Earth Sciences

The Earth Sciences are critical to the sustainable future of our planet and society, allowing us to develop deep understandings of natural hazards, climate change, Earth processes, green energy, sustainable development, natural resources, and more. By nature, our exciting Earth Sciences course is diverse, encompassing interdisciplinary knowledge from geology, geography, climatology, hydrology, chemistry, physics, alongside the natural, environmental, planetary, and social sciences. As an applied subject, you will gain practical knowledge and skills, leading you directly into a rapidly growing UK and international Earth Science job sector.

Practical based learning will enhance and reinforce your understanding of Earth processes at the planetary to atomic scale, as well as exploring complex relationships between Earth and society, such as how to ensure effective climate change mitigations alongside affordable clean energy. You will develop an evidence-based understanding of how to manage, mitigate, and adapt to natural hazards, such as volcanic eruptions, flooding, climate change, and earthquakes. All of this builds on the comprehensive Earth Science competencies we nurture in our students. From oceans, climate and volcanoes, to minerals, evolution and fossils - we make you experts in understanding how your planet works.

Field, laboratory, and software skills are essential tools for the Earth Scientist. During your degree you will become proficient and confident in the application of a range of traditional scientific approaches and cutting-edge technology. For example, hydrological fieldwork is complemented by lab-based water quality analyses and computer simulations of groundwater flow, whilst our modern geological mapping courses integrate traditional mapping with digital data collection using iPads, Ground Penetrating Radar and aerial drone surveys. Throughout your degree, we adopt a holistic approach to learning, guiding you through the Earth Science practices you will need as a confident Earth Scientist professional.

Global reach

This course is aligned to global commitments to enhance sustainable development and decarbonise and restore the natural environment which will place new expectations on industrial sectors, infrastructure projects and government policies. You’ll develop the expertise required to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and other international agreements and policies like the Paris Agreement.  

This ensures you learn the skills and values required by society for sustainable and inclusive access to water and energy, as well as the responsible use of critical minerals required for green technologies. You will learn the next-generation approaches required to combat climate change, protect life and the planet, and build sustainable cities, such as carbon sequestration, sourcing responsible critical minerals for green technologies and net-zero approaches to geoenergy provision.

Once you complete this degree, you will have great knowledge of how the Earth works, understanding its interactions with the atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere, as well as the underlying chemical, physical, and biological processes involved. Learning from the past, you will understand the present, and be able to influence the future. With your new appreciation for past events from deep time, abilities to gain powerful insights from modern big-data, and a diverse transferrable skillset, you will graduate with the knowledge and skills you need to address societies’ biggest challenges today, and in the future, allowing you to work anywhere in the world. 

Graduate with confidence

Throughout your degree with us, you will participate in day and residential fieldtrips to be trained in industry-required skills such as mapping, surveying, coring, resource exploration, fossil interpretation, field observation and water quality analysis. Building on the industrial experience of our academics, you will develop a range of applied industry-focused skillsets essential to employment. Authentic exercises and opportunities to engage with industry allow you to achieve a greater understanding of sectors within the Earth Sciences, including the role they play for society and the environment. These opportunities give you the chance to discover potential careers.

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

You'll learn in our state-of-the-art facilities for lectures, lab practicals, tutorials, and computer classes training with powerful industry software. You will also learn in the field during day trips visiting regional industry collaborators and the fantastic local landscape across the Peak District. These are complemented by longer residential field camps - both in the UK and abroad.

You'll be taught by staff who are research-active experts in their field and incorporate their passion for research into their teaching. Research-led learning places you at the frontier of knowledge and skills, and is essential across our Earth Sciences course. You will be taught advanced groundwater modelling by Dr Jordan Phethean (the UK lead for Horizon Europe’s €1,000,000 RESCUE project, which searches for new groundwater resources to help societies during hydroclimatic extremes) and about tropical environment responses to climate and sea level change with Dr Stephen Lokier (an expert in creed community response to stress, critical for understanding how our planet will adapt to climate change). The research activities of our staff allows them to succinctly distil expert knowledge into crystal clear formats, making it easy for you to level up your own skills. 

How you are assessed 

We use career relevant and widely varied assessment styles, which prepare you for the world of work, including presentations and report writing. Earth Scientists need to accurately record data, both in the field and in the laboratory, so we attentively guide you in developing keen observation and recording skills. In the world of work, you will contribute to infographics, reports, computer codes, maps, posters, interviews and more - we therefore use these in our coursework too and try to keep exams to a minimum.

On graduation, you will be a confident Earth Sciences professional, proficient in any career you choose to follow.

Alongside an impressive core knowledge and skillset in Earth Sciences, you’ll develop a range of transferable skills, including verbal and written communication, critical analysis, independent thought and problem solving. Your new, solution focused expertise will strongly position you to pursue a wide range of careers upon graduating. 

Careers in the Earth Sciences cover a wide range of industry sectors including: 

• Volcanology 
• Hydrogeology
• Geophysics 
• Science policy 
• Responsible mining
• Palaeontology 
• Climatology
• Offshore wind
• Carbon sequestration
• Erosion management 
• Critical mineral exploration and extraction
• Water sector
• Oceanography 
• Engineering geology 
• Museum curation 
• Geomorphology Offshore and onshore ground engineering
• Site remediation
• GIS analytics
• Research and development
• Flood management
• Energy Sector
• Teaching 
• Offshore platforms
• Seismology 
• Geohazards mitigation 
• Environmental monitoring
• Geothermal
• Meteorology
• Site surveying
• Raw materials
• Glaciology
• Exploration geology
• Academia
• Planetary sciences
• Paleoclimatology 

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.