Earth Sciences

The Department of Earth Sciences is one of the leading centres of research and teaching in the UK. 88% of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).

Our research is based in three centres: Centre for Energy and Resources (CEREs), Centre of Climate, Ocean and Atmosphere (COCOA), and Centre of Dynamic Earth and Solar System (CEDESS). This framework encourages and promotes multidisciplinary activity and supports researchers. We maintain vital links with industrial and commercial partners providing research support, industry experience and employment for our graduates.

Department research activity spans diverse topics designed to investigate the past, present and future of planet earth and its resources. Our research work ranges from groundbreaking blue-sky research, to very applied projects with high societal impact deliverables for industrial and government sponsors.

Prospective students are invited to contact individual members of staff in the department in the first instance to discuss potential research projects. Find out more about our staff areas of research and expertise and our postgraduate research opportunities (MSc by Research, MPhil and PhD): https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and-teaching/departments-and-schools/earth-sciences/studying-here/postgraduate-research/

If you are interested in a full-time MSc by Research, MPhil or PhD research project, or prefer to study part-time, please contact a potential lead supervisor and submit a CV. We also encourage you to put forward and discuss potential projects of your own design.

From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Our research activities falls in to three main themes which are: Geodynamics and Sedimentary Systems, Physical and Chemical Earth Processes, and Global Environmental Change. They represent a framework to encourage and promote multidisciplinary activity.

Find out more about our research areas: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and-teaching/departments-and-schools/earth-sciences/research/our-research-areas/

Our extensive facilities, include world-class laboratories for geochemical analysis, sedimentology and palaeontology, and specialist analogue modelling laboratories for recreating earth structures.

PhD research studies are supported by Research Council, industrial and College studentships.