Undergraduate | School of Geosciences | The University of Aberdeen

Undergraduate

Geologists study the Earth’s interior, crust, oceans and atmosphere to tackle the major scientific and environmental challenges such as climate change, natural hazards, natural resources and energy transition. Our teaching and research is all about building a sustainable future for people and our planet. Our programmes in geology teach you how to use the latest fieldwork and digital skills to extract valuable information recorded in Earth’s rocks, minerals and fossils - an archive that holds the keys to many current societal and environmental problems.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is fundamental to geology and at Aberdeen we enjoy easy access to numerous word-class sites throughout Scotland, such as the Isle Arran, the Isle of Skye, and the North West Highlands of Scotland. Through fieldwork, you will learn professional skills and techniques, including:

recording and interpreting environmental changes archived in sedimentary rocks
exploring geological structures related to tectonics
presenting and understanding geological data on maps
recognising the character of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks at scale
conducting fieldwork safely, effectively, and responsibly.

Planetary Geology

The exciting recent establishment of the Department of Planetary Sciences within the School of Geosciences means that as part of their Honours Curriculum, geology students can apply their acquired skills to explore 4.5 billion years of history of the Earth, Mars, and other planets and satellites in our solar system.

Profs Javier Martin-Torres and Maria-Paz Zorzano of the Department of Planetary Sciences have joined forces with Drs Alex Brasier and Malcolm Hole of the Department of Geology & Geophysics to deliver a 15 credits module on Planetary Sciences that allows students to study aspects of lunar and planetary geology using real data acquired beyond the Earth by NASA, ESA and other space agencies.

Careers

Our location in Aberdeen and our strong links with the national and international energy sector means our students benefit from unrivalled industry exposure through seminars, guest lectures and participation in field trips and career networking events. Many of our students are also able to gain direct experience during the course of their degree, through industry-based research projects and placements.

Geology graduates can enter careers directly related to the earth sciences, including finding and maintaining water resources (hydrogeology), energy (including for example geothermal, moving us to a sustainable future), mining (including for the precious metals needed in all modern technology, and for noble gases needed for medical equipment), and environmental management.

As scientists equipped to cope with uncertainty and the absence of data, Geologists are also sought for their transferable skills and knowledge, for example, in the financial sector.

Why Study Geology at Aberdeen?

We are ranked 4th in the UK for overall student satisfaction in Earth Sciences with a score of 91.7% (National Student Survey, 2022).

Geology students are taught in the new Science Teaching Hub, which offers the most modern laboratory-based teaching facilities and equipment in the UK.

Our programmes are essential for understanding how we can better manage our natural resources, transition to sustainable energy sources, protect our environment and combat climate change.

Field study is a major part of our teaching, and our location means easy access to wonderful field locations throughout Scotland such as Arran, Skye, and the Scottish Highlands.

You will gain experience using specialist software to create virtual models of geological features and processes.

You can also study the geology and atmospheres of the earth, planets and satellites of the solar system thanks to our collaboration with the Department of Planetary Sciences.

You will have the opportunity to join professional societies to expand your knowledge, skills and professional networks beyond the classroom.

The in-built flexibility and breadth of our programmes across the School of Geosciences mean there are many possibilities to transfer between programmes up until the end of the 2nd year.