Geology BSc (Hons) 2021 entry
The BSc in Geology at St Andrews will provide you with a deep understanding of the materials, structures, and processes that have characterised the solid Earth throughout its 4.6 billion year history. The BSc Geology degree emphasises the origin and chemistry of rocks and minerals, geological mapping, and the processes and events that have shaped the rock record.
Teaching provides training in Earth dynamics, the formation of minerals, rocks and sediments and their interaction with the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, using fundamentals of chemistry, physics, and biology to build a deep understanding of the Earth.
Students interested in this course may also be interested in the Environmental Earth Sciences BSc or the Earth Sciences MGeol Integrated Masters course, which allows you to graduate with a Master in Geology.
Accreditation
The BSc in Geology from St Andrews is accredited by the Geological Society of London, which provides a faster track to gaining Chartered Geologist status.
Key information
UCAS code
F600
Course type
Bachelor of Science (single Honours degree)
Course duration
Four years full time
- Start date: 6 September 2021
- End date: 30 June 2025
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Entry requirements
These grades are the overall standards required to consider you for entry. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.
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- Standard entry grades: AAAB, including B in two of the following subjects:
- Biology (or Human Biology)
- Chemistry
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Physics.
- Minimum entry grades: AABB, including B in two of the following subjects:
- Biology (or Human Biology)
- Chemistry
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Physics.
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Gateway entry grades: BBBB
- Standard entry grades: AAAB, including B in two of the following subjects:
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- Standard entry grades: AAB, including B in two of the following subjects:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Geography
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Physics.
- Minimum entry grades: ABB, including B in two of the following subjects:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Geography
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Physics.
- Standard entry grades: AAB, including B in two of the following subjects:
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- Standard entry grades: 36 (HL 6,6,5), including HL6 in two of the following subjects:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Physics.
- Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL5 in two of the following subjects:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Physics.
- Standard entry grades: 36 (HL 6,6,5), including HL6 in two of the following subjects:
We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes, please see our entry requirements for more information.
For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entrance requirements as outlined on their pages.
Direct entry to second year
Well-qualified school leavers may be able to apply for admission directly into the second year of this course.
International applicants
If English is not your first language you will need an overall IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum score of 6.0 in each component (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking), or an equivalent English Language qualification.
How to applyDo I need to have studied this subject before?
Most students who enrol on this course have not studied Earth sciences at school, and choose Earth sciences based on a love of the environment, the outdoors, and science. If you are interested in the processes that shape the planet and its environment, a degree in Earth Sciences is likely the right choice. Preference will be given to candidates with strong science qualifications.
General entry requirements
All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.
SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing science
- Geography
- Lifeskills Mathematics (A grade)
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology.
GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing Science
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology.
Other qualifications
More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements web page.
Reputation
Earth sciences at St Andrews was ranked first in Scotland by the Guardian University Guide 2021 and first in Scotland by the Complete University Guide 2021.
The University of St Andrews as a whole was voted top in the UK for student academic experience in The National Student Survey 2020 as 92.7% of St Andrews final-year students gave the University top marks for the quality of the learning and teaching experience.
The University has secured a TEF Gold award for the quality of teaching and the undergraduate experience.
The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences conducts leading-edge research worldwide, and in the UK Research Excellence Framework 2014, the School was ranked first in the UK based on the impact of its research.
Find out more about studying earth and environmental sciences at St Andrews.
Course information
The BSc (Hons) in Geology is a four-year course run by the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and provides students with a combination of academic skills and vocational training. During your degree, you will be able to take advantage of hands-on field and laboratory-based research projects that investigate topics as varied as the origin of continental crust, to planetary origin and differentiation, to causes and consequences of Earth system functioning during pivotal periods of Earth history.
In first year, you will be introduced to the main concepts of geology, such as Earth structure and Earth history, including the origin of the planet and Earth’s biosphere.
In second year, modules provide additional and deeper study into mineralogy, sedimentary systems, palaeontology, geophysics and geochemistry.
Alongside geology, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.
At Honours level, there is a shift from broad-themed modules to more specialised ones that introduce students to a wide variety of exciting new research trends and findings. Modules involve the opportunity to get first-hand experience of new research discoveries and advances.
The School is home to state-of-the-art analytical facilities supported by full-time technicians. These allow for the detailed characterisation of natural and synthetic materials, culturing of micro and macro organisms in extreme environments, and geological and geophysical field deployment. These facilities will enable you to address questions from fundamental field geology to assess anthropological versus natural processes in driving climate change. Find out more about research facilities.
The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.
Well-qualified school leavers may be able to apply for admission directly into the second year of this course.
It is possible for students to take a five-year Integrated Masters course in Earth Sciences, allowing you to graduate with a Master in Geology.
Students interested in this course may also be interested in the Environmental Earth Sciences BSc.
Fieldwork
Geology at St Andrews provides outstanding field-based training. Students have the opportunity to take numerous day to multi-week-long field trips associated with individual modules, as well as up to four weeks of fieldwork associated with their independent research projects.
Examples of field trips that are part of the BSc Geology degree include:
- First year: the five-day “Highland Fling” to renowned geological sites in the Scottish Highlands.
- Second year: six days of geological mapping in central Spain, examining multiple phases of continental collision and mountain building; five days exploring iron and nutrient contamination of river systems in a UK based location and this affects pH and biodiversity.
- Third year: twelve days of mapping the iconic Moine Thrust system and Caledonian igneous complexes in the Scottish Highlands.
- Fourth year: a two-week transect of the Alpine orogenic belt through northern Italy and central Switzerland.
Find out more about studying earth and environmental Sciences at St Andrews.
Modules
In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours), you will take the required modules in geology alongside modules in at least one other subject.
In first year, you must complete two compulsory modules, and in second year, you must complete three compulsory modules. At Honours level, you will take seven to eight compulsory modules. Find out more about the modular Scottish degree system.
Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules alongside other optional modules in geology or in another subject:
- Understanding Planet Earth: provides a foundation into the study of Earth through a study of key elements of the planet and environmental sciences.
- Earth's Resource Challenges: builds on the knowledge from Semester 1, including addressing issues related to natural resources and creating a low carbon economy.
Students are required to take the following compulsory modules in their second year:
- DynamicEarth: The Earth System: focuses on understanding the behaviour of the solid Earth and its interaction with the atmosphere, biosphere and beyond.
- Dynamic Earth: Magma, Minerals and Metamorphism: focuses on the geology and geochemistry of the solid Earth and processes in Earth's interior.
- Dynamic Earth: Earth Surface Processes: focuses on the low temperature processes that operate in land-atmosphere interactions, glacial processes, tectonic geomorphology, geomicrobiology and oceanography.
If you decide to take geology in your third and fourth years, you choose from a wide variety of advanced options, including modules in hydrology, geodynamics and geophysics.
Honours modules involve key skills training and first-hand experience linked to new research discoveries and advances in Earth Sciences, and courses that have been offered in the past included the following topics:
- Advanced Petrogenesis
- Data Analysis in Earth Sciences (R and Python)
- Geochemistry
- Geodynamics
- GIS and Spatial Analysis for Earth Scientists
- Global Biogeochemical Cycles
- Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
- Petroleum Exploration and Geophysics
- Sedimentary Systems
- Structural Geology and Tectonics.
The compulsory modules listed here must be taken in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules appropriate to the programme for the current academic year can be found in the programme requirements.
Teaching
Teaching format
The School’s teaching philosophy is to provide a thorough understanding of Earth sciences through experiential learning via field and lab-based study, first-hand experience in collecting data, testing hypotheses and undertaking analyses, and student-led investigative research.
The BSc in Geology is taught through a combination of:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- practical classes
- field work
- research projects.
Typical class sizes:
- First year: lectures 80 to 110, tutorials 3 to 6
- Second year: 30 to 40
- Honours: 20 to 30
When not attending lectures, tutorials and workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:
- reading relevant literature
- working on individual and group projects
- undertaking research in the library
- preparing coursework assignments and presentations
- preparing for examinations.
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of geology. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of laboratory classes and seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
You can find contact information for all geology staff on the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences website.
In addition to your studies in the School, optional academic support is available through practical study skills courses and workshops hosted within the University.
The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.
Assessment
During first and second year, all modules are assessed by an equal weighting of coursework and written examinations including short questions and essays.
At Honours level some modules are assessed through coursework (50%) and a final examination (50%), while other modules are based entirely on coursework.
The Honours dissertation is assessed through a written dissertation, project proposal and presentation.
The School aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within three weeks.
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. Please note that some Schools offer qualified entry to Honours, and this will be clearly specified in the programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.
Fees
Tuition fees for 2021 entry
| Home-funded | £1,820 |
|---|---|
| Rest of the UK | £9,250 |
| EU and overseas | £25,100 |
For overseas students, tuition fees will be fixed at this level for the duration of your programme.
More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.
Accommodation fees
Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.
Funding for fieldwork
Fieldwork expenses for geology students are covered by the School and the Irvine Bequest, as well as contributions from alumni. There are financial awards at every level of study for students who have earned the highest marks in fieldwork.
Joint Honours degrees
You can take Geology as part of a joint Honours degree alongside one of the following subjects.
In taking a joint degree, you are required to take core modules in all of your subjects. Find out more about joint degrees.
Your future
Careers
The School is proactive about developing career opportunities, and career activities are provided for all students from first year onwards. Assessment styles imitate real workplace scenarios and many modules in Honours years are supported by visits to and by industry partners. As a result, graduates are well prepared for industry and graduate employment prospects are consistently among the best in the UK.
There are multiple career options for Earth and environmental sciences graduates, both specifically in the energy, natural resources, and environmental sectors, as well as in wider science and policy areas.
The degrees offered provide advanced training in a wide range of transferable skills, including scientific problem solving, written communication and oral presentation. The high quality of the field training is particularly valued by employers.
Recent employers of graduates include:
- Accenture
- BHP Billiton
- BP
- British Geological Survey
- Fugro
- Gemfields
- Geotechnics Ltd.
- Hinkley Point C nuclear power station
- JBA Consulting
- JP Morgan
- Norsk Hydro
- Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
- Scottish Natural Heritage.
Many graduates undertake further study, both at MSc and PhD level. Recent PhD destinations include:
- Boulder
- CalTech
- Cambridge
- Durham
- ETH Zurich
- MIT
- Open University
- Oxford
- Penn State
- Stanford.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
Study abroad
Earth and environmental sciences students may participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site.
Student life
From the outset, the University of St Andrews offers an array of events and opportunities which result in a truly unique student experience. Students participate in a range of traditions, notably, the red academic gown and the academic family, where older students adopt first year students as ‘children’ and help guide them in a system of mentoring. These traditions and the choice of over 150 sports clubs and student societies to choose from ensures a community feel amongst students from first year onwards.
Students in the School may be interested in joining the Geological Society, which organises activities such as lectures and networking events as well as social events and field trips across Britain.
The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences is housed within the Irvine Building in the historical heart of the University between St Salvator's Quadrangle and St Salvator's Hall. Students will attend tutorials, seminars, lectures and individual meetings with tutors in this building and in designated lecture theatres elsewhere around St Andrews.
The town of St Andrews itself has lots to offer. As University buildings are located throughout the town, walking around you encounter ancient and modern buildings, parks and beaches, providing a rich, beautiful backdrop to learning. Find out more about the town of St Andrews.
Find out more about student life at the University of St Andrews.
“Environmental Earth Sciences at St Andrews appealed to me due to the practical skills it equips students with through extensive fieldwork. Additionally, the close student-staff relations and small class sizes create a friendly atmosphere in the School. The flexible degree structure has allowed me to explore different fields of study and get involved in cutting-edge research.”
Stella (Weimar, Germany)
Contact
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of St Andrews
Bute Building
St Andrews
KY16 9TS
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 3940
Email: earthsci@st-andrews.ac.uk
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.
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