From investigating the physical processes that shape our planet, to the environmental changes that have occurred over hundreds of millions of years, environmental geoscience is a fascinating and highly topical subject.
If you're particularly focused on enhancing your employability and have a keen interest in physical geography and geology, this scheme will equip you with highly desirable practical, numerical and computational skills for a wide range of careers. These include regional planning, environmental management, local authority work, financial planning, computing or business and retail management.
Our strong relationships with industry enable us to provide great work experience opportunities to enhance your employability. We help you find a work placement and support you during year year in industry.
Swansea University is Welsh University of the Year, and runner up for University of the Year Ranked (Times & Sunday Times University Guide 2017). Our students rank us consistently highly in the National Student Survey and we are currently top in the UK for student satisfaction (100% for Geology in 2018). We are ideally placed to offer exceptional fieldwork opportunities. Just a short drive from the UK's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Gower Peninsula, you will have easy access to the Brecon Beacons, rural west Wales and the urban and industrial landscapes of South Wales. You'll also have an opportunity to carry out fieldwork overseas in Austria, Malaysian Borneo, Mallorca or Vancouver.
Through this degree, you will explore cutting-edge issues such as understanding and living with natural hazards, glacial environments and processes and restructuring quaternary environmental change. You'll also get the chance to develop some valuable transferable work skills in your penultimate year of study through an industrial placement.
You will be taught in our £4.2m state-of-the-art Science laboratories, in a vibrant and friendly department ranked 8th in the UK for research impact (REF 2014), 12th for Geology (Complete University Guide] and 20th for research quality (Times & Sunday Times University Guide 2018). You'll have access to our high-performance computer lab for processing and interpreting satellite Earth observation and GIS data, a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer, a climatic test chamber, mineral magnetic characterisation equipment and an automatic organic carbon analyser.
You will learn from internationally renowned academics including Professor Tavi Murray, the first woman to be awarded Polar Medal by HM Queen, Professor Adrian Luckman, who has achieved global media coverage for his climate change research, Professor Peter North, who received international coverage of his work with NASA, and Professor Siwan Davies, whose work focuses on the dramatic changes to our climate.
"All the lecturers were incredibly helpful and committed to the students. Definitely choose to study at Swansea, not only will you receive an outstanding level of teaching from all lecturers, you will have an incredible experience outside of University exploring everything Swansea has to offer."
- Jack Philpott, BSc Environmental Geoscience
**We guarantee that you will be made a conditional offer for a course at Swansea University. Subject requirements will apply. Please come along to our next Open Day or get in touch for further information.**
Course Details - Modules
In Year 1 you'll study several compulsory modules covering topics such as global environmental change, Earth in action, Earth science in the field and Earth's changing face. You will then choose from optional modules covering geographical skills and methods, writing skills and personal development planning and practical field projects, and topics such as sustainability and geology.
In Year 2, you'll study compulsory topics such as Earth history and geological record of past environments. You'll then choose from a range of optional modules covering data analysis, approaches to physical geography and environmental research methods, and topics such as geographic information systems, glacial environments and processes, the Earth from Space, quaternary environmental change, global vegetation patterns and dynamics and urban modelling. You'll also have an opportunity to take part in an overseas field trip.
In Year 3, you'll spend a minimum of 40 weeks in an industrial placement in a UK company. Occasionally, opportunities may arise outside of the UK. You'll receive support from our placements team during your 2nd year to help you prepare for and secure a relevant industrial placement.
In Year 4, you'll undertake your dissertation and choose from a range of optional modules covering topics such as glaciology, humid tropical environments and landscapes, meteorology and atmospheric science, plate tectonics and global geophysics, environmental modelling and the climate of the last 1,000 years.
Course Details – Assessment Method
On the BSc Physical Earth Science course you will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical classes and field classes. You will be assessed through a variety of methods, including examinations, coursework, practical work, fieldwork and continuous assessment from tutorials. You will also complete a dissertation in Year Three.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
F769
Institution code:
S93
Campus Name:
Singleton Park Campus
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
To include Geography or a related subject (eg. Sociology or World Development, Geology or Environmental Science; or an additional Science subject)
To include Grade B in Geography (or related subject)
Access to HE (Science or Humanities): Pass with Distinction (27-24 Distinctions to include 3 in Geography or an appropriate subject, plus 15 Merits)
We recognise the EPQ as an excellent indicator of success.
If you are predicted a Grade B or above in the EPQ, you will receive an offer with a one
grade reduction, to include your EPQ with a grade B.
To include 5 in Higher Level Geography
Plus A-Level Grade B in Geography or a related subject
Requirements are as for A-Levels where you can substitute the same non-specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Level core Grade
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.
English language requirements
Test
Grade
AdditionalDetails
English Language Entry Requirement Information are not listed for this Course.
Unistats information
Student satisfaction :
73%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs):
60%
Go onto work and study:
95%
Fees and funding
England
9000.0
Year 1
Northern Ireland
9000.0
Year 1
Scotland
9000.0
Year 1
Wales
9000.0
Year 1
EU
19100.0
Year 1
International
19100.0
Year 1
Channel Islands
19100.0
Year 1
Republic of Ireland
19100.0
Year 1
Additional Fee Information
Additional Fee Information are not listed for this Course.
Provider information
Singleton Park
Address2 are not listed for this Course.
Address3 are not listed for this Course.
Swansea
SA2 8PP
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