Earth Sciences
Earth sciences is the study of our planet in its entirety, from the deep interior through the crust, oceans and atmosphere to the surface environments where life exists and human societies are built. It draws on geology, geophysics, geochemistry, oceanography, atmospheric science and environmental science to understand the processes that have shaped and continue to shape the Earth over billions of years. As climate change, natural hazards and resource questions move to the centre of global policy debates, earth scientists are increasingly essential in providing the evidence and analysis that informs decisions about how to manage and adapt to a changing planet.
At Durham University this four-year, full-time programme equips you to tackle the problems of today and the future, developing a deep understanding of natural and environmental hazards, their management, mitigation and the adaptation strategies required in the face of climate change, volcanic activity, flooding and earthquakes. You will study the geological record of past climate and environmental change alongside the physics and chemistry of Earth's systems, developing both the conceptual frameworks to understand what is happening and the quantitative and fieldwork skills to investigate it directly. Durham's outstanding Earth sciences research community means your studies are informed by current scientific work at the frontier of the discipline.
Graduates of earth sciences programmes work in environmental and geological consultancy, the energy sector including renewables and oil and gas, hydrogeology and water resource management, hazard assessment and disaster risk reduction, government environmental agencies, mining and mineral exploration, geospatial data and geographic information, and academic research. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in earth science, climate science, environmental management or geophysics, and some pursue careers in science policy, science communication or the technical aspects of environmental regulation and planning.