Environmental Geoscience BSc

Course overview

The surface of planet Earth is highly dynamic, with abrupt changes in environmental conditions driven by the complicated interplay of physical, biological, chemical, and geological processes. Specialist skills and knowledge are urgently required to document and interpret the records of environmental change, meaning that environmental geoscientists are at the forefront of tackling many of the urgent issues arising from society’s interactions with the Earth’s surface and shallow subsurface.

Our Environmental Geoscience degree will equip you with a deep understanding of the Earth system, with a focus on surface and shallow subsurface process interactions. From this, you'll gain deep time perspectives on how subaerial and submarine landscapes evolve. By applying that knowledge to Earth resources, or mitigating climate change, you’ll learn how to help solve critical societal problems.

At Leeds, we continue to place fieldwork as an integral part of developing your knowledge of Earth surface processes and understanding of records of environmental change. Throughout your course, you’ll build observational and analytical skills through visits to classic field locations.

Distinctively, we have a large group of world-leading researchers who work at the interface of geological and geomorphological disciplines. Your final year project will be building 3D geo-models using real-world datasets to provide you with the unique independence and experience that means, upon graduation, you'll be a skilled environmental geoscientist ready to help solve the key challenges that face humankind and secure the future of our planet.

Entry requirements

A-level: ABB including two from: Biology, Chemistry, Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Physics, Environmental Science, Statistics, Geology, Computer Science, Geography, and Marine Science. If Geography and Geology are taken together, another science is preferred as a third subject.

Where an A-Level Science subject is taken, we require a pass in the practical science element, alongside the achievement of the A-Level at the stated grade.

Excludes A-Level General Studies or Critical Thinking.

GCSE: English and Mathematics at grade C (4) or above, or an appropriate English language and Mathematics qualification. We will accept Level 2 Functional Skills English in lieu of GCSE English.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ): We recognise the value of this qualification and the effort and skills required to undertake it, where an applicant is taking the EPQ this may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. The EPQ taken with A-Levels, for example, could be BBB with an A in the EPQ.

International Baccalaureate

Career opportunities

Our Environmental Geoscience programme will provide high-quality training in areas that are considered vital to the UK and global economies, such as infrastructure projects and their resilience to geohazards and aligns with several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Several sub-disciplines are included on the ‘skills shortage lists’ published by governments in the UK and elsewhere, which means that graduate-level environmental geoscientists are in high demand. This means, in the coming decades, our Environmental Geoscience graduates will play a pivotal role in addressing various environmental challenges such as protecting and improving key natural resources (e.g., soils and groundwater), ensuring resilience from natural and environmental hazards, and establishing the infrastructure required for renewable energy to aid the transition towards a zero-carbon economy.

Plus, University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2024, High Fliers Research, meaning our graduates are highly sought after by some of the most reputable companies in the field.

Read our alumni profiles to find out more about where students from our School are now working.