Information for Prospective Students
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Fees and Funding
UK & EU Fee
£9,000 (2013/14)
Overseas Fee
£19,500 (2013/14)
General Funding Notes
Details about financial support are available at: www.ucl.ac.uk/study/ug-finance
Contacts
Key Facts
Research Assessment Exercise
80% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
(What is the RAE?)
Departmental website
More Information
Environmental Geoscience BSc
UCAS Code: F644
Environmental Geoscience is concerned with the interaction between the Earth sciences and human activity, and this BSc provides a sound topical background in the environmental aspects of the Earth sciences. The programme is fully accredited by the Geological Society of London.
Entry Requirements
A Levels
| Grades | AAA-ABB |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Two sciences preferred. |
| AS Levels | A pass in a further subject at AS level or equivalent is required. |
| GCSEs | English Language and Mathematics at grade C. For UK-based students, a grade C or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs |
IB Diploma
| Points | 34-38 |
|---|---|
| Subjects | A score of 16-18 points in three higher level subjects, preferably to include two sciences, with no score lower than 5. |
Other Qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Selected entry requirements will appear here
International Qualifications
International Qualifications
In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.
University Preparatory Certificates
UCL offers intensive one-year foundation courses to prepare international students for a variety of degree programmes at UCL.
The University Preparatory Certificates (UPCs) are for international students of high academic potential who are aiming to gain access to undergraduate degree programmes at UCL and other top UK universities.
For more information see our website: www.ucl.ac.uk/upc
English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language you will also need to satisfy UCL's English Language Requirements. A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Degree Summary
Degree Benefits
- Benefit from up to three months of field classes in the UK and continental Europe, and an independent field mapping project, with a component of financial support from the department.
- The programme is fully accredited by the Geological Society of London, and the department will pay one year's subscription for you to become a student fellow of the society.
- World-leading research in geophysical hazards, mineral, ice and rock physics and palaeoenvironmental analysis is undertaken in the department and is used in the development of our courses.
- World-class facilities include hosting the UK's only NASA Regional Planetary Image Facility, use of the UCL University of London Observatory, and collaboration with the Natural History Museum.
The programme offers an integrated study of the Earth, encompassing the evolution of the planet and its internal workings, the development of its biosphere and atmosphere, and its surface processes, emphasising natural and human-induced development of the terrestrial environment.
You will gain a scientific training which allows an examination of environmental issues related to the Earth sciences, such as those concerned with natural resources, their use to society, the disposal of waste outputs and the understanding and minimisation of geohazards. The strong emphasis on fieldwork provides a unique opportunity to develop independent and team skills, and problem-solving abilities.
The programme assumes no previous knowledge of the Earth sciences but builds on a firm foundation of basic science acquired during the first two years. The third year of teaching is research-led, based around the Department's research strengths and research grouping, and includes a field-based independent research project.
The first and second years provide core skills and knowledge in the subject. The third year provides opportunities for specialisation and diversification, with an emphasis on individual initiative and problem-based learning. The strong emphasis on fieldwork provides a unique opprtunity to develop independent and team skills, and problem-solving abilities.
The BSc programme is identical to the first three years of the Msci programme.
Your Learning
We use a mixture of lectures, practical classes, field courses, directed reading, problem-orientated learning, private study and tutorials to enable you to gain the theoretical knowledge and practical skills demanded by the programme, as well as to develop key transferable skills such as critical analysis, report writing, team working and organisational skills.
Assessment
You will be assessed by a combination of written examinations, practical examinations, coursework, independent project reports and an oral examination.
Degree Structure
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual courses, normally valued at 0.5 or 1.0 credits, adding up to a total of 4.0 credits for the year. Courses are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional courses varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 1.0 credit is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Year One
Year Two
Final Year
Further details available on degree page of subject website:
Your Career
You will develop a number of skills, including the ability to gather and evaluate data, assess geo-environmental issues from a scientific standpoint, prepare written reports, lead discussion groups and use computational methods. Fieldwork provides a natural laboratory where you can develop rock identification, fabric recognition and map making skills.
All our students are encouraged and helped towards making informed career choices. We have excellent relationships with many employers in diverse aspects of the Earth and planetary sciences, and students are actively guided towards achieving their potential at UCL in preparation for their future careers.
In addition to further study, main employment destinations include exploration and production for mining, oil and engineering companies, groundwater resources management; investigating groundwater conditions associated with land use, such as planning, construction and waste disposal; and geological surveying, collecting geological information for maps and databases.
Destinations
First destinations of recent graduates (2009-2011) from Environmental Geoscience programmes at UCL include:
- Consultant, Venture Information Management (2011)
- Full-time student, MSc in Hydrology at Imperial College London (2009)
- Underwriting Assistant, Renaissance RE (2009)
Find out more about London graduates' careers by visiting the Careers Group (University of London) website:
Application
Your Application
We will assess your application on the basis of your performance, or predicted performance academically, but we will also be looking for an indication of how your interest in natural and Earth sciences has developed, what aspects particularly appeal to you, and whether you have undertaken any research or reading to find out about the subject matter you wish to study.
How to Apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
If you are resident in the UK and your application demonstrates potential you will be invited to an applicant open day. This visit will include introductory talks on Earth sciences and our degree programmes, a tour of the department and UCL, and a question and answer session.
You may also have a one-to-one interview in which we aim to find out more about your personal interests and motivation.
Applicants outside the UK are not normally required to attend for an interview, and we reach a decision on making an offer on the basis of the application alone.
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