BSc (Hons)
Geology
Understanding the development of our planet
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Climate change, global catastrophes, declining energy sources – all these connect everyday life with the world of the working geologist.
This is a highly practical, hands-on course, and located on the ‘Jurassic Coast’, Portsmouth is the ideal place to study earth and environmental sciences.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Use our state-of-the-art geological and geochemical labs for practical work
- Venture overseas for field-based learning and project work
- Visit local geological sites on the Isle of Wight and in the Wessex Basin
What opportunities might it lead to?
This course is fully accredited by the Geological Society of London, the professional body that oversees geoscience in the UK. It is the first stage of professional development leading to the award of Chartered Geologist status after a period in industry.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- mineral and petroleum exploration
- oilfield services
- mining
- quarrying
- geoscience information analysis
The University of Portsmouth had many opportunities for geology fieldtrips, with the Isle of Wight and its exposed geology a stone’s throw away.
Daniel Pedrosa, BSc (Hons) Geology student
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- F600
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- Entry
240-300 points to include 2 A Levels or equivalent, with 100 points from a single science subject or 160 points from 2 science subjects (biology, chemistry, environmental science/studies, geography, geology, mathematics or physics).
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a*
International full-time students: £11,900 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- sci.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 5550 - Department
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subject:
Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- Fieldtrips in the UK and abroad providing invaluable practical skills
- The open-door approach of the lecturers, many of whom have industry experience
- Superb careers advice and support that is part of your course
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
You will receive a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of geoscience.
Core units in this year include:
- How the Earth Works
- Earth Materials
- Earth History and Life
- Quantitative Methods
- Science for Earth Systems
- Biodiversity and Evolution
- Natural Hazards
Year two
Develop your knowledge and benefit from field work that is a vital component of any geoscience degree.
Core units in this year include:
- Professional Skills for Geoscientists
- Petrology
- Structural Geology
- Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
- Geophysics and Data Analysis
- Digital Geological Mapping
- Hydrology and Hydrogeology
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Volcanology
- Trace Fossils, Isotopes and Diagenesis
- Palaeontology
- Geological Ground Models
Year three
Customise and consolidate your studies. In this year you will also undertake an independent project and an overseas field course.
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Geoscience Information Systems
- Magmatism and Tectonics
- Petroleum Geoscience
- Mineral Exploration
- Biostratigraphy
- Palaeoecology
- Large Magnitude Geological Events
- Contaminated Land
- Spatial Data Analysis
Teaching and Assessment
The course provides a balanced structure of lectures, tutorials and laboratory work. You will generally be taught in small classes, providing an informal, friendly and supportive atmosphere for your studies.
How are you assessed?
Assessment is a mix of coursework and exams, roughly 50:50. However, your coursework can take a variety of forms including:
- laboratory reports
- oral and poster presentations
- reports on field-based projects
- computer-based assessment
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Laboratories
We offer fully equipped geological, geochemical and geotechnics labs
Field Trips
Fieldwork is an important part of our courses
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
Laboratories
We offer a fully equipped geological, geochemical and a recently refurbished geotechnics lab. Brimming with ultra-modern equipment, here’s a taste of what you have to work with:
- x-ray diffractometer
- x-ray fluorescence spectrometer
- scanning electron microscope
- ICPMS
- atomic absorption spectrophotometer
Field Trips
Fieldwork is an important part of our courses. From excavations to land mapping exercises, some of our previous trips have included:
- land mapping in the Alps
- investigating salt pans in Malta
- studying Europe’s largest dam, the Atazar dam in Spain
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
You are eminently employable and as a leading provider of applied geoscience graduates to industry we have an enviable employment record. Many career opportunities exist in petroleum and water resource exploration and development, mining, civil engineering, geographical and environmental consultancies, geographical surveys, museums and conservation, as well as research.
The communication, numeric and IT skills you will gain also make you a good candidate for business, commerce or education-oriented careers. A significant proportion of graduates also go on to postgraduate study.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- graduate geotechnical engineer
- graduate mining geologist
- graduate engineering geologist
- graduate well-side geologist
- researcher in volcanic hazards
- geology teacher
Examples of what our graduates have gone on to do:
- Natural Resource Management, Laboratory Analyst
Work experience
We feel it’s very important for you to gain first-hand experience of the variety of geological techniques you will be learning throughout your course. Although field-based learning is intensive, needing you to draw on a wide range of theoretical and practical knowledge, it is immensely rewarding and, above all, fun.
Current destinations include Isle of Wight, the Wessex basin, Brittany and Cyprus. The opportunity exists to undertake your final-year project at a location of your choice, either in the UK or overseas.
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more