Geology and Physics

Geology and physics together give you access to two of the most fundamental questions in science: what is the earth made of and how does it work, and what are the physical laws that govern matter and energy at every scale from the subatomic to the planetary? The disciplines are more closely related than they might initially appear. Geophysics, seismology, planetary science, and the study of Earth's interior all depend on the methods and principles of physics applied to geological questions, and studying both subjects in depth gives you a genuinely powerful analytical toolkit for understanding the planet we live on.

At the University of Aberdeen, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, which gives you the opportunity to study geology and physics in a different academic and environmental context, and potentially in a region with particularly rich geological exposure. Aberdeen is itself ideally placed for this kind of programme: the geology of north-east Scotland and the wider Grampian Highlands is exceptionally varied and accessible, and the city's long history as a centre of the oil and gas industry means that applied geology and geophysics have a strong institutional presence alongside the university's academic strengths. A typical entry tariff of 168 points reflects the quantitative demands of the combined programme.

You will develop skills in fieldwork and sample collection alongside the mathematical and computational methods that underpin both disciplines, and you will learn to integrate observations at very different scales, from thin sections of rock viewed under a microscope to regional geological structures interpreted from geophysical data.

Graduates of geology and physics programmes work in energy, mineral exploration, environmental consultancy, seismological monitoring, planetary science, and academic research. The quantitative skills the degree develops are also valued in finance, data science, and any field that requires rigorous analytical thinking. Postgraduate study in geoscience, geophysics, or earth system science is a common route for those wishing to develop specialist expertise.