Course summary

Join a University ranked second in the UK for 'Earth systems and environmental sciences' research (THE analysis of REF 2021) with an excellent reputation for teaching and learning (UK top ten for Geology, which includes Earth Sciences, Complete University Guide 2023). Examine the interactions between the geology, biology, chemistry and physics of Earth's surface, oceans and atmosphere, and gain a deep understanding of Earth's environment and how it can be influenced by human activities. Learn with experts whose research feeds directly into your studies at the cutting edge of scientific developments. Recent second-year units have included Soils and the Critical Zone, Atmospheric Processes and Analytical Geochemistry. Your third year is spent abroad, studying units comparable to those offered at Bristol. In recent years, students have been to North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. To find out more about studying abroad, visit the Centre for Study Abroad. The final year of the MSci course allows you to develop and bring to fruition an in depth research project, closely working with one of our internationally renown members of staff, preparing you for further research or boosting your career opportunities. You will gain plenty of hands-on experience, with an extensive programme of fieldwork both in the UK and overseas, the cost of which is included in your tuition fee. Field trips are a huge part of why our school community is so close-knit, giving you the chance to get to know your course mates and key staff while honing your practical skills. The skills developed throughout your studies are highly valued by employers: from scientific and technical skills including coding, numerical modelling, chemistry lab skills, and data analysis, to transferable skills such as communication, creativity and resilience.