Program Overview

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BSc Environmental Geoscience - 2026 entry

Overview

Designed to equip you with an advanced understanding of the geology, chemistry and physics of the Earth and to tackle global environmental challenges Gain technical experience through more than 60 days of fieldwork, as well as laboratory classes, optional industry placement and independent research opportunities Study in Cornwall at Exeter’s Penryn Campus and gain access to world-class geoscience case studies on your doorstep Taught by the Camborne School of Mines, a combined geoscience and mining department with an international reputation for research-inspired teaching Excellent industrial links ensure that the skills gained will be highly valued by employers. Recent partners include: Rio Tinto, British Geological Survey, European Space Agency and CL:AIRE.

Entry Requirements

Typical Offer

• A-Level: ABB
• IB: 32/655
• BTEC: DDM

Contextual Offers

• A-Level: BBC
• IB: 28/554
• BTEC: DMM

Specific Subject Requirements

• GCE A-Level in two science subjects* (see below) at grade B or A-Level Geology at grade B.
• Two sciences at HL5 or Geology at HL5
• Applicants studying one of the following subjects in the BTEC Extended Diploma, BTEC Diploma or BTEC Extended Certificate will be considered without the specific GCE A-Level subject requirements: Applied Science, Engineering.

GCSE Requirements

• English Language and Mathematics: C or 4

Access to HE

• 24 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade.
• either 12 L3 Credits at Merit Grade in Geology OR 24 L3 Credits at Merit Grade in two acceptable Science subject areas.

T-Level

• Distinction in T-level Design, surveying and planning for construction only

Other Accepted Qualifications

View other accepted qualifications

English Language Requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2.

Course Content

Year 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • CSM1042: Dynamic Planet
  • CSM1031: Earth and Environmental Chemistry
  • CSM1043: Crystallography, Mineralogy and Gemstones
  • CSM1044: Earth History and Palaeontology
  • CSM1036: Field Geology and Geological Maps
  • CSM1041: Quantitative Methods for Geoscientists
  • GEO1405B: Earth System Science
  • CSM1904: CSM Professionalism Year 1

Year 2

• Compulsory modules:
  • CSM2183: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
  • CSM2184: Geological Mapping Techniques
  • CSM2190: Geophysics
  • CSM2327: Igneous and Metamorphic Geology
  • CSM2052: Grand Geoenvironmental Challenges
  • GEO2441: Remote Sensing for Environmental Management
• Optional modules:
  • GEO2454: Waste and Society
  • GEO2457: Physical Ocean Processes
  • CSM2185: Geotechnics
  • CSM2904: CSM Professionalism Year 2

Year 3

• Compulsory modules:
  • CSM3417: Dissertation Project
  • CSM3047: GIS for Geologists
  • CSM3072: Climate change: Past and Future
• Optional modules:
  • CSM3049: Contaminated Land Management and Remediation
  • CSM3416: International Field Class
  • CSM3152: Hydrogeology
  • CSM3904: CSM Professionalism Year 3
  • CSM3070: Volcanology
  • CSM3071: Geological History of Life on Earth
  • CSM3061: Energy Resource Geology
  • CSM3409: Politics, Mining and Sustainable Development
  • CSM3444: Soil Mechanics with Mine Tailings Engineering
  • CSM3415: Surveying and Digital Mapping

Fees

Tuition Fees for 2025 entry

• UK students: £9,535 per year
• International students: £30,900 per year

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships.

Fieldwork

All our Geology degree programmes provide a wealth of practical experience of working in the field at amazing locations across the UK and abroad.

• The first year includes a six-day residential field course in Pembrokeshire along with nine one-day field-classes in Cornwall.
• The second year includes 34 days of fieldwork, in locations that include Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
• The third year includes a geological field course in Cyprus, Italy or southern Spain.

Fieldwork is assessed through field notebooks, technical reports, and practical field-based assignments.

Learning and Teaching

Learning on Campus

Learning and teaching are delivered through a combination of lectures, ‘hands on’ practical classes, seminars, tutorials, field-based teaching, and independent study. Laboratory practical classes will develop your understanding of a range of geoscience topics and help put theory into practice.

On average you will have 18 teaching hours per week and will need to undertake additional independent study (e.g., directed reading, assignments, and project work). You can expect your total workload to average about 40 hours per week during term time.

Research-led Culture

You will benefit from being taught by experts active in internationally-recognised research. In doing so, you will discuss the very latest ideas, research discoveries and new technologies in seminars and in the field, and you will become actively involved in a research project yourself. All our academic staff are active in internationally-recognised scientific research across a wide range of topics.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary between modules and may include individual or group reports, presentations, practical write-ups and exams. More innovative assessment techniques are also used, and may include the use of websites, posters, social media, videos, science communication, and dragons-den style presentations. You must pass the first year in order to progress to the second year, but your first-year marks do not count towards your final degree classification.

Your Future

Geologists are required to help the global community deal with a range of environmental problems related to climate, energy, water, air pollution, natural hazards, supply of raw materials, and more.

Geology and geoscience degrees not only prepare you to tackle the world’s biggest environmental challenges, but they also lead to high employment rates and decent salaries, with graduate opportunities in the UK and around the world. The Camborne School of Mines Association and the award-winning University of Exeter Careers Service have the skills and a strong network of alumni to help you find employment.

Career Paths

Our graduates enjoy excellent career opportunities in a range of subjects, including mineral exploration, hydrogeology, geophysics, geotechnics, and environment-related industries. Graduates also go on to roles outside of geology, utilising the array of transferable skills they have developed. Recent graduates work in fields as diverse as the UK civil service, Arup Geotechnics, the National Trust, the Ministry of Defence and Geomarine Ltd.

The broad-based skills acquired during your degree will give you an excellent grounding for a wide variety of careers, not only those related to Geology but also in wider fields. Examples of roles recent graduates are now working as include:

• Chartered Surveyor
• Engineering Project Manager
• Project Engineer
• Engineering Professional
• Estimator, Valuer or Assessor
• Environment Professional
• Financial Accounts
• IT Operations Technician
• Laboratory Technician
• Physical Scientist

Employer-valued Skills

Career opportunities for geologists are limitless. Our programmes provide the essential skills for employment in a modern workplace, including discipline specific skills like Geographical Information Systems (GIS), geological mapping and fieldwork, mineral deposit identification and exploration, scientific programming, and use of technical software, in addition to transferable skills such as problem solving, communication, teamwork, leadership, and quantitative data analysis.

Geologists from the University of Exeter are recognised as being articulate, resourceful and diligent, and claim great job satisfaction and excellent salaries.