BSc (Hons) Geology
95% OF OUR PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STUDENTS ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR COURSENATIONAL STUDENT SURVEY 2019
Geology is the study of the world beneath your feet - it's the course to choose if you want to really understand how the planet, the landscape and life have changed over billions of years.
Geology is concerned with the Earth's origin, structure, composition and history, as well as the physical, chemical and biological processes that have formed it. By graduation, you'll understand relevant scientific principles and how to apply them to a huge range of geological questions and problems.
You'll explore diverse topics, including how to describe, analyse and interpret rocks, how volcanoes are formed, how ice ages originate, how mountains form, how to search for oil and gas, and what Britain was like 500 million years ago. Petroleum Experts Ltd (Petex) has also donated 10 licences of the MOVE software suite, the commercial equivalent of which is £1,341,961.89 to support our teaching and learning.
Our Geology course emphasises applied geology, so you will learn vital skills for the workplace, including geographical information systems (GIS), geological mapping, and analysis of geological materials. We pride ourselves on offering some of the most extensive fieldwork of any UK university geology course, at locations in the UK and overseas, which currently include Azores and Spain. Follow us on Twitter.
What you will study
In the first year of the Geology degree, you will gain basic geological knowledge and scientific background. In years two and three, you will enjoy more detailed study and develop practical and transferable skills.
Year One: Geology degree
- The Dynamic Earth - 20 credits
- Rocks, Minerals and Fossils - 20 credits
- Basic Field Geology 1 (Pembrokeshire Field Excursion) - 20 credits
- Landform Systems - 20 credits
- Introduction to Data Analysis and GIS - 20 credits
- Geological Research Techniques - 20 credits
Year Two: Geology degree
- The Evolving Earth - 20 credits
- Sedimentology - 20 credits
- Structural Geology - 20 credits
- Petrology - 20 credits
- Geological Expedition (Almeria, Spain) - 20 credits
- Digital Mapping for Geology - 20 credits
Year Three: Geology degree
- Resource Geology - 20 credits
- Geophysical Methods - 20 credits
- Independent Geological Mapping and Research Project - 20 credits
- Volcanology - 20 credits
- Engineering and Mining Geology - 20 credits
- Hydrogeology - 20 credits
Careers
Our Geology courses generate motivated and able graduates with a range of key skills. They are highly valued by employers for the scope of their knowledge, and have excellent communication and critical thinking skills. Laboratory work and field projects ensure our students have strong research and team working skills.
By the time you graduate, you will understand scientific principles and apply them to geological questions and problems. Graduates from our Geology degree have very varied careers, including environmental geology, site investigation, mining companies, oil companies, quarrying and geological surveys. A significant number of our graduates also continue to taught postgraduate courses or research degrees here at the University or elsewhere.

My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.