Earth Sciences
Earth sciences is the study of our planet, its structure, its history, and the dynamic processes that shape it. It encompasses geology, geophysics, geochemistry, oceanography, and atmospheric science, drawing on physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics to understand everything from the movements of tectonic plates to the chemistry of ocean sediments to the processes that produce earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and climate change. At a time when the intersection of human activity and Earth systems has never been more urgent, earth scientists are central to some of the most important challenges facing humanity.
At University College London, this three-year, full-time programme develops your understanding of Earth systems across the full range of relevant disciplines. You will study the physical and chemical processes that operate within and at the surface of the Earth, develop skills in geological mapping and fieldwork, work with quantitative data and computational tools, and engage with the deep-time perspective that geology uniquely provides. UCL has strong research strengths across the geosciences, and you will be studying in an active research environment where the questions you explore in lectures and laboratories are also being pursued by world-leading researchers.
London's scientific and professional infrastructure, including the Natural History Museum and major earth science employers, adds a further dimension to the programme.
Graduates in earth sciences go on to careers in oil and gas exploration, renewable energy, environmental consultancy, engineering geology, hydrogeology, mining, climate science, academic research, and public policy. The ability to work with complex data, to think across multiple time scales, and to combine field observation with laboratory and computational analysis makes earth scientists versatile and in demand across a range of technical and applied fields. Many graduates also proceed to postgraduate study in geosciences, environmental science, or related disciplines.