Geological Oceanography

Geological oceanography is the study of the processes that shape the ocean floor and the geological record preserved within it, from the movement of tectonic plates and the formation of volcanic ridges to the deposition of marine sediments and the record they contain of past climates and environments. It brings together geology, geophysics, physical oceanography and environmental science to address some of the most fundamental questions about how the Earth system works, how it has changed over millions of years and what those changes tell us about the future.

At Bangor University this programme, which includes a foundation year and a sandwich year, develops your knowledge of marine geology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, ocean chemistry, physical oceanography and the remote sensing and analysis techniques used to investigate the deep ocean and its geological history. You will carry out fieldwork alongside laboratory and computational work, developing the practical skills in data collection, analysis and interpretation that research and professional practice in this field require. A sandwich year gives you substantial professional experience before you graduate, and work placements and a year abroad are also built into the programme.

Bangor's location in North Wales, with direct access to the coastal and offshore environments of the Irish Sea, provides a natural setting for marine field work.

Graduates of geological oceanography work in marine research institutes, oil and gas exploration companies, environmental consultancies, government agencies concerned with the marine environment and coastal management, and academic research. Roles in seismic data interpretation, marine geohazard assessment, marine environmental management and climate science are among the professional destinations. Offshore energy, including the growing offshore wind sector alongside traditional oil and gas, also recruits marine geoscientists.

Some graduates go on to postgraduate study or doctoral research in marine geology, oceanography, geophysics or climate science, deepening their expertise in a field where research activity is substantial and growing.