Environmental Geoscience
Durham University
UCAS Code: F630 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
Specific subjects/grades required for entry: Two Science subjects. Specific subjects excluded for entry: Critical Thinking and General Studies. Information: Applicants taking Science A-levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This refers only to English A Levels.
Access to HE Diploma
We require 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 (or equivalent). Applicants may be required to meet additional subject-specific requirements for particular courses at Durham.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Seventeen points (6, 6, 5) at Higher Level including two Science subjects.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Advanced Higher
General information on subjects/grades required for entry: Two Science subjects required.
Scottish Higher
We will normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. If an applicant has not been able to take 3 Advanced Highers, offers may be made with a combination of Advanced Highers and Highers, or on a number of Highers.
At Durham we welcome applications from students of outstanding achievement and potential from all educational backgrounds. We will consider applicants studying T level qualifications for entry to many of our courses. Where a course requires subject specific knowledge and this is not covered within the T level being studied, you may need to supplement your T level studies with a suitable qualification to meet this requirement, for example at A level. Where this is needed this will be clearly stated in our entry requirements. Detailed entry requirements can be found on individual course entries on our courses database. https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/courses/f630/#entry-requirements-1237458
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Environmental Geoscience is a topical and growing area of study as society increasingly acknowledges the risks of deteriorating environmental conditions to the planet and navigates solutions to protect its future. This BSc connects Earth’s resources with humanity’s response to some of today’s global challenges such as climate change, sustainability and pollution.
Our flexible degree puts you in control, giving you both the fundamentals and increased specialisation as you progress through the degree, allowing you to choose a pathway of most interest to you.
Combining academic excellence, cutting-edge research and links to industry, the course will equip you with the tools needed for employment in a range of sectors, including environmental management, water management, energy, mining and geotechnics, or for further study or research. The course has a special emphasis on employability and benefits from consultations with experts from the industry, including Amec, Atkins, the Environment Agency, English Nature and Mott MacDonald.
In the first year, you will develop a fundamental understanding of Earth sciences, mapping skills, remote sensing and data analysis. Year 2 specialises more in environmental aspects, during which you will develop your knowledge of laboratory techniques, sedimentology and climate. In Year 3, you will undertake a research dissertation and also experience working in small groups on an environmental management project of your choice.
You may be able to transfer to the four-year MSci degree in Earth Sciences at the end of your second year. The fourth year combines a bespoke research project in your specialism, with advanced modules designed to integrate your Earth Science knowledge for vocational and/or research applications. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four.
Modules
Year 1
Core modules:
Earth Materials introduces you to Earth minerals and rocks and teaches you techniques for identifying them.
Field Studies explores techniques for description and interpretation of natural geological features. This module also covers mapping skills, and the observation, recording and processing techniques needed for fieldwork and imagery.
Understanding Earth Sciences covers an introduction to the areas of petrology, sedimentology, structural geology and palaeontology and relates the processes to the plate tectonic cycle.
Environment and Resources examines formation, distribution and extraction of the Earth's resources and energy, along with the water cycle.
Geoinformatics introduces the fundamentals of Earth observation and remote sensing. You will learn how to apply geospatial and digital cartography skills to plot and interpret your own results.
Examples of optional modules:
Mathematical Methods in Geosciences
Further Mathematics for Geoscientists.
Year 2
Core modules:
Sedimentary Environments covers the processes involved in the formation of sedimentary rocks and application of the techniques used to analyse these processes and a variety of environments.
Isotopes and Climate examines how stable isotopes can be used in understanding modern environment and climate systems, and in describing major events in the Earth's climate evolution. The module covers human impact on the global climate and how to understand and analyse future climate change predictions.
Field work (Environmental) introduces the principles of laboratory and field investigations to prepare you for further research in your final-year dissertation.
Examples of optional modules:
Structural Geology and Tectonics
Geophysical Methods for Geoscientists (essential for Geological Society accreditation)
Igneous and Metamorphic Geochemistry and Petrology
Modelling Earth Processes
Ancient Life and its Environment.
Year 3 (Year 4 if undertaking placement or year abroad)
Core modules:
Worth one-third of your final-year marks, you will produce an independent research Dissertation based on a computing, field or laboratory project chosen to suit your interests.
Environmental Geochemistry introduces a range of pollutants and their behaviour in the environment. It covers a range of common pollution problems and solutions for controlling pollutant movement in the environment, as well as waste and water management.
Environmental Management covers environmental economics and impact assessment through a range of UK case studies on water quality management practices and treatment technologies, flood risk and management, and air quality control.
Examples of optional modules:
Petrology, Geochemistry and Global Tectonics (Field work)
Volcanology and Magmatism
Deformation Processes in the Lithosphere
Earth Structure and Dynamics
Hazardous Geophysical Flows
Earth System and Climate
Earth Sciences into Schools.
Assessment methods
You will be assessed through a combination of coursework, class tests and end-of-year examinations. A significant proportion of your final assessment will be through your environmental geoscience research dissertation in Year 3.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Durham City
College allocation pending
Earth Sciences
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Earth sciences
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Earth sciences
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
The market for geologists is has been quite linked to the oil industry for some time now, and the drop in the price of oil has meant the industry has stopped recruiting as many people for the time being. Geologists are still in demand, though, so the main effect has been to reduce the opportunities - and salaries - for geologists working abroad. At home, the oil industry remains a big employer, and so are the mining, civil engineering, construction and consultancy industries, with geology graduates working as geologists, geophysicists, civil engineers and environmental professionals.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Earth sciences
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£25k
£31k
£41k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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