Environmental Geoscience with a Year of Study Abroad

Environmental geoscience combines the tools and methods of the earth sciences, including geology, hydrology, geochemistry, and geophysics, with a specific focus on the environmental processes and challenges that make these disciplines so important in the twenty-first century. Understanding how the natural world functions as a system, how human activities are altering that system, and what those changes mean for water, soil, the atmosphere, and the communities that depend on them is a matter of pressing global significance. Environmental geoscience trains you to investigate these processes rigorously and to apply that understanding to real environmental problems.

At Cardiff University, this three-year full-time programme includes a study abroad year, giving you the opportunity to explore a different geological and environmental landscape in another country. You will study Earth systems science, geochemistry, hydrogeology, soil science, climate systems, environmental impact assessment, and the quantitative methods needed to analyse environmental data. Fieldwork is a central part of the learning experience, taking you into natural environments where you can observe and measure the processes you study in lectures and laboratories.

Cardiff is well located for field study in diverse geological and environmental settings, and the school has strong research connections in earth and environmental science. A typical entry tariff of 136 points is expected.

Environmental geoscience graduates work in environmental consultancy, the energy sector, water utilities, government environmental agencies, engineering firms, and conservation organisations. Roles in contaminated land assessment, hydrogeology, climate science, environmental impact assessment, and resource management are all accessible to graduates with this background. Many continue to postgraduate study, either in environmental science, geoscience, or a professional qualification in environmental management or impact assessment.

The year abroad adds international experience and perspective that is valued by employers across the global environmental sector.