MSci
Earth Sciences MSci
This Masters degree is ideal if you have a strong interest in Earth Science research. You'll gain knowledge at the cutting-edge of scientific research and be ready to take up a variety of roles or further study at international institutions.
How to apply Apply via UCAS
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
MSci
UCAS Code
F644
Course length
4 years full-time
Typical offer
AAA
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £9,535 per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £33,250 per year
Overview
This four-year Master’s degree has been designed to provide a comprehensive and rigorous education in all aspects of Earth Sciences along with the opportunity to interact with staff at the cutting-edge of scientific research. Ideally suited to students with a strong interest in research, the course incorporates a substantial amount of independent (and group) project work which will involve you in high-level quantitative investigations, in addition to advanced key skills training. If you have been accepted onto Geology, Geoscience, Environmental Geosciences, or Geophysics with Geology you may be able to transfer to the four-year MSci degree in Earth Sciences at the end of your second year. The fourth year combines a bespoke research project in your specialism, with advanced modules designed to integrate your Earth Science knowledge for vocational and/or research applications. This course prepares you for employment or PhD research. Graduates have secured positions with high-profile employers and PhD research positions at prestigious universities worldwide.
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
MSci
UCAS Code
F644
Course length
4 years full-time
Typical offer
AAA
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £9,535 per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £33,250 per year
What you'll study
This course provides you with the opportunity to follow the Geology, Environmental Geosciences, Geophysics or Geoscience pathway for the first three years and undertake a detailed independent research project in the area of your choice in the fourth year.
Core modules
-
Years 1 to 3
You are required to choose modules from one of the following BSc routes: GeologyEnvironmental GeosciencesGeophysicsGeoscience
Core modules
-
Years 1 to 3
You are required to choose modules from one of the following BSc routes: GeologyEnvironmental GeosciencesGeophysicsGeoscience
Core modules
-
Years 1 to 3
You are required to choose modules from one of the following BSc routes: GeologyEnvironmental GeosciencesGeophysicsGeoscience
Core modules
-
Research Project
Demonstrate advanced research skills in Earth Sciences via the completion of a significant piece of individual research.
Optional modules
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In recent years, optional modules have included: Science CommunicationEarth Science Field SeminarEarth Sciences into IndustryMonitoring the Oceans: Geohazards & Climate ChangePolar Quaternary Environmental ProcessesVolcanology and Magmatism
Learning
The course is delivered through lectures, practical classes, tutorials and optional fieldwork. The balance of these activities changes across the degree, as your ability for independent learning develops. In Year 1, lectures and practicals dominate the timetable. The balance shifts in the second year, with emphasis on self-directed learning and an opportunity to practice research methods. In the third year, you will carry out a dissertation, which may involve field or laboratory research, depending on your BSc route. The final year includes another research-based dissertation developed in collaboration you’re your academic tutor. You will be expected to deliver seminars to your peers and to academic staff and take part in a project developed with a tutor and an industrial sponsor.Assessment
You will be assessed through a combination of coursework, class tests and end-of-year examinations. A significant proportion of your final assessment will be through your dissertation in Year 3 and your research project in Year 4.Entry requirements
Fees & Funding
Choose which fees you want to see:
Home / Island students
£9,535 per year
International / EU Students
£33,250 per year
Home / Island students
Part Time - £ per year
International / EU Students
Part Time - £ per year
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Find out moreDepartment Information
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Earth Sciences is the holistic study of the planet from the core to the surface, its water and the surrounding atmosphere. Durham is one of the UK’s leading providers of Earth Sciences education. We offer six undergraduate courses, four of which are accredited by The Geological Society of London. Our courses explore the full geological spectrum including climate change, oceans, mass extinctions, rocks and minerals, volcanoes, and the structure and chemistry of the Earth. Our multidisciplinary approach applies physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and physical geography to real world scenarios to make sense of today's major geoscience concerns. Course structures are flexible with a balance of formal teaching, fieldwork and active learning to put your theoretical knowledge into practice. You can tailor your degree to your interests through the wide range of optional modules and you may also be able to spend a year studying abroad, extending your degree by a year. All our degree courses are informed by the latest pure and applied research, and you can be sure your education is in sync with the latest thinking and will help you on your journey to a profession in the Earth Sciences sector and beyond. For more information see our department pages.
Read moreFacilities
We are on the main science campus, and our teaching taks place in the modern, purpose-built Arthur Holmes Building equipped with brand new optical microscopes and a large teaching collection of rocks, fossils, geological maps, and thin sections. We use industry-standard and research-level software (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS Pro, Python and Matlab), and if your dissertation or research project involves laboratory study, you can access our world-class geochemistry and rock mechanics labs. Throughout your course you will have the opportunity to develop observation and analytical skills on residential field trips to study mountains, deserts, caves, volcanoes, rift valleys, faults and fossils.
Find out more -
Career Opportunities
Of those students who graduated in 2021-22
88%
Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk
Employability
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