Geology
Geology is the science of the Earth itself, examining the planet's 4.5 billion year history through the physical and chemical evidence preserved in rocks, minerals, fossils and landscapes. It is a discipline of extraordinary scope, encompassing the deep time of planetary formation and the slow processes of continental drift alongside the more immediate hazards of volcanoes, earthquakes and landslides, and the urgent questions about how Earth's geological systems interact with human activity and climate change. At a moment when the energy transition, critical minerals supply and subsurface carbon storage have all become matters of global strategic importance, geologists have never been more in demand.
At the University of Aberdeen, this four-year full-time programme engages with geology as both a fundamental science and a discipline central to the transition to a sustainable future. You will study the physical and chemical processes that have shaped the Earth over geological time, developing skills in field mapping, rock and mineral identification, sedimentary and structural geology, geophysics and the interpretation of geological data. A year abroad gives you the opportunity to study in a different geological setting and academic environment, extending your experience of different rock types, tectonic contexts and national geological traditions.
Aberdeen's position as a major centre for the energy industry gives the programme a particular relevance to careers in oil and gas, renewable energy, carbon capture and the geological aspects of the energy transition. A typical entry tariff of 200 points reflects the scientific preparation the programme expects.
Graduates pursue careers in energy, mining, environmental consultancy, hydrogeology, engineering geology, geotechnical consultancy, natural hazard assessment and academic research. Postgraduate study in geology, geophysics, petroleum geoscience or environmental geoscience is a well-established route for those who wish to specialise or pursue research careers.