Geology

Geology is the science of the Earth, encompassing its structure, composition, history, physical processes and resources. It uses rocks, minerals, fossils and a wide range of computational and analytical methods to reconstruct how the planet has changed over billions of years and to understand the processes operating today. Geology is not an abstract academic pursuit: many of the most pressing challenges facing human society, from driving the energy transition and developing a green economy to managing geological hazards and understanding anthropogenic climate change, can only be addressed through a thorough understanding of geological principles.

At the University of Glasgow you will study for five years full-time, including a year abroad that extends your geological education into different tectonic and environmental settings. You will develop understanding across the full scope of the discipline, from the deep Earth and plate tectonics to surface processes, palaeontology, geochemistry and the application of geological knowledge to resource exploration and environmental management. Glasgow's programme reflects the discipline's commitment to integrated understanding of whole Earth processes in four dimensions, connecting the deep Earth to its crust, surface and atmosphere across geological time.

Geology graduates work in the energy sector, mining and minerals industries, environmental consultancy, ground investigation and geotechnical engineering, water resources, government geological surveys and academic research. The transition to low-carbon energy creates growing demand for geologists with expertise in critical minerals, geothermal energy, carbon storage and ground conditions for renewable energy infrastructure. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in specialisms such as petroleum geoscience, environmental geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology or palaeoclimatology, and the quantitative and fieldwork skills the degree builds are valued across a range of scientific and technical careers.