Overview

This programme at the University of Leeds gives students a thorough grounding in the geosciences, examining how the Earth is made, how it changes over time, and how it functions as a geologically active planet. Fieldwork sits at the heart of the course, with opportunities to study geological locations both in the UK and internationally alongside strong laboratory-based training.

What You'll Learn

• The sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic origins of rocks and minerals

• Plate tectonics and the structural deformation of rocks

• The evolution of life on Earth and the environmental history of the planet

• Natural hazards, climate change, and their geological drivers

• Geological mapping, fieldwork techniques, and geomodelling

• Geotechnics and the sustainable management of natural resources, including clean geoenergy

• Professional tools such as Geographic Information Systems, alongside data collection and scientific reporting skills

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to identify and interpret Earth materials and processes using both laboratory and field-based methods. They will understand how geological, tectonic, and environmental systems have shaped the planet over time, and how this knowledge applies to contemporary challenges such as natural hazards and resource management. Students will also be able to collect, record, and interpret scientific data professionally, and to work effectively as part of a team in both classroom and field settings.