Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Chemistry and earth sciences is a combination that links the molecular-level study of matter with the geological understanding of how that matter is organised into planetary systems, rocks, minerals, and environments. Chemistry provides the foundational science of atomic structure, chemical bonding, reactions, and the properties of substances, while earth sciences applies chemical principles to the study of the planet, examining how rocks form, how soils develop, how water cycles through the earth system, and how geochemical processes have shaped the history of the Earth and continue to shape its present and future. The combination is particularly powerful for understanding environmental and resource questions.
At the University of St Andrews, this four-year, full-time degree includes a year abroad, adding an international academic dimension to a programme that is already richly interdisciplinary. You will receive comprehensive academic and practical training across both disciplines, engaging with the fundamental chemistry of matter alongside the geological and geochemical processes that govern the Earth system. Chemistry at St Andrews interfaces with biology, physics, mathematics, medicine, and geology, making it a highly applicable subject, and the earth sciences component extends this into geochemistry, petrology, and environmental earth sciences.
The typical entry tariff is 216 UCAS points, reflecting the demanding scientific content of the programme.
Graduates from chemistry and earth sciences programmes are well placed in geochemistry, environmental consultancy, energy and mineral resources, environmental impact assessment, water management, materials science, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, and academic research. The year abroad strengthens the programme's scientific and personal breadth. Postgraduate study in geochemistry, environmental science, earth sciences, or chemistry provides natural routes for those who wish to specialise or pursue research careers.
The ability to work across chemistry and earth sciences opens a distinctive range of environmental and energy-related career paths.