Geology with Physical Geography

Geology with physical geography brings together two disciplines that are deeply complementary in their concern with the Earth's surface, its history, and the processes that continue to shape it. Geology studies the composition, structure, and history of the Earth, from the minerals and rocks that make up its crust through to the tectonic forces that have driven the formation of continents and mountain ranges over billions of years. Physical geography examines the present-day landscape, including rivers, coasts, glaciers, soils, and vegetation, and the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes that produce and transform them.

Studying both gives you a clearer understanding of how past events, preserved in the geological record, shape the landscapes and environmental dynamics we see today.

At Liverpool this three-year full-time programme is designed specifically to integrate geology and geomorphology, drawing on the complementary expertise of staff in both disciplines to provide a coherent view of the controlling processes linking landscape evolution with environmental change. Fieldwork in your second and third years is tailored to this integrated degree, developing practical skills in mapping, sampling, and analysis in real environments. You will have academic tutors from both disciplines in your first and second years, ensuring you receive expert support across the full breadth of the programme.

The degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you professional and international experience during your studies.

Graduates find careers in environmental consultancy, the oil and gas sector, geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology, mineral exploration, government geological surveys, civil and environmental engineering, and environmental assessment. The combination of geological and geomorphological understanding is particularly valued by employers who need professionals who can interpret the relationship between bedrock geology, landscape development, and surface processes. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in geology, geomorphology, environmental science, or related earth sciences.