Geology,BSc (Hons)

On this BSc Geology you will have the opportunity to study the Earth and its processes and environments. You will examine how we can best manage environments through understanding the processes of rock and mineral formation through geological time, climate-ocean-rock-biosphere interactions, and the effects of human interactions with the environment.

Why choose this course?

• This degree is accredited by the Geological Society of London, opening up a route to becoming a chartered geologist which is essential for employment in many industries. It will also equip you to progress successfully in careers in research, environmental protection, environmental hazard mitigation, and other industries and employment essential to society.
• It can be completed entirely through your attendance at classes on campus or entirely by distance learning where you take your classes online, and can include inspiring and informative fieldwork opportunities.
• Geologists play a key role in guiding governments, industry and society on how best to protect the Earth’s environment whilst using its raw materials and potential for renewable energy in the most sustainable manner.
• You will benefit from the research activities of our staff which feed into our teaching, and also through our close research collaboration with University College London (UCL) whose Earth Science department is situated nearby.

What you will learn

You will learn how to identify key environmental indicators, such as rock, mineral and fossil assemblages, alongside landscapes and geomorphology, that are used by geologists to understand the key processes that have produced the Earth, and the effects of human interactions with the Earth.

You will also learn key aspects of biology, geography, physics, chemistry, planetary science, material science, mathematics, cartography, numerical modelling, computer science, sustainability and environmental protection.

You will use knowledge of all these different disciplines to formulate hypotheses, hypothesis tests and process-based solutions that will help humans to protect the Earth’s environments through sustainable activities.

How you will learn

You can choose to study this BSc Geology through attendance on campus in our state-of-the-art laboratories and lecture spaces, or entirely by distance learning via online video streams, digital lecture notes and our electronic library. Whether you decide to study on campus or online, you will also have the option to attend residential field classes in places such as Wales, Scotland, Greece and Morocco, and we also provide virtual online field courses as an alternative.

All lectures offer full digital lecture notes with diagrams, photographs and video content and are live-streamed and recorded so they are useful for revision purposes and learning online in different time zones. Exams are online to allow assessment of both on-campus and distance-learning students.

This course is available to study full- or part-time. If you choose to study this course on campus, it has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening.

It will be available for both online and on campus part-time study in 2026-27, with applications opening in October 2025.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. The online option will not be available to you because it may affect the conditions of your visa. If you are in receipt of a maintenance loan you must attend at least one class on campus per week.