Earth Science

This is a Connected Degree
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Earth science is critical for understanding how our planet works, and how we can use its resources responsibly to ensure a sustainable future. It underpins current efforts to move to greener energy, understand and tackle the impacts of climate change, predict and plan against natural hazards, and to build safe, sustainable and resilient cities.

On this Earth science degree course, you'll follow one of three pathways at the end of your first year
These pathways will provide you with the skills for a career across the diverse Earth science space, either by direct entry to the workplace or by taking one of our applied Earth science Master's degrees.

BSc (Hons) Geology pathway
Geology is the study of the earth beneath our feet – 4.5 billion years of rich and fascinating history. On this pathway, you’ll examine the immense natural processes that have shaped our planet's evolution through geological time, including tectonics, climate change and natural hazards.

Geologists work to understand, locate and sustainably manage the earth's resources. By learning how the earth's natural resources were formed, you'll develop skills essential to addressing global challenges and transitioning towards a green economy.

BEng (Hons) Engineering Geology pathway
As the only engineering degree taught in science anywhere in the UK, this course will enable you to apply geoscience to the built environments of the future.

On this pathway, you’ll learn the fundamentals of geological science and develop the technical expertise to work on the design and construction of tunnels, roads, dams, and surface and underground mine excavations, at a university where engineering geology and geotechnics have been taught for more than 50 years.

BSc (Hons) Environmental Geology pathway
Environmental geologists investigate the interface between the solid earth and the environment, understanding the fundamentals of geological sciences and focusing on how Earth’s climate has evolved through geological time.

On this pathway you will learn a unique and diverse set of skills critical to many modern day environmental issues, including renewable energies, the shift to a low carbon economy, water resource management and environmental mitigation and remediation of industrial land.

Careers and opportunities

Careers in geology, engineering geology and environmental geology are particularly buoyant at present with demand being driven by large infrastructure projects (HS2), offshore wind projects, and nuclear power station construction. This means geologists are in high demand – in 2020, the role of geologist was added to the UK shortage occupation list.

Graduate roles

Roles our graduates have taken on include:

• mining geologist

• well-site geologist

• geotechnical engineer

• geographical information system (GIS) mapper

• offshore geophysicist

• engineering geologist

• mineral exploration geologist

• geo-environmental engineer

Graduate destinations

They've gone on to work for organisations such as:

• GEA

• Gardline

• Global Map Aid

• National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

• Land Referencing Services (LRS)

• Hydrock

• Ordnance Survey

• Aggregate Industries UK

• Leap Environmental

• Hummingbird Resources

Placement year

After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. Placements give you the opportunity to apply what you've learnt so far in a real workplace, boosting your employability and making you attractive to employers after graduation.

Subject options

This course offers the following subject options:

All 3 pathways share a common first year.

Core modules:

• Analysis of the Earth and Environment (20 credits)
• Earth Materials (20 credits)
• Engineering Geology and Geohazards (20 credits)
• Global Environmental Challenges (20 credits)
• How the Earth Works (20 credits)
• Sedimentology and Palaeontology (20 credits)

BSc (Hons) Geology pathway (Year 2):

Core modules:

• Dynamic Earth (20 credits)
• Gis and Remote Sensing (20 credits)
• Professional Skills and Careers (20 credits)
• Sedimentary Processes and Facies Analysis (20 credits)
• Structural Geology (20 credits)

Optional modules:

• Hydrogeology and Fluid Flow (20 credits)
• Volcanoes (20 credits)

BSc (Hons) Geology pathway (Year 3)

Core modules:

• Earth Science in the Workplace (20 credits)
• Mineral Resources & Exploration (20 credits)
• Research Project (40 credits)

Optional modules:

• Analytical Methods for Earth and Environmental Sciences (20 credits)
• Applications of Palaeontology & Sedimentology (20 credits)
• Earth Evolution & Plate Tectonics (20 credits)
• Engineering Geology Practice (20 credits)
• Hazardscapes (20 credits)
• Introduction to Teaching (20 credits)
• Quaternary Geology & Geomorphology (20 credits)

BEng (Hons) Engineering Geology pathway (Year 2)

Core modules

• Engineering Geology of Soil and Rock (20 credits)
• Gis and Remote Sensing (20 credits)
• Hydrogeology and Fluid Flow (20 credits)
• Professional Skills and Careers (20 credits)
• Structural Geology (20 credits)
• Terrain Evaluation (20 credits)

BEng (Hons) Engineering Geology pathway (Year 3):

Core modules:

• Earth Science in the Workplace (20 credits)
• Engineering Geology Practice (20 credits)
• Ground Engineering (20 credits)
• Quaternary Geology & Geomorphology (20 credits)
• Research Project (40 credits)

BSc (Hons) Environmental Geology pathway (Year 2)

Core modules:

• Energy Resources and the Science of Zero Carbon (20 credits)
• Environmental Chemistry and Monitoring (20 credits)
• Gis and Remote Sensing (20 credits)
• Professional Skills and Careers (20 credits)

Optional modules:

• Environmental Fieldwork and Professional Skills (20 credits)
• Hydrogeology and Fluid Flow (20 credits)
• Terrain Evaluation (20 credits)

BSc (Hons) Environmental Geology pathway (Year 3):

Core modules:

• Earth Science in the Workplace (20 credits)
• Environmental Assessment and Management (20 credits)
• Research Project (40 credits)

Optional modules:

• Analytical Methods for Earth and Environmental Sciences (20 credits)
• Climate Change (20 credits)
• Earth Evolution & Plate Tectonics (20 credits)
• Engineering Geology Practice (20 credits)
• Environmental Pollution and Waste Management (20 credits)
• Introduction to Teaching (20 credits)

Placement year:
Boost your employability by taking an industry-based work placement year with a relevant organisation or immerse yourself in another culture by studying for a year at one of our partner universities worldwide.

This is an amazing opportunity to either put everything you’ve learned so far into action in a real workplace or expand your horizons and set yourself up for your future career by studying abroad and becoming a student ambassador for our university."
Depending on what you choose, we’ll help you find and secure an exciting placement opportunity within an appropriate company or organisation, or you’ll expand your global perspective and develop additional skills to boost your future career during a study abroad year.

This is a Connected Degree:

We're the only university that gives you the flexibility to choose when to take a work placement. Take it after your 2nd year, before returning to finish your studies. Or after your final year, connecting you into the workplace.

If you're not sure if or when to take your placement, don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to settle into your studies and explore your options before making your choice.

You’ll be assessed through:

• laboratory reports
• oral and poster presentations
• reports on field-based projects
• computer-based assessment

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• The Geological Society