Environmental Geoscience BSc (Hons)

You will study a range of topics related to the environment. We will address the physical, chemical and biological processes in the world’s oceans, atmosphere and land, and how humans impact and shape Earth's environmental conditions.

For example, we will address local issues such as air and water pollution, as well as global climate change.

This degree also covers:

• scientific reporting and communication
• field sampling skills, including both on ocean and land
• laboratory analysis, data science, programming, and computing skills

You will develop the skills needed to address important challenges, including:

• understanding the risks of global change
• how do we store radioactive and other waste safely
• how can we reduce the effects of environmental pollution
• understanding of the tropics and poles, and their impact on corals and sea-ice plankton
• how our changing oceans can support biodiversity, act as a store of carbon, and provide us with sustainable food sources

We believe it is important to understand how connected we are to our Earth’s environment and the impact of our actions.

Your programme begins with a broad foundation in topics across Earth sciences and the environment. You will:

• build on this foundation while exploring new topics in the following years
• develop independence and confidence as you progress through your studies

The exciting nature of environmental geoscience means you will have a diverse learning experience during your years with us.

We also want you to develop practical skills for future employers. Many of your activities are similar to what environmental professionals do in the real world. You will also learn scientific communication, computational analysis and quantitative skills.

You can find details for compulsory and option courses through the 'Programme Structure' link below.

Switching degrees

Most of the courses in Years 1 and 2 are shared with our range of Earth science and environment degrees. You will then specialise in the subjects of your choice in later years.

As a result, you may have the opportunity to switch between degrees in your early years. However, some later courses may not be available if you have not taken the necessary pre-requisite courses. You should discuss your interests with your Cohort Lead to make sure that these options are still available to you.

Option courses

One of the best things about a Scottish undergraduate degree is the amount of electives (called 'option courses') you can study. You have the opportunity to take courses outside your degree in Years 1 and 2.

You can choose courses related to your degree, or you can try something different and new to you.

Although we try to provide a wide range of option courses to choose from, these can be subject to change or cancellation at short notice. Places on option courses can be limited due to course capacity and timetabling constraints. It may not be possible to guarantee every student their top choice of option courses. 

Data innovation

A key feature of our programme is a focus on developing your skills around the generation and analysis of scientific data, aided by a range of computational techniques.

Along with your subject-specific skills, you will develop valuable transferable skills allowing you to:

• write scientific reports
• the ability to think in 3D and 4D
• advanced computing and data skills
• critical thinking and literature research
• understanding processes on a range of scales
• the capability to integrate spatial and temporal information
• gain practical experience with field and laboratory methods
• extracting key information from complex sets of observations
• express ideas and arguments via a range of platforms, including social media
• drawing together different types of information in addressing environmental questions

Future programme changes