Environmental Geoscience MSci

Program Overview

The MSci Environmental Geoscience program at the University of Exeter equips students to tackle global environmental challenges through an advanced understanding of Earth sciences. It emphasizes practical experience with extensive fieldwork, laboratory work, and a final-year research project. Students benefit from industry connections and research-led teaching, preparing them for careers in geological and environmental fields.

Program Outline

MSci Environmental Geoscience - University of Exeter

Degree Overview:

This program is designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of the geology, chemistry, and physics of the Earth, equipping them to tackle global environmental challenges. The program emphasizes practical experience through 70 days of fieldwork, laboratory classes, optional industry placements, and a major final-year research project. Students will study in Cornwall at Exeter's Penryn Campus, gaining access to world-class geoscience case studies on their doorstep. The program is taught by the Camborne School of Mines, a combined geoscience and mining department with an international reputation for research-inspired teaching. Excellent industrial links ensure that the skills gained will be highly valued by employers. Recent partners include Rio Tinto, British Geological Survey, European Space Agency, and CL:AIRE.

Outline:

Year 1:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Dynamic Planet (CSM1042):
15 credits
• Earth and Environmental Chemistry (CSM1031):
15 credits
• Crystallography, Mineralogy and Gemstones (CSM1043):
15 credits
• Earth History and Palaeontology (CSM1044):
15 credits
• Field Geology and Geological Maps (CSM1036):
30 credits
• Surveying and Digital Mapping (CSM1045):
15 credits
• Quantitative Methods for Geoscientists (CSM1041):
15 credits
• CSM Professionalism Year 1 (CSM1904):
10 credits
• Fieldwork:
• Nine one-day field classes across Cornwall during terms 1 and 2.
• One-week residential field class in Pembrokeshire during early May.

Year 2:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Contaminated Land Management and Remediation (CSM3049):
15 credits
• Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (CSM2183):
30 credits
• Geological Mapping Techniques (CSM2184):
15 credits
• Geophysics (CSM2190):
15 credits
• Magmatic and Metamorphic Rocks (CSM2051):
15 credits
• Grand Geoenvironmental Challenges (CSM2052):
15 credits
• Geotechnics (CSM2185):
15 credits
• CSM Professionalism Year 2 (CSM2904):
10 credits
• Fieldwork:
• Seven one-day field classes.
• Residential field course in Devon and Dorset.
• Geological mapping training on the Isle of Skye.

Year 3:

• Compulsory Modules:
• GIS for Geologists (CSM3047):
15 credits
• Climate Change: Past and Future (CSM3072):
15 credits
• Environmental Geoscience Overseas Fieldclass (CSM3074):
15 credits
• Hydrogeology (CSM3152):
15 credits
• Summer Vacation Project (CSM3379):
30 credits
• CSM Professionalism Year 3 (CSM3904):
10 credits
• Optional Modules:
• Volcanology (CSM3070):
15 credits
• Geological History of Life on Earth (CSM3071):
15 credits
• Energy Resource Geology (CSM3061):
15 credits
• Safety and Sustainable Development (CSM2050):
15 credits
• Soil Mechanics with Mine Tailings Engineering (CSM3444):
15 credits
• Fieldwork:
• Environmental Geoscience Overseas Fieldclass (typically cycles between Spain and Cyprus).

Final Year:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Research Project (CSMM439):
75 credits
• Fourth Year Field Class (CSMM423):
15 credits
• Research Frontiers in Earth Science (CSMM440):
30 credits
• CSM Professionalism MSc (CSMM904):
10 credits

Assessment:

Assessment methods vary between modules and may include individual or group reports, presentations, practical write-ups, and exams. More innovative assessment techniques are also used, and may include the use of websites, posters, social media, videos, science communication, and dragons-den style presentations. Students must pass the first year in order to progress to the second year, but first-year marks do not count towards the final degree classification.

Teaching:

Learning and teaching are delivered through a combination of lectures, ‘hands-on’ practical classes, seminars, tutorials, field-based teaching, and independent study. Laboratory practical classes will develop students' understanding of a range of geoscience topics and help put theory into practice. On average, students will have 18 teaching hours per week and will need to undertake additional independent study (e.g., directed reading, assignments, and project work). The total workload will average about 40 hours per week during term time. Students will benefit from being taught by experts active in internationally-relevant research. They will discuss the very latest ideas, research discoveries, and new technologies in seminars and in the field, and will become actively involved in a research project themselves. All academic staff are active in internationally-recognised scientific research across a wide range of topics. Students will also be taught by leading industry practitioners.

Careers:

Geologists are required to help the global community deal with a range of environmental problems related to climate, energy, water, air pollution, natural hazards, supply of raw materials, and more. Geology and geoscience degrees not only prepare students to tackle the world’s biggest environmental challenges but also lead to high employment rates and decent salaries, with graduate opportunities in the UK and around the world. The Camborne School of Mines Association and the award-winning University of Exeter Careers Service have the skills and a strong network of alumni to help students find employment. The program provides regular ‘Pint and Pasty’ employer events throughout term that allow students to network and meet with potential employers, and learn more about possible career paths. Graduates enjoy excellent career opportunities in a range of subjects, including mineral exploration, hydrogeology, geophysics, geotechnics, and environment-related industries. Graduates also go on to roles outside of geology, utilizing the array of transferable skills they have developed. Recent graduates work in fields as diverse as the UK civil service, Arup Geotechnics, the National Trust, the Ministry of Defence, and Geomarine Ltd. The broad-based skills acquired during the degree will give students an excellent grounding for a wide variety of careers, not only those related to Geology but also in wider fields. Examples of roles recent graduates are now working as include:

• Chartered Surveyor
• Engineering Project Manager
• Project Engineer
• Engineering Professional
• Estimator, Valuer or Assessor
• Environment Professional
• Financial Accounts
• IT Operations Technician
• Laboratory Technician
• Physical Scientist
The program develops employer-valued skills such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), geological mapping and fieldwork, mineral deposit identification and exploration, scientific programming, and use of technical software, in addition to transferable skills such as problem solving, communication, teamwork, leadership, and quantitative data analysis.

Other:

• The program is accredited by The Geological Society, which is the first step on the ladder to Chartered Geologist status after graduation.
• Students can transfer between any of the BSc and MSci geology and geoscience degrees during their first year.
• Students can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of their course each year, which can increase their employability and widen their intellectual horizons.
• Students can achieve proficiency in a second subject, such as a foreign language, data science, entrepreneurship, innovation, law, leadership, or social data science, which may be added to their degree title upon graduation.
• The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support students' education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as the Global Excellence Scholarships.
Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households, and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed, and progress through higher education.

Tuition fees for 2024 entryUK students: £9,250 per year International students: £29,700 per year