Earth Science

This is a Connected Degree
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Earth science is critical for understanding how our planet works, and how we can use its resources responsibly to ensure a sustainable future. It underpins current efforts to move to greener energy, understand and tackle the impacts of climate change, predict and plan against natural hazards, and to build safe, sustainable and resilient cities.

On this Earth science degree course, you'll follow one of three pathways at the end of your first year
These pathways will provide you with the skills for a career across the diverse Earth science space, either by direct entry to the workplace or by taking one of our applied Earth science Master's degrees.

BSc (Hons) Geology pathway
Geology is the study of the earth beneath our feet – 4.5 billion years of rich and fascinating history. On this pathway, you’ll examine the immense natural processes that have shaped our planet's evolution through geological time, including tectonics, climate change and natural hazards.

Geologists work to understand, locate and sustainably manage the earth's resources. By learning how the earth's natural resources were formed, you'll develop skills essential to addressing global challenges and transitioning towards a green economy.

BEng (Hons) Engineering Geology pathway
As the only engineering degree taught in science anywhere in the UK, this course will enable you to apply geoscience to the built environments of the future.

On this pathway, you’ll learn the fundamentals of geological science and develop the technical expertise to work on the design and construction of tunnels, roads, dams, and surface and underground mine excavations, at a university where engineering geology and geotechnics have been taught for more than 50 years.

BSc (Hons) Environmental Geology pathway
Environmental geologists investigate the interface between the solid earth and the environment, understanding the fundamentals of geological sciences and focusing on how Earth’s climate has evolved through geological time.

On this pathway you will learn a unique and diverse set of skills critical to many modern day environmental issues, including renewable energies, the shift to a low carbon economy, water resource management and environmental mitigation and remediation of industrial land.

Careers and opportunities

Careers in geology, engineering geology and environmental geology are particularly buoyant at present with demand being driven by large infrastructure projects (HS2), offshore wind projects, and nuclear power station construction. This means geologists are in high demand – in 2020, the role of geologist was added to the UK shortage occupation list.

Graduate roles

Roles our graduates have taken on include:

- mining geologist

- well-site geologist

- geotechnical engineer

- geographical information system (GIS) mapper

- offshore geophysicist

- engineering geologist

- mineral exploration geologist

- geo-environmental engineer

Graduate destinations

They've gone on to work for organisations such as:

- GEA

- Gardline

- Global Map Aid

- National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

- Land Referencing Services (LRS)

- Hydrock

- Ordnance Survey

- Aggregate Industries UK

- Leap Environmental

- Hummingbird Resources

Placement year

After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. Placements give you the opportunity to apply what you've learnt so far in a real workplace, boosting your employability and making you attractive to employers after graduation.