Contact information
- Professor Dario Alfè
- Admissions Tutor
- earthsci@ucl.ac.uk
- Professor Dan Osborn
- Programme director
- dan.osborn1@ucl.ac.uk
- +44(0)2031086363
Environmental Geoscience is concerned with the interaction between Earth sciences and human activity. We explore evolution of the Earth and its internal workings, development of its biosphere and atmosphere, and its surface processes, emphasising natural and human-induced development. This allows examination of environmental issues, such as natural resources, their use to society, disposal of waste, geohazards, sustainability and risk assessment.
Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction. Science subject units preferred.
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 18 credits awarded with Distinction in the Level 3 units, the remainder of the credits in the Level 3 units awarded with Merit. Science subject units preferred.
D3,D3,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Two sciences preferred
AAB at Advanced Highers (or AA at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher). Two sciences preferred at Advanced Higher
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A-Levels at grades AAB. Two science subjects preferred.
In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
The English language level for this programme is: Standard
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Benefit from up to three months of field classes in the UK and continental Europe, and an independent field mapping project, with financial support from the department.
The department delivers world-leading research embracing the origins and history of life, Earth’s composition and structure, earthquake and volcanic hazards, and past and present climate change, and these are fully integrated within our taught programme.
The department has one of the highest staff/student ratios in the country, resulting in small class sizes. Teaching is delivered by all of our research-active staff guaranteeing up-to-the-minute understanding and providing opportunities to take part in cutting-edge research activities.
We have recently moved into the renovated Kathleen Lonsdale Building with new, world-class facilities include bespoke teaching laboratories, new microscope facilities and student study areas, all in the heart of the department, next to staff offices and research laboratories.
This programme is accredited by the Geological Society. Undergraduate students may join the Geological Society as a Candidate Fellow and can become a Fellow of the Society upon graduation. A Fellow of the Society with relevant postgraduate experience in the practice of geology has the opportunity to apply for Chartered Geologist (CGeol) status.
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
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 man-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 wastes and the understanding and minimisation of geohazards.
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 opportunity to develop independent and team skills, and problem-solving abilities.
The first three years of the MSci programme are identical to the BSc programme. However, the additional fourth year of the MSci allows for an individual research project and advanced options, providing extra depth and breadth of knowledge.
An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.
Dynamic Earth
Earth Materials
Environmental Systems and Processes
From Petrology to Petrogenesis (including Cornwall fieldwork)
Geochemistry
History of Life
Surface Processes (including Dorset/Devon fieldwork)
The Earth
All first year modules are compulsory.
Isotope Geology
Maps, Images and Structures (including fieldwork)
Structural Geology and Tectonics
Surface Processes and Structures (including fieldwork)
You will select 60 credits of optional modules from the following:
Vertebrate Palaeontology & Evolution
Foundations of Physical Geoscience (complusory for students without A-Level Mathematics)
Global Geophysics
Mathematics (option for students with A-level Mathematics)
Geomorphology
Ecological Patterns & Processes
Hydroclimatology
Engaging the Public with Science
Principles of Climate
Igneous Petrology
Reconstructing Past Environments
Environmental Remote Sensing
Science & Ethics
Science in Popular Culture
Geological and Environmental Mapping Project
Groundwater Science
You will select 75 credits from the following options:
Field Geophysics (places are limited)
Biodiversity & Macroevolutionary Patterns
Global Environmental Change
Metamorphism and Metamorphic Processes
Geosciences Report
Groundwater Science
Crustal Dynamics, Mountain Building & Basin Evolution (fieldtrip only; no classroom element)
Earth Resources & Sustainability
Marine Geology
Advanced Geochemistry
Independent MSci Project
You will select 75 credits from the following options:
Earth & Planetary Materials
Physical Volcanology & Volcanic Hazard(places are limited and cannot be guaranteed)
Tectonic Geomorphology
Palaeoceanography
Sustainable Management of the Environment
Earthquake Seismology & Earthquake Hazards (places are limited and cannot be guaranteed)
Palaeoclimatology
Advanced Biodiversity and Macroevoltionary Studies
Biological Indicators of Environmental Change
Climate Proxies
You may take up to 30 credits outside the department.
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.
You will be assessed by a combination of written examinations, practical examinations, coursework, independent project reports and sometimes an oral examination.
Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Environmental Geoscience MSci.
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 skills such as rock identification, fabric recognition and map-making.
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 ground conditions associated with land use, such as planning, construction and waste disposal; geological surveying, and collecting geological information for maps and databases.
UCL is commited to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2020/21 academic year. The UK/EU fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2020/21 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Students will be required to pay for transportation to overseas field trips and food. (The department covers accommodation and transport costs in the UK.)
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
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.
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.
Application deadline: 15 January 2020
We normally reach a decision on making an offer on the basis of the application alone. If you are resident in the UK and have been made an offer you will be invited to a Post Offer Open Day. This visit will include introductory talks on UCL Earth Sciences and our degree programmes, a tour of the department and UCL and a question and answer session.
Although we do recommend that all applicants who receive an offer visit UCL, we recognise that this is not always possible; applicants from regions distant from London and from outside the UK are not normally required to attend. Instead these applicants will have an opportunity to chat with current students and staff during an online Virtual Open Day.
For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.
Page last modified on 15 July 2020