Geophysics

Geophysics is the application of the methods of physics to the study of the Earth, from its core to its surface and beyond into the atmosphere and oceans. It uses measurements of gravity, magnetism, seismic waves, heat flow, and electrical properties to investigate the structure and dynamics of the Earth's interior, the mechanisms that produce earthquakes and volcanoes, the character of the crust beneath our feet, and the processes that control resource formation. Geophysics is the primary discipline for imaging what lies below the surface without digging, making it central to oil and gas exploration, mineral discovery, earthquake hazard assessment, and environmental monitoring.

At University College London you will study this three-year full-time degree with a typical entry tariff of 152 points. UCL's earth science department is one of the leading research environments in the UK, and the programme gives you access to expertise across seismology, geomagnetism, gravitational studies, and computational geophysics. You will study the mathematical and physical foundations that geophysics requires, develop the ability to design and interpret geophysical surveys, and engage with the computational methods that modern geophysical research depends upon.

Laboratory work and data analysis are central throughout, and fieldwork gives you direct experience of geophysical investigation in real environments.

Geophysics graduates work in the energy sector, in mining and minerals exploration, in engineering consultancy, in earthquake hazard assessment, in environmental site investigation, and in academic and governmental research. The oil and gas industry has historically been a major employer, while growing demand for the critical minerals needed for low-carbon technologies is creating new opportunities in minerals geophysics. Government geological surveys, universities, and international geoscience research programmes also employ geophysicists.

Further study at master's or PhD level is common for those seeking research careers or senior technical positions, and the computational skills developed during the degree are increasingly valued across the data-intensive sciences.