Environmental Earth Science

Environmental earth science examines the processes that shape our planet's surface, subsurface and atmosphere, with particular attention to how those processes interact with human activity and how we can manage their consequences responsibly. It draws on geology, physical geography, soil science, hydrology, geochemistry and environmental science to understand how the Earth's systems function, how they are being altered by human activity, and what the implications are for landscapes, water supplies, climate and natural hazards. At Aberystwyth University, one of the UK's most established earth sciences departments, this three-year full-time degree provides rigorous training in fieldwork, laboratory analysis and quantitative methods alongside conceptual understanding.

You will study geological processes including rock formation, tectonics, weathering and erosion, alongside environmental themes such as pollution, climate change, land degradation and natural resource management. Fieldwork is a central component of earth science education, and Aberystwyth's location in west Wales, with its varied geology and dramatic coastal and upland environments, provides exceptional opportunities for practical learning in the field. Laboratory skills in geochemical analysis, sedimentological description and geophysical data processing are developed alongside the digital and GIS-based methods that increasingly characterise professional practice in the earth and environmental sciences.

A typical tariff of around 120 points is expected.

Graduates work in environmental consulting, geological survey organisations, water companies, the energy sector, environmental regulatory agencies, land and coastal management, civil engineering geology and academic research. The discipline offers particularly strong career prospects in the growing environmental management and sustainability sector, where detailed understanding of geological and environmental processes is needed to assess risk, manage resources and design appropriate interventions. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in earth science, environmental management or related fields.