Geophysics BSc (Hons)

Our Bachelor of Science (BSc) Geophysics will teach you to understand our world, so you can help protect its future.

You will study the properties and forces that act on planetary or even inter-planetary scales.

For example:

• the inner workings of the Earth
• the microscopic properties of minerals
• large-scale forces such as gravity and magnetism
• the forces that drive the atmosphere and the reasons for its complex behaviour

We will train you in physical principles, mathematical approaches and computational techniques of geophysics.

You will learn to apply these techniques to diverse fields, for example:

• understanding the behaviour of the Earth's deep interior
• monitoring the Earth's changing environment and climate
• measuring rock and soil properties as needed before civil engineering work
• understanding the risks to society caused by earthquakes, tropical cyclones and other natural hazards
• using geophysical techniques to locate geological resources included those needed for the transition to a low-carbon future

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

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

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

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

Switching degrees

You may have the opportunity to switch between degrees in your early years, including to our other Earth Science and Environment degrees. You should discuss your interests with your Cohort Lead to make sure these options are still available to you.

Please note that 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 ensure that these options are still available to you.

Option courses

You have the opportunity to take one option course 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.

For example:

• the ability to think in 3D and 4D
• advanced computing and data skills
• model building from limited datasets
• dealing with complex systems and uncertainties
• understanding processes on a range of scales
• extrapolating hypotheses based on small data sets
• the capability to integrate spatial and temporal information
• extracting key information from complex sets of observations
• assessing large data sets and pattern recognition in complex data

Future programme changes