Environmental Geoscience

Environmental geoscience is the study of the Earth's physical systems and how they interact with human activity. It draws on geology, hydrology, geomorphology, and environmental science to understand processes such as climate change, soil erosion, groundwater contamination, coastal change, and the movement of pollutants through the environment. At a moment when the consequences of human impact on the planet are increasingly urgent, environmental geoscience provides essential tools for both understanding and responding to those challenges.

At the University of Exeter you will study across three years on a full-time programme. The degree is accredited by the Geological Society, which is the first professional step towards Chartered Geologist status after graduation, a recognition that the programme meets the rigorous standards expected by the profession. You will develop skills in field observation, laboratory analysis, and quantitative data interpretation, working with maps, borehole data, geochemical samples, and remote sensing information.

The curriculum spans the physical science of rocks, soils, water, and atmosphere as well as applied environmental topics such as contaminated land assessment, groundwater protection, natural hazard evaluation, and environmental impact appraisal. Exeter's location in the South West, with access to a diverse range of geological environments from Dartmoor to the coast, provides outstanding opportunities for the fieldwork that is central to geoscience education.

Graduates of environmental geoscience enter careers in environmental consulting, contaminated land investigation, hydrogeology, and natural hazard risk assessment. Government agencies concerned with the environment, water resources, and planning are significant employers. The oil and gas sector, mineral extraction companies, and engineering geology firms also recruit graduates with geoscience skills, as does the growing field of environmental monitoring and climate adaptation.

Progress towards chartered status with the Geological Society is a well-defined professional pathway. Postgraduate study in hydrogeology, environmental management, geotechnical engineering, or climate science is a natural next step for those seeking research or specialist roles.