Geology

Geology is the science of the Earth's materials, structures, processes, and history, asking how the planet formed, how it has changed over billions of years, and what forces are actively shaping it today. It encompasses the study of rocks, minerals, and fossils; the dynamics of plate tectonics, volcanism, and earthquakes; the formation of mountain ranges, ocean basins, and sedimentary sequences; and the record of past life and environments preserved in the geological record. The scope and nature of the subject are rapidly changing as satellite observation, computational modelling, and new analytical techniques extend what geologists can see and understand.

At the University of Oxford, the geology programme provides a sound and broadly based scientific training that reflects this evolving discipline. You will study Earth materials and processes, develop field skills through practical geological mapping, learn to interpret the evidence preserved in rocks, and engage with the physical and chemical principles that underlie geological phenomena. The programme combines rigorous scientific training in the laboratory and field with the intellectual breadth needed to contribute to questions of climate, resource management, and environmental change.

It runs over three years full-time.

Graduates of geology degrees work in the energy sector, including oil, gas, geothermal, and mining; in environmental consultancy and hydrogeology; in engineering geology and site investigation; in academic and government research; and in science education. The quantitative and fieldwork skills the degree develops are also valued in data analysis and geotechnical consultancy. Many graduates go on to postgraduate research in geology, geophysics, or Earth science, where the rigorous scientific training of an Oxford undergraduate degree provides an excellent foundation.