Undergraduate 

Environmental Geoscience BSc/MSci

A geyser in Iceland

Environmental Geoscience is the study of the interaction between natural and anthropogenic processes and environments. It focuses on working towards a sustainable future by understanding how humans affect, and are affected by, a range of environmental issues including climate change, water resources, pollution and landscape change.

The flexibility of our programmes will enable you to choose your specialist subject after an integrated first and second year which will prepare you for both degrees in Environmental Geoscience and Geology.

  • September start
  • Session dates
  • Environmental Geoscience BSc (Hons): F600 4 year degree
  • Environmental Geoscience MSci: F601 5 year degree

Register your interest for more information

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Why study Environmental Geoscience?

  • Fieldwork is a fundamental part of studying Environmental Geoscience at the University of Glasgow. All students undertake field classes from the first year, with field trips to Holyrood Park (Edinburgh), Fife and Arran in years one and two. In the third and fourth year, there are various residential and day field classes
  • We deliver a series of specialised courses that will uniquely prepare you for a range of careers including environmental monitoring and management, geotechnical engineering and environmental hazards
  • This programme is accredited by the Institute of Environmental Sciences (IES)
  • The School works with the Hunterian Museum, which provides students with world-class samples to work with
  • There are four fully dedicated laboratories equipped with microscopes, maps, hand-specimens, thin-sections and specialised software, available 24 hours a day
  • Travelling and overseas work are major features of a geoscience career and we encourage our students to take advantage of extensive exchange programmes to study abroad. Our students have studied in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, California and Europe; there are over 250 universities to choose from

Watch an overview of the programme from Dr John MacDonald, an expert in anthropogenic materials:

Programme structure

Years 1 & 2

You will cover fundamental environmental geoscience principles, including the evolution of life, surface processes and environments, the sustainable exploration for resources and energy, climate change, water security and waste and contaminated land management. These principles are supported by the understanding of geological concepts such as plate tectonics, the structure of the Earth, volcanoes, earthquakes, how rocks deform and the evolution of the oceans and continents. You will develop a range of spatial, analytical and computational skills.

You will participate in local field classes in both years, and a residential field class in your second year, where you will develop your practical and problem-solving skills.

You will also study other subjects in years 1 and 2 to pursue your interests and ensure maximum flexibility; see Flexible degrees.

Years 3 and 4

If you progress to Honours (years 3 and 4) you will study a number of core courses covering past and future climates, hydrogeology, environmental geochemistry, landscape change and Quaternary geoscience, developing spatial and numerical skills in the laboratory and field. You will participate in two residential field classes and many local day field classes, and undertake an independent project in final year where you will develop and answer a research question based on data you have collected. 

Year 5

You can take Environmental Geoscience as an MSci degree, which is particularly suited to those interested in further study and developing their analytical skills. The course centres on an extensive independent research project with opportunities to work with scientists from the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre and external parties.

Course details

Year 1

Core courses:

You will study the major themes of environmental geoscience, underpinned by key geological principles, using a problem-based approach to learning integrated with topical examples.

You will cover fundamental environmental geoscience principles, including the evolution of life, surface processes and environments, the sustainable exploration for resources and energy, climate change, water security, and waste and contaminated land management. These principles are supported by the understanding of geological concepts such as plate tectonics, the structure of the Earth, volcanoes, earthquakes, how rocks deform, and the evolution of the oceans and continents. You will develop a range of spatial, analytical and computational skills.

You will participate in local field classes in both years, and a residential field class in your second year, where you will develop your practical and problem-solving skills.

Year 2

Core courses:

  • Earth Science 2A
  • Earth Science 2B

You will also study other subjects in years 1 and 2 to pursue your interests and ensure maximum flexibility; see Flexible degrees.

Year 3

Core courses:

Year 4

Core courses:

If you progress to Honours (years 3 and 4) you will study a number of core courses covering past and future climates, hydrogeology, environmental geochemistry, landscape change and Quaternary geoscience, developing spatial and numerical skills in the laboratory and field.

You will participate in residential field classes and many local day field classes, as well as undertaking an independent project in your final year where you will develop and answer a research question based on data you have collected.

You will also tailor your degree to include additional areas of interest chosen from a wide range of optional courses, many of which are focused on environmental aspects of physical geography and applied environmental geoscience.

Year 5

You can take Environmental Geoscience as an MSci degree, which is particularly suited to those interested in further study. It includes an additional year, centred on an extensive independent research project that involves the use of advanced analytical facilities in the school.


Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Our international links

Travelling and overseas work are major features of a geoscience career and we encourage our students to take advantage of the University’s extensive exchange programmes to study abroad. Our students have studied in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, California and Europe. See Study abroad.

Entry requirements

for entry in 2025

You should refer to the entry requirements for both subjects and the degree award when applying for a joint honours degree programme. The higher entry requirement (where applicable) and additional requirements must be met for both subjects.

Summary of entry requirements for Environmental Geoscience

SQA Higher entry requirements

  • BBBB is the minimum requirement from S5 to be reviewed for an S6 offer
  • Offers are not guaranteed to applicants who meet the minimum from S5
  • Typically offers will be made at AAAB by end of S6. B at Advanced Higher is equivalent to A at Higher
  • Additional requirements: Two Higher Science subjects at AA (AB may be considered).

SQA Higher adjusted entry requirements* (by end of S5 or S6)

  • MD20: BBBB (also other target groups*)
  • MD40: AABB*
  • Additional requirements: Two Higher Science subjects. Successful completion of Top-Up or one of our Summer Schools.

* See Access Glasgow for eligibility.

A-level standard entry requirements

  • BBB – BCC
  • Additional requirements: A-level Science subject at Grade B.

IB standard entry requirements

  • 32 (5,5,5)
  • Additional requirements: HL Science subject.

Admissions guidance

English language

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

English language requirements

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

  • 6.5 with no sub-test under 6.0.
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Common equivalent English language qualifications

All stated English tests are acceptable for admission to this programme:

TOEFL (ib, my best or athome)

  • 90 with minimum R 20, L 19, S 19, W 23.
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Combined scores from two tests taken within 6 months of each other can be considered.

PTE (Academic)

  • 60 with minimum 59 in all sub-tests.
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Combined scores from two tests taken within 6 months of each other can be considered.

Glasgow International College English Language (and other foundation providers)

  • 65%.
  • Tests are accepted for academic year following sitting.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

  • Tests are accepted for academic year following sitting.

Cambridge English Qualifications

  • Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): 176 overall, no subtest less than 169
  • Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE): 176 overall, no subtest less than 169

School Qualifications

  • iGCSE English or ESOL 0522/0500, grade C
  • International Baccalaureate English A SL5 or HL5
  • International Baccalaureate English B SL6 or HL5
  • SQA National 5 English or ESOL, grade B
  • SQA Higher English or ESOL, grade C
  • Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, English Language grade 4
  • West African Examination Council, Senior Secondary School Certificate, English grade C6

Alternatives to English Language qualification

  • Undergraduate degree from English speaking country (including Canada if taught in English)
  • Undergraduate 2+2 degree from English speaking country
  • Undergraduate 2+2 TNE degree taught in English in non-English speaking country
  • Masters degree from English speaking country
  • Masters degree (equivalent on NARIC to UK masters degree) taught in English in non-English speaking country.

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept an IELTS test (Academic module) from any of the 1000 IELTS test centres from around the world and we do not require a specific UKVI IELTS test for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

FAQs

What do I do if...

my language qualifications are below the requirements?

The University's School of Modern Languages and Cultures offers a range of Pre-sessional courses to bring you up to entry level. The course is accredited by BALEAP, the UK professional association for academic English teaching.

my language qualifications are not listed here?

Please contact External Relations

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:


Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

Further information about English language: School of Modern Languages & Cultures: English for Academic Study


Career prospects

Our recent graduates are employed by a range of organisations in the environmental sector:

  • Atkins
  • BAM Nuttall Ltd
  • BAM Ritchies
  • Equinor Hywind
  • Mason Evans
  • Scottish Environment Protection Agency
  • Scottish Water.

You can read more about the careers some of our graduates have gone into on our School website:

Degrees and UCAS codes

When applying you will need to know the UCAS code for the subject or subject-combination that you wish to apply to:

BSc (Hons)

Environmental Geoscience: F600 (4 years)
KIS
Environmental Geoscience/Archaeology: FF64 (4 years)
KIS

MSci

Environmental Geoscience: F601 (5 years)
KIS

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

How and when you pay tuition fees depends on where you’re from: see Tuition fees for details.

Field trip costs

These are heavily subsided and students can expect to pay field trip costs of approximately £200 over the duration of a four-year honours degree.  This includes transport and accommodation. A weather-writer and compass will be provided for you.

Scholarships

The University is committed to supporting students and rewarding academic excellence. That's why we've invested more than £1m in additional scholarship funding in recent years.

2023 Sustainability Scholarship

SuperRoundRobin is a software provider with a passion for giving back in a series of sustainability-related projects including tree-planting and scholarship awards for students on sustainability-related courses.  The 2023 SuperRoundRobin Sustainability Scholarship is a 'no-essay-required' award with a simple no-fee application process. 

The Geospatial Scholarship Fund

Black and mixed Black heritage students are significantly under-represented within the fields of geography and geoscience.

The Geospatial Scholarship Fund would like to tackle this by helping to promote geography and geoscience as a positive life choice for students. Awards aims to provide financial and other support for students throughout their studies and ultimately increase the number of Black and mixed Black heritage students studying and working within the disciplines

STEM in Scotland Scholarship

stem in scotland scholarship logoThe University of Glasgow is delighted to support future STEM students studying Astronomy, Chemistry, Computing Science, Engineering, Environmental Geoscience, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Statistics and Physics.

Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship

The University of Glasgow has a number of Undergraduate Excellence Scholarships available to new International and EU students for 2024 entry. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount of £7,000 per year of study and is subject to satisfactory progress for consecutive years of study.  

EU Welcome Award

The University of Glasgow continues to be committed to ensuring a strong relationship with our existing and future EU students, and supporting EU talent to make their home at the University of Glasgow. 

We appreciate the challenging financial implications that have arisen for our European applicants, and are therefore delighted to offer the EU Welcome Award to new incoming EU students starting an undergraduate programme for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount of £5,000 for every year of study and is subject to satisfactory progress for consecutive years of study. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

Applicants that completed a Study Abroad year, Exchange programme or International Summer School at the University of Glasgow and therefore eligible for the Alumni discount could be granted the EU Welcome Award as well.

RUK Excellence Scholarship

The RUK Excellence Scholarship of £1,000 for each year of study will be awarded to first degree new entrants who have attained academic excellence in one sitting at A Level (or equivalent).

RUK Access Bursary

The bursary supports talented students who may not be able to take their place at University for reasons of financial hardship. It is available to new entrant full-time, undergraduate students of the University of Glasgow who are fully registered for the up coming academic session, ordinarily domiciled in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and paying annual tuition fees of £9,250 per annum.

James McCune Smith Undergraduate Scholarship

The University of Glasgow has up to 30 undergraduate scholarships available for students of African/African-Caribbean backgrounds. The scholarship supports students who could face financial difficulties taking up their place to study at the university. The value of the scholarship is £2,000, paid in instalments for year one of undergraduate study. The scholarship is open to new applicants to the university for 2024 entry. Current students who have previously been in receipt of the award may reapply, however, preference will be given to applicants entering their first year of study.

Beaconhouse Schools

The University of Glasgow offer a 15% discount on the first year of tuition fee to students from Beaconhouse Schools and who enrol on an undergraduate programme at the University of Glasgow. The discount does not apply to Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Dentistry programmes.

Undergraduate Talent Scholarships

The University of Glasgow is awarding c.50 undergraduate Talent Scholarships to support students who could face financial difficulties in taking up their place to study at the University for 2024 entry. The value of each scholarship is typically £1,500 p.a. for each year of the degree programme, subject to satisfactory progress. Talent Scholarships are available to students entering any of the University's Colleges.

Dental School students are eligible for a Talent Scholarship in their first year of study only. They are eligible for the NHS Dental Student Support Grant in the following years.

Republic of Ireland (RoI) Access Bursary

Glasgow has a long and proud tradition of providing financial support to talented students who, for reasons of financial hardship, might not be able to take a place at university. Our RoI Access Bursary is part of our commitment to continue to attract and support students from a diverse range of backgrounds. For 2023 entry, the RoI bursary will be up to £2,000 for your first year of study and £1,000 for continuing years.

Payments of the RoI Access Bursary will be detailed in your Award Letter.

  • The RoI Access Bursary will be awarded as a cash payment.
  • The RoI Access Bursary will be paid in 10 instalments from October until July; this award is based on household income
  • The RoI Access Bursary will only be awarded in years where tuition fees of £9,250 apply 

Please see here for up to date information and criteria for 2024 entry. 

Republic of Ireland (RoI) Excellence Scholarship

The RoI Excellence Scholarship of £1,000 for each year of study will be awarded to first degree entrants who have attained at Irish Higher grades H1, H1, H1, H2, H2 from the Irish Leaving Certificate for 2023 entry. Dentistry, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine applicants are not eligible for this award.

Payments

  • The RoI Excellence Scholarship will be processed as a cash payment.
  • The RoI Excellence Scholarship will be paid in 2 instalments.
  • The first payment will be in October and the second payment will be in February.

These payments will be credited to the UK bank account held on your MyCampus profile; therefore, it is vital that this is up to date at the start of the session. By submitting your bank details on the MyCampus system, you are confirming that you agree with the terms and conditions of the award.

Please see here for further information and eligibility criteria for 2024 entry.

Cowrie Foundation Scholarship

The University of Glasgow and The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation (CSF) will offer a scholarship to support Black African and Caribbean heritage applicants from socio-economically challenged backgrounds.  Applicants must be ordinarily resident in the UK and commencing an undergraduate study in the academic year 2024-25

The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation wants to fund 100 Black British students through UK universities in the next decade. More information on the Foundation can be found here.

Sanctuary Scholarships

The University of Glasgow is offering up to 20 Sanctuary Scholarships for applicants to the University, who have been forced to travel to the UK for humanitarian reasons and are facing challenges in progressing onto Higher Education. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught students at the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2024/25. Please note that you must have applied to the University before submitting an application for this scholarship.

The scholarship will meet the cost of tuition fees for the duration of your programme, for applicants who are unable to access mainstream funding through Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) or Student Finance. The Sanctuary Scholarship also provides a £5,000 per year stipend, to assist with study costs. In addition, if the eligibility criteria for university accommodation is met, this will also be provided for the duration of your degree, if required. For more information on the accommodation criteria, please see the Accommodation Services section on the website.

Undergraduate students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs only, if successful.

Postgraduate Taught Masters students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs and a partial tuition fee waiver, to cover any shortfall not met by your Postgraduate Masters tuition fee loan.

The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Clan Gregor Society is offering an award to new entrants to the University of Glasgow who descend from Clan Gregor. Prospective students will be asked to submit an application highlighting areas of consideration such as academic excellence and financial need. The award is open to both Undergraduate and Postgraduate applicants for 2024 entry.

The scholarships above are specific to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

How to apply

Full-time students must apply through the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). 

SQA applicants who are eligible for our Widening Participation programmes are encouraged to participate in one or more of these programmes, including Summer School, to support your application and the transition to higher education.

International students to Arts, Engineering, Law, Nursing, Science, and Social Sciences can also apply using The Common Application: however, if applying to more than one UK university, we recommend using UCAS. Applications to Dentistry, Education, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine must be made through UCAS.

Application deadlines

  • 16 October: if including Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or also applying to Oxford or Cambridge
  • 31 January: all other UK applicants (unless otherwise stated on the UCAS website)
  • 30 June: international students.

We do not usually accept any applications after these deadlines.

It's your responsibility to ensure the accuracy of your application before submission. Requests to correct application content, change degree programme or change college of entry, will not be accepted after these deadlines. This policy is in place to ensure fairness and consistency to all applicants, and no exceptions will be made.

Subject league tables

guardian newspaper
UK top 15

Guardian University Guide [Geography]

Times Good university guide
UK top 15

Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide [Geography & Environmental Science]

ShanghaiRanking of World Universities
World top 30

ShanghaiRanking's Global [Geography]

qs logo
World top 100

QS World University Rankings [Geography]

Related programmes

Environment & Sustainability

Geographical & Earth Sciences

Related links

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