB, including two of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics.

IB points

• Standard entry grades: 36 (HL 6,6,5), including HL6 in two of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental systems and societies (ES&S), Geography, Mathematics, and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL5 in two of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental systems and societies (ES&S), Geography, Mathematics, and Physics.

General entry requirements

• All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.
• SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following: Biology, Chemistry, Computing science, Geography, Applications of Mathematics, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology.
• GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following: Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology.

Course details

Fieldwork

• All students will obtain fieldwork skills via day and multiple residential field trips associated with individual modules, as well as up to four weeks of fieldwork associated with their independent research projects.
• Examples of the field trips that are part of the MGeol in Earth Sciences include:
  • three-day “Highland Fling” to renowned geological sites in the Scottish Highlands during first-year studies
  • six days of geological mapping in central Spain, examining multiple phases of continental collision and mountain building during second-year studies
  • six days in Rio Tinto investigating the geochemistry and geobiology of acid mine drainage in southern Spain
  • twelve days of mapping the iconic Moine Thrust system and Caledonian igneous complexes in the Scottish Highlands during third-year studies
  • a two-week transect of the Alpine orogenic belt through northern Italy and central Switzerland during fourth-year studies.

Modules

• In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours), you will take the required modules in Earth Sciences alongside modules in at least one other subject.
• Typically, you will take one to two Earth Sciences modules per semester during your first two years, and three to four during your third, fourth, and fifth years (known as Honours).
• This degree contains some core, compulsory modules which must be taken in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in.

First year

• Students are required to take at least one of the following modules in their first year:
  • Understanding Planet Earth: provides a foundation in the study of the Earth, introducing key elements of geological and environmental sciences.
  • Earth's Resource Challenges: introduces the fundamental roles Earth and environmental scientists play in society, addressing issues including natural resources, the hydrological cycle, natural hazards, and solutions to the climate crisis.
  • Astrobiology: The Search for Life in the Universe: covers diverse topics in biology, geology, astronomy, chemistry, philosophy, and international relations which together comprise the field of astrobiology.

Second year

• Students are required to take the following compulsory modules in their second year:
  • Dynamic Earth: The Earth System: focuses on Earth's history, including plate tectonics and its role in the evolution of Earth's environment and the history of life.
  • Dynamic Earth: Magma, Minerals and Metamorphism: focuses on the geology and geochemistry of the solid Earth and processes in Earth's interior.
  • Dynamic Earth: Earth Surface Processes: focuses on the processes that occur in the outer envelopes of the Earth including land-atmosphere interactions, oceanography, biogeochemical cycles, and geomicrobiology.

Honours - compulsory (third and fourth years)

• Advanced Field Skills in Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Coding and Modelling in Earth Sciences
• Data Analysis in Earth Sciences
• Geochemistry
• GIS and Spatial Analysis for Earth Scientists
• Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
• Processes and Products in Sedimentary Systems
• Structural Geology and Tectonics

Honours - optional

• Optional modules offered in the past include:
  • Communication and Teaching in Science
  • Core to Crust – High Temperature
  • Evolution and dynamics of the silicate Earth
  • Global Biogeochemical Cycles
  • Global climate change
  • Global Resource Challenges
  • Work placement in Earth Sciences

Fifth year

• During your final year, you will be able to take a number of modules at Masters level, providing advanced training in Earth Sciences.
• In previous years, Masters-level topics have included:
  • Applied Digital Field Methods
  • Core to Crust Ore Genesis
  • Metallogeny
  • Isotope Geochemistry: Theory, Techniques, and Applications
  • Pollution and aqueous chemistry
  • Special Topics in Climate Science
  • Special Topics in Geochemistry
  • The Chemistry of the Solar System

Teaching

Teaching format

• The School’s teaching philosophy is to provide a thorough understanding of Earth Sciences through experiential learning via field and lab-based study, first-hand experience in collecting data, testing hypotheses, undertaking analyses, and student-led investigative research.
• The MGeol in Earth Sciences is taught through a combination of:
  • lectures
  • seminars
  • tutorials
  • practical classes
  • fieldwork
  • research projects

Assessment

• During first and second year, all modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and written examinations, including short questions and essays.
• At Honours level, some modules are assessed through coursework (50%) and a final examination (50%), while other modules are based entirely on coursework.
• The final-year dissertation is assessed through a written dissertation, project proposal, and presentation.

Fees

Scotland

• £1,820

England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man

• £9,535

EU and overseas

• £31,670

Joint Honours degrees

• You can also take Earth Sciences as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.
• UCAS code CFC6: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Earth Sciences
• UCAS code FF16: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chemistry and Earth Sciences
• UCAS code CFC7: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Earth Sciences and Geography

Careers

• The School is proactive about developing career opportunities, and career activities are provided for all students from first year onwards.
• Assessment styles imitate real workplace scenarios, and many modules in Honours years are supported by visits to and by industry partners, and provide training in industry-standard software packages.
• As a result, graduates are well-prepared for a wide range of career options, and graduate employment prospects are consistently among the best in the UK.

Research areas

• The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences has a strong research focus, with staff expertise in a range of areas, including:
  • Astrobiology
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Climate change
  • Earth surface processes
  • Environmental science
  • Geochemistry
  • Geomicrobiology
  • Geophysics
  • Geotechnics
  • Hydrology
  • Igneous and metamorphic petrology
  • Natural hazards
  • Oceanography
  • Palaeontology
  • Planetary science
  • Sedimentology
  • Structural geology and tectonics