Earth Science and Engineering

The science and engineering behind understanding and solving this challenge lie at the heart of earth science, an interdisciplinary subject that encompasses physics, chemistry, mathematics, and other sciences. Modern geoscience is moving beyond the confines of Planet Earth to explore the geological and geophysical processes that shaped the Solar System, and since 2019 we have offered a degree in "Earth and Planetary Science".

Our dynamic and friendly Department brings together ground-breaking research and innovative teaching in geology, geophysics, mineral and energy resources, environmental science, planetary science, and computational modeling. 

We are based within the Royal School of Mines building (virtual department tour) and have excellent teaching and learning resources and industry-standard geoscience software packages.

Our location gives us easy access to one of the finest fossil and mineral collections in the world, hosted at the Natural History Museum, just minutes away from the South Kensington Campus. Museum staff, who are world experts in geochemistry, mineralogy, mineral resources, and paleontology, also contribute to our teaching.  Read student profiles to learn more about what it is like to study within our dynamic Department.

Course Overview

We offer both three-year and four-year courses in Geology, Geophysics or Earth and Planetary Science. Three-year courses lead to the BSc Honours degree of Imperial College London. Four-year courses lead to the MSci (Master in Science) degree. 

If you are not sure whether to choose a three or four-year degree we strongly recommend you choose the four-year course, because dependent upon your circumstances funding authorities may be reluctant to fund a fourth year unless you apply for it at the outset. Changing from MSci to BSc is often a more straightforward process than vice versa.

Transfer between degrees

You may transfer between all our courses up to the start of the spring term in year 1 if you meet the original entry requirements for the degree you want to transfer to. Transfer onto our Year Abroad courses is not normally allowed as places at our partner institutions are limited.

Transfer to the equivalent three-year BSc course is normally allowed until the end of the autumn term of the third year.

Graduating after 3 years

Three-year BSc degrees provide an excellent qualification for a career in a wide range of professions and can be followed by a relevant MSc degree. There is a wide range of specialist MSc degrees available in the UK and abroad. UK MSc courses are typically ‘taught masters’ and last a year, such as the ones in this department, whilst in Europe they often last two years and range from fully taught to taught-research hybrids. 

Student graduation ceremonial year students celebrate the end of exams in fancy dress.

Students who decide to enter employment after three years have the benefit of making a prompt start to their careers in whichever sector they choose; a range of career profiles showcasing the careers are available here. 

The fourth year

The fourth year is different. It allows you to extend and deepen your knowledge through high-level (masters-level) courses and seminars. The fourth year, therefore, provides students with a strong advantage in the competitive job market and a boost to their careers. A student with an MSci is more likely to find themselves on a fast-track career with a higher salary and more opportunities as a result of the extra investment in their skills.

During the fourth year, you will also undertake an independent research project in your chosen field from the beginning of the academic year. Submitting your project at the start of January, many of these projects are subsequently published in scientific journals. This project provides excellent training not just for research (and therefore applying for Ph.D. positions) but in many of the transferable skills that employers value highly.

Career Prospects

A degree in geosciences opens up a wide range of career options and a world of exploration. Imperial graduates currently have a 94 % employment rate and average starting salaries that rank among the highest in the country. One of the reasons for this is that scientists are highly skilled. Geoscientists in particular are:

Literate and numerate, with a broad scientific knowledge base

Critical and integrative thinkers

Creative problem solvers, often with incomplete information/data

Excellent at combining theoretical and practical work

Both team players and independent workers