Earth Sciences
The University of Edinburgh
UCAS Code: F640 | Master of Earth Sciences - MEarthSci
The University of Edinburgh
UCAS Code: F640 | Master of Earth Sciences - MEarthSci
Entry requirements
A level
ABB - BBB in one set of exams. These grades should be achieved in one set of exams. Required subjects: A levels: two of Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, or Physics at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4 and Mathematics at A or 7. We will accept combinations of Mathematics and Physics both at grade B, or Mathematics, Science plus Additional Science all at grade B to meet this requirement.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
32 points with 655 at HL - 30 points with 555 at HL. Required subjects: HL: two of Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) or Physics at 5. SL: English at 5 and Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 5 (if not at HL).
Scottish Higher
BBBB by end of S5 or AABB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: two of Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics, or Physics at B. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. National 5s: English at C and Mathematics at A. We will accept combinations of Mathematics and Physics both at grade B to meet this requirement.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
If you want to:
* learn more about how our planet works
* help protect the planet
* tackle the greatest challenges facing society and the natural world
* find out how we can live sustainably on our planet
Then this degree is for you.
**Why Earth sciences?**
The world needs Earth scientists now more than ever before.
For example, we need them to:
* help us address the climate crisis
* adapt to environmental changes
* secure the energy and materials society needs
* live more safely and sustainably on our dynamic Earth
With our (MEarthSci) Earth Sciences, you will:
* study our Earth's past to prepare for its future
* learn about the structure and composition of the Earth
* develop a deep understanding of the processes that shape the Earth and life on it
* learn how these processes interact and depend on each other
Our degree will help you play a valuable role in our transition to a fair and sustainable society.
**What will I learn?**
Our Earth Sciences programme is a new degree that prepares you for advanced careers in the Earth sciences and beyond.
The degree covers:
* data science, programming, and computing skills
* traditional field and laboratory skills
* knowledge of Earth sciences
We will train you in the skills needed to answer the important questions in the Earth sciences, including:
* How can we reduce the effects of global change?
* What tools can we use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere?
* Why is our planet able to sustain life?
* How does the Earth's interior work, and how do these processes affect the surface?
* How can we sustainably manage the Earth's resources to meet our energy, mineral, and water needs?
* How can we improve our understanding of natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes to reduce their risk and save lives?
We have a hands-on approach to learning, so you can develop valuable practical skills. Many of your activities are similar to what professionals do in the real world.
You will also learn computational analysis and quantitative skills.
You will learn from leading national and international Earth scientists across a range of fields. We help make sure your degree has real-world relevance and improves your employability.
Our links offer you valuable networking and potential employment opportunities. You can meet and interact with professionals from different sectors during your studies. This will give you the opportunity to gain insight into working environments, where Earth scientists make contributions to our everyday lives.
This degree also offers you flexibility in your studies. You will be able to build your degree around topics you are interested in. Our staff can also help you design an interdisciplinary curriculum by choosing option courses from other subjects.
**An extraordinary reputation**
We are one of the largest and most successful groupings of geographers, Earth and environmental scientists in the UK, many of whom are world experts in their field.
* We have pioneered research proving human-caused greenhouse gases are warming our planet, which helped underpin the 2015 Paris Agreement.
* We are working with major space agencies to monitor the environment using satellite data.
* We are 22nd in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2024.
* We are also in the world's top 50 and the UK's top 10 universities for natural sciences, environmental sciences, geology, geophysics, Earth and marine sciences, (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).
Our staff will include the latest research in your teaching, and share our discoveries with you.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Central area campus
School of GeoSciences
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Earth sciences
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Physical geographical sciences
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Earth sciences
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
The market for geologists is has been quite linked to the oil industry for some time now, and the drop in the price of oil has meant the industry has stopped recruiting as many people for the time being. Geologists are still in demand, though, so the main effect has been to reduce the opportunities - and salaries - for geologists working abroad. At home, the oil industry remains a big employer, and so are the mining, civil engineering, construction and consultancy industries, with geology graduates working as geologists, geophysicists, civil engineers and environmental professionals.
Physical geographical sciences
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Earth sciences
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£23k
£30k
£34k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Physical geographical sciences
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£23k
£30k
£34k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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