Careers in Earth sciences
Earth science gives you the skills to understand our planet – and the opportunity to help shape its future
Earth scientists are essential to tackling some of the biggest challenges facing society. There is no route to net zero without understanding the Earth: we need Earth scientists to secure the critical minerals and clean energy needed for a low-carbon future, manage water and other natural resources, build resilient infrastructure, reduce the impacts of natural hazards and respond to environmental change.
This need creates exciting career opportunities for Earth scientists, who work across clean energy, environmental and engineering geoscience, geotechnics, natural hazards, critical minerals, water resources, geophysics, remote sensing, and the growing range of digital and automated technologies used to understand the Earth and its subsurface.
More than 5,000 UK geoscience vacancies were advertised by over 700 employers between 2024-2025.
As an Earth scientist, your career can take you almost anywhere. You could build a career locally in Devon and Cornwall, elsewhere in the UK or internationally. The UK Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy specifically identifies Devon and Cornwall as an important critical-minerals region and recognises geology as one of the skills needed to grow the workforce required for clean energy and future industries.
These are highly skilled, well-paid and rewarding careers with excellent opportunities to progress and develop specialist expertise. Few subjects offer such variety: you might map and collect data outdoors, investigate ground conditions on construction projects, analyse rocks, minerals or water in a laboratory, survey the seabed, or interpret geophysical data, satellite imagery and computer models.
Our Earth Science degrees develop the technical and transferable skills employers value: from field and laboratory skills, data analysis, GIS and digital skills, through to problem solving, critical thinking, science communication, teamwork, and project management.
All three of our BSc Earth Science degrees are accredited by the Geological Society of London, providing a recognised professional quality mark and an important first step towards Chartership. Our GeoCareers Fair also brings students and employers together, helping you explore opportunities and start building your professional network.
An optional placement year gives you the opportunity to gain professional experience before graduating. Previous examples include placements at Fugro, the UK Hydrographic Office, Gardline, Sibelco and Imerys. We will find you the right placement that speaks directly to your interests and ambitions.
I took a year out after my degree and then went on to study an MSc in Surveying and Land Environmental Management. I then moved to Australia and worked as an underground and open pit mine surveyor for a year progressing to work as a geologist for Rio Tinto. It’s been really exciting moving to a whole new country and working as a geologist in one of the most remote parts of the country. It’s all thanks to what I had studied at Plymouth.
Studying at Plymouth showed me that there is a lot of opportunity out there if you stick your head out. The individuality of the BSc (Hons) Geology and Ocean Science also hugely appealed to me in relation to potential future job prospects. The amount of fieldwork featured on the class was also a massive part of why I chose Plymouth.
Hugh, Geologist
Since completing my BSc (Hons) Geology, I went on to study MSc Petroleum, Energy Economics and Finance in Aberdeen. After completion of my masters I was lucky to land a job working as a financial derivatives broker, focusing on oil tankers and global petroleum trade. My job gives me plenty of opportunity of travel with clients all over the world and the chance to work in various office locations which is exciting.
The field trips I took part in at Plymouth were really inspiring, allowing me to experience so many parts of the country and world. I feel Plymouth taught me a lot about independence; it also provided me with a true work ethic and allowed me to realise I work best when I have free rein and not ‘spoon fed’ the answers and way to do things.
Brandon, Global Head of Tankers
GeoCareers Fair
We organise a specialist careers fair, giving our students the opportunity to meet employers and explore careers across the geosciences. This annual event is sponsored by the Geological Society of London (SW Regional Group) and is attended by dozens of companies, primarily in the hydrocarbon and engineering geology fields, looking to employ geoscience graduates.
This event provides our students with unparalleled opportunities to make contact with potential employers and many of the employers actually send our own former students to the fair to act as their ambassadors in recruiting new staff.
Girls into Geoscience
Girls into Geoscience (GiG) is an award-winning STEM outreach initiative based around an annual two-day event at the University of Plymouth. It introduces female A level students to Earth sciences and the wide range of careers available to Earth science graduates.
The event includes talks from female geoscientists in industry and academia, hands-on workshops and an optional field trip, providing an insight into studying and working in the Earth sciences.
