Course overview

The UK has a significant legacy of contaminants in the soil as a consequence of a long history of industrial and mining activity. These pollutants can pose a significant risk to human health and the environment and so a particular expertise is required when dealing with contaminated sites. The course is a well established course that has been running for more than a decade. It is a mixture of taught units and a research project covering topics including: groundwater hydrology, geochemistry, site investigation, geotechnics and contaminated land assessment. It is taught by recognised experts with extensive expertise in groundwater hydrology, environmental geology and contaminated land.

About us

The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences has a long tradition of teaching geology, environmental science and applied geosciences and is one of the leading providers of applied geosciences graduates in the UK, with strong research and industry links in the UK and overseas. The School has recently been rated very highly in the latest nationwide survey of research quality, where the vast majority of research in the areas of earth and environmental science was deemed to be of international standard, with nearly half the research judged as internationally excellent, including some world-leading research. Teaching in the School is underpinned by active research and consultancy, with many staff members collaborating with industrial and academic partners in the UK and overseas. This creates a unique and dynamic environment in which to learn about our environment.

Find out more

The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences hold regular postgraduate open days throughout the year. These provide an informal opportunity to see the range of University and department facilities, and a chance to discuss the course with members of academic staff. For further information or to book a place on an upcoming open day, please visit our School postgraduate webpage. If you are unable to attend an organised open day, but would still like to visit the department, please contact us to arrange an individual visit. Alternatively, you can contact the Admissions Tutor to discuss the course.

Course content

Study options

This course is available as either full-time mode (12 months duration) where teaching takes place over two days per week (Mondays and Tuesdays), or part-time mode (two years duration) whereby teaching is timetabled over one day per week (Mondays in year one and then Tuesdays in year two). For more information on study options, please contact the Admissions Tutor.

Course structure

The course comprises of two parts: firstly, the taught component of the course that runs between September and April each year and comprises the lecture, workshop and practical elements of the course; this is then followed by a five month independent research project (May to September), supported by individual tutorials and research training sessions. The main course themes are summarised as follows:

• Soil mechanics is fundamental to understanding how contaminants behave and migrate in the ground. The course provides an advanced understanding of the geo-mechanical behaviour of soils including the description and testing of soils to UK and International standards.
• Desk studies and ground models are an integral part of any contaminated land assessment and this course provides training in the development of geological ground models and geomorphological terrain models through desk studies, walk-over surveys and site investigation.
• Ground investigation techniques are an essential part of any contaminated land investigation and so the course provides advanced knowledge of ground investigation using invasive techniques, in-situ tests and geophysical methods.
• Contaminated land risk assessments are an important part of any contamination study and the course provides training in key techniques for site assessment, analytical testing and risk assessment.
• Field reconnaissance and walk over survey techniques are integral to the course and an essential skill for any graduate wishing to work in this area. The course provides fieldwork training in techniques such as walk over surveys combined with interpretation of remote sensing and aerial photography imagery.
• Spatial analysis and remote sensing are key tools for terrain evaluation and the course provides training in the integration and analysis of spatial datasets using GIS and interpretation of aerial photography and satellite imagery.
• Independent research project provides an opportunity to undertake an original piece of research to academic or industrial standards, typically in collaboration with research staff in the department or external industry partners. In addition to submission of a thesis report, students also present the results of their projects at the annual postgraduate conference held at the end of September.

Career prospects

Contaminated land is listed as one of the key areas in which the UK has a skills shortage. This fact combined with the vocational nature of this course means that graduates are quickly employed in the industry where there is a huge demand for contaminated land specialists. The School provides support to students in finding employment through close industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice. You will also have access to the University's careers and recruitment service while on the course and for five years after graduation.

Facilities and features

You will have access to a designated postgraduate workroom, which is fitted with a suite of computers, scanner, and free colour and black and white laser printing facilities. In addition, you will have access to an extensive range of analytical facilities including:

• X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF) for high-precision qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis of rocks and soils.
• X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) for mineral identification including clays.
• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) providing up to 300,000x magnification with energy-dispersive X-ray detector for sample analysis.
• Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) designed for sensitive elemental and isotopic analysis of geological and environmental samples.
• Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) elemental analysis equipment.
• Nutrient Autoanalyser for comprehensive nutrient analysis in waters and soils.
• Nuclear instrumentation including solid state gamma ray spectrometer, liquid scintillation counter, sodium iodide detectors and associated instrumentation.
• Rock and soil testing in a newly refurbished geotechnics facility including stress path cell equipment, ring shear tests, large shear box for soil testing, and triaxial test cell, Brazilian and uniaxial test rigs for rock testing.
• Field equipment including GPS mapping systems, geophysical instruments and in-situ soil and rock mass testing equipment.

All facilities are fully supported by dedicated technical support staff and are freely available to all postgraduate students.

You will also have access to the University Library, which is open from 8am until midnight every day during term-time. It offers access to thousands of books, journals and other resources to help with study and research, and has a large IT area and group study rooms. No matter where you are, you will have easy access to the University's comprehensive online resources, as if you were on campus. Our online resources include ebooks (electronic versions of key textbooks) and academic and industrial journals.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Contaminated Land are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 5550
Email: sci-pgrad@port.ac.uk