School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Welcome to the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Earth Science students in Death Valley, California.

About us

Our staff and students work and study in the stunning natural landscape of south west England. Our National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, characterful towns and cities, and 650 mile-long coastline provide the backdrop from which we address global sustainability challenges on land and at sea.

We are committed to delivering a first class student experience in a friendly and supportive learning environment, and our students acquire a wide range of knowledge and skills that is highly sought after by employers; this is reflected in the excellent feedback we receive in the National Student Survey.

Come and join us in Britain’s Ocean City. Together we’ll develop your potential to be pioneers of a better and more sustainable future for our planet and all of its people.

Our inter-disciplinary team of world-class academics teaches a suite of degree programmes focused on challenges including climate change, natural hazards, social justice, pollution, energy transitions, land- and seascape conservation and the sensitive development of natural resources. All of our degree programmes are professionally accredited and designed with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in mind.

Professor Jon Shaw
Head of School

Chemistry

Environmental science

Earth science

Geography

Our undergraduate and postgraduate courses are grouped into four subject areas

Read about our student and staff success in our latest newsletter.

Recent edition:

Spring 2025

Professor Jon Shaw
Head of School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is a fundamental part of our school. Environmental science , geography and earth science are field-based disciplines and you will gain training in field techniques in spectacular environments locally and further afield.

Final year students from across our school subject areas have the opportunity to join a novel multidisciplinary overseas fieldtrip , which currently goes to Namibia.

Our field trips are designed to be

inclusive and accessible

(we are a signatory to the Royal Geographical Society’s Inclusive Fieldwork Principles).

Core field trip modules have a cost-free option, and subsidies are available for our longer-haul trips on which students experience landscapes and cultures not available locally.