Geophysics and Geology

Geophysics and geology together address the physical structure of the Earth and the processes that operate within and upon it, using the mathematical and physical sciences to interpret what is happening deep below the surface and how it connects to the landscape and geological record we can observe at the surface. Geology focuses on the rocks, minerals, and structures that make up the solid Earth, examining the processes of plate tectonics, volcanism, sedimentation, metamorphism, and erosion that have shaped the planet over billions of years. Geophysics uses physics to probe the Earth's interior, measuring seismic waves, gravitational and magnetic fields, and electrical properties to build a picture of what lies below the surface where direct observation is impossible.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme develops a thorough grounding in both disciplines, using each to illuminate the other. You will study rock-forming minerals and petrology, structural geology, sedimentary environments, seismology, gravity and magnetics, and the geophysical methods used in hydrocarbon exploration and environmental investigation. Fieldwork is central to the programme, and you will carry out geological mapping and geophysical surveys in a range of settings, developing the observational and interpretive skills that distinguish a trained geoscientist from a student who has only studied the subject in the classroom.

Edinburgh has one of the UK's leading geoscience departments, with active research groups in earth structure, volcanology, geodynamics, and environmental geophysics. The programme benefits from proximity to significant geological terrains in Scotland, including the ancient rocks of the Highlands and the volcanically active areas of the Hebrides.

Graduates work in the oil and gas sector, mining and minerals, environmental consultancy, engineering geology, government geological surveys, and academic research. Postgraduate study in geophysics, geology, or earth science is a common route for those wishing to specialise further.