Earth sciences

Explore our planet – understand the past to benefit the future
 Earth Sciences

Why Plymouth?

  • <Geological Society accredited degrees

  • (Extensive UK and overseas fieldwork portfolio, including: Spain, USA (Death Valley) and Italy*

  • @87% of students said their learning was supported and staff were contactable (NSS, 2024)

  • ?Our Earth Sciences degrees were ranked fifth in the UK for overall student satisfaction by the Complete University Guide 2025

  • @89.3% of Earth and marine sciences students were satisfied with teaching according to the Guardian Best UK Universities guide 2025

  • 'Benefit from an extensive network of placement providers

  • ,Stunning coastal location near UNESCO world heritage sites and geopark

Discover our range of undergraduate degrees

Eden Project

BSc (Hons) Environmental Geoscience

Students on geology fieldtrip at Bovisand beach, Devon

BSc (Hons) Geology

Marble. Image courtesy of Getty Images.

MGeol (Hons) Geology

Closeup beautiful marble - onyx pattern with veins useful as background or texture, full frame. Image courtesy of Getty Images.  

BSc (Hons) Geology with Foundation Year

Death Valley field trip

BSc (Hons) Physical Geography and Geology

Earth science fieldwork
Welcome to Earth sciences at Plymouth. Earth sciences at Plymouth encompasses geology, physical geography, and environmental geoscience, and are the cutting edge of research into sustainable futures. Through lectures, hands-on practicals and an extensive national and international fieldwork programme, our degrees develop your expert knowledge of the forces that have shaped our planet. Our new modules explore critical relationships between Earth processes and society: how to reduce risks from natural hazards; understanding environmental change over time, and how we transition to cleaner energy sources. Enjoy exploring our exciting degree programmes and hearing from current students and graduates about their experiences.
Dr Matthew Watkinson
Earth Sciences Programme Manager
Associate Professor in Petroleum Geology
Dr Matthew Watkinson

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

Recent edition: Spring 2025

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

SoGEES newsletter cover Spring 2025

What we offer....

Earth science fieldwork
Students using a petrographic microscope

Facilities in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Earth Sciences Geology Students on fieldtrip to Kilve on the north Somerset Coast.

Careers in Earth sciences

Girls into Geoscience
We hope to provide crucial role models for aspiring female scientists across the Earth Science spectrum, in person and through our popular blog posts, as well as promoting diversity and equality in our field. Our an annual award winning Girls into Geoscience (GiG) event is held at the University of Plymouth.
Girls into Geoscience

Discover our range of postgraduate taught programmes and research opportunities

Two women working on the beach by a pool of water collecting and analysing samples to assess environmental damage. They are wearing protective gloves and reflective clothing (full-bleed)

MSc Environmental Geochemistry

Top view of an open pit for the extraction of gold ore with depth of 250 meters.

MSc Environmental and Engineering Geology

Student walking across red cliffs, on a geology field trip.

ResM Geological Sciences


Register for postgraduate open evening

Journey to the Bottom of the Celtic Sea

Research by our Earth Scientists on the Celtic Sea bed is helping develop renewable energy futures in the south west.

Earth Smart

At Plymouth, we are bridging the gap between research and action – we are Earth Smart. By bringing research directly into the field, working with farmers, landowners and communities, we are co-creating sustainable land management strategies. We are developing practical approaches to using advanced agri-tech and sensor technology to provide rapid, real-world data that can be applied at the right time and in the right place for productive, sustainable, healthy landscapes.’
Earth Smart logo
A diverse and respectful place in which to work and study is fundamental to everything we do.
Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science .

People

Petroleum Experts Limited Donates MOVE Software License

Software facilitates three dimensional analysis and structural modelling of deformation of Earth's crust through time.

We are pleased to announce the donation of 10 sets of the MOVE software suite to the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences by UK-based Petroleum Experts Limited. This industry standard software package, which is valued at £1,872,218.26 million, facilitates three dimensional analysis and structural modelling of deformation of Earth's crust through time. Tools in the software suite aid in cross-section construction, kinematic restoration, geomechanical modelling, fracture studies, and stress analysis. The School greatly values the donation of this software and the opportunity to continue to integrate MOVE into the teaching and research activities of both undergraduate and postgraduate students and academic staff.