A career in geoscience
The Earth in your hands
What is geoscience?
Geoscience is:
- The scientific study of the structure, evolution and dynamics of the Earth, and its natural resources. It investigates the internal and external processes that have shaped the Earth through its 4,500 million year history.
- Directly relevant to the needs of society. It often involves work in foreign countries, and leads to the natural development of a wide range of transferable skills.
Career opportunities in geoscience include:
- Exploration and production - searching for and managing the extraction of natural resources such as fossil fuels, metals, construction materials and groundwater.
- Engineering and environmental - investigating and monitoring ground conditions associated with construction, planning, land use, reclamation of contaminated land, and waste disposal.
- Geological surveying - collecting surface and subsurface geological information, onshore and offshore, for geological, geophysical and geochemical maps and databases.
- Education and research - teaching and research in universities; teaching in schools and colleges; museum work.
The normal route for entry into a professional geoscience career is a first degree (BSc, BA) in one of the geosciences. Such a degree also forms the basic qualification for membership of the Geological Society, and eventually for becoming a Chartered Geologist.
Many enter the profession with first degrees in other subjects following appropriate postgraduate training.
About 1300 students graduate in the UK each year with a geoscience degree. Only about 20% go directly into geologically related employment but a further 25% register for higher degrees, either a one-year taught Masters course or a three-year PhD course by research, and between 50% and 65% of these proceed to geoscience careers.
As with graduates in the other sciences less than half take up careers closely related to their chosen degree subject. A majority of geoscience graduates find equally rewarding careers in other areas, for which they are very well suited by their general scientific training and the wide range of core skills developed during their degree courses.
Although there are no national statistics relating specifically to employment in geoscience, we estimate that about 10,000 people work in the UK as geoscientists or as technical staff employed in the geological sector.
How do I get on a geoscience degree course?
About 50 UK universities offer degree courses in geoscience. The normal length of such courses is four years in Scotland and three years elsewhere.
The university entrance requirements for geoscience degree courses do not differ in general terms from any other subject. You should consult UCAS publications (see below) for guidance.
For students entering full-time geoscience degree courses from school, evidence of basic competence in science is normally required (e.g. two A level (or equivalent) passes in sciences).
Subjects preferred are physics, chemistry, biology, geology and a mathematical subject. Geography is acceptable for some courses. Geology is not essential. Where academic qualifications do not meet requirements, it may be possible to enter a geoscience course after a suitable foundation course in a preliminary year of study.
How do I apply?
Application to university normally takes place through the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS). There are single-subject geoscience courses as well as many joint or combined courses in which geoscience is included within programmes of broader study.
If you wish to pursue a geoscience career and keep your options open, a single subject degree course (or a joint degree linking geology with a cognate science) is probably best.
Courses accredited by the Geological Society offer guaranteed acceptance as the first stage of professional formation towards Chartered Geologist status. A list of these is available from the Geological Society. A table of available specialist course units in UK geoscience departments is given in the CRAC guide referred to below.
What lies beyond my degree?
By the start of your final year you will need to decide firmly whether or not to seek employment as a geoscientist and whether to pursue a the higher degree that many jobs now require.
UK universities offer a wide range of one-year taught Masters courses, providing the special vocational training for employment as, for example, an exploration seismologist, geochemist, micropalaeontologist, hydrogeologist, engineering geologist, etc.
A PhD (doctoral) research degree is normally required for a research appointment in industry or for a university or museum post. You will need a good honours degree (first or upper second class) to qualify for a PhD project, and for most taught Masters courses.
For teaching posts in secondary or further education, a Postgraduate Certificate of Education is required. (See the Geological Society leaflet Expanding horizons, listed below.)
All employers look for initiative, enthusiasm, team skills, ability to work in adverse conditions, lateral thinking, problem-solving ability and good communication skills. Geoscience degrees build all of these, particularly through project work and the shared experience of fieldwork.
They also look for evidence of commitment. Relevant vacation work, membership of local geological groups, or of the Geological Society as an Associate, as well as student society activity, will help.
What do geoscientists do?
Most geoscientists working in the UK are employed in the hydrocarbons sector, working for oil companies or for the consultants or specialist service companies that support oil & gas exploration and production. However the recruitment phase for the hydrocarbon sector in the UK has passed its peak, and increasing numbers of geoscientists are now working in the water and environmental service companies and agencies, as well as the traditional areas of employment such as extractive (mining/quarrying) and construction industries, or education.
Many jobs may involve periods working abroad, including field assignments and/or work in developing countries. The largest single employer of geoscientists in the UK is the British Geological Survey, which is responsible to government for the geological survey of the British area onshore and offshore, the provision of a national geoscience information service and related scientific activities. A geoscience degree from a UK university is accepted internationally and career opportunities in similar scientific areas to those existing in the UK may be found abroad.
What is a career in geoscience like?
The prevailing employment pattern in geoscience is for first-degree graduates to take initial employment that provides entry to the profession without necessarily offering long-term prospects (e.g. well-site monitoring of drilling activity, and junior positions in seismic field crews etc.). This can lead to more senior positions, such as Well Site Geologist or Seismic Party Chief, and ultimately to senior management.
Those with higher degrees, especially PhDs, may enter directly into career jobs such as researcher in an industrial laboratory, and scientific posts with national surveys, universities and museums.
Professional development continues, with in-service training and post-experience courses. Some employers will sponsor staff on appropriate postgraduate courses.
The role of the Geological Society
The Geological Society, the UK national learned and professional body for geoscience, contributes to professional development nationally by offering short courses, seminars and lecture programmes through its many specialist groups. Geologists with appropriate qualifications can, after a period of employment-based training, apply to the Society for validation as Chartered Geologists (CGeol). The Society provides training guides for those preparing for chartership and offers a Continuing Professional Development scheme for Chartered Geologists.
What about technical staff in geoscience?
Of technical staff working in the geosciences, most are employed in the hydrocarbons sector, especially by service companies. The remainder are employed mainly by civil engineering companies, academic or research institutes. A small number are employed in the extractive industries. The academic backgrounds of these technical staff are diverse: some hold degrees. Many hold Higher National Diplomas or Certificates (HND, HNC) in geology or other subjects like computing or chemistry that are useful to specific jobs.
One GCE A level and four or five GCSE subjects at grade C or above, with an appropriate scientific content, allow entry to higher level courses in this category (e.g., the Higher National Diploma). As in most fields, appropriate qualifications are becoming the norm.
Technical jobs include well-logging activities either onshore or offshore; acquisition and processing of geophysical data; preparing geological maps and sections; sampling and lab testing of soil and rock samples; and supporting teaching activities in academic institutions. Many study part-time to improve or update their basic qualifications, and thereby enhance their career prospects.
How many geoscientists does the world need?
Forecasting the demand for geoscientists in five or six years' time is difficult to do in all but the most general terms. Increasing need for raw materials and for scarce resources like land and water, are all likely to boost demand. Employment growth areas at the moment include hydrogeology, pollution control and remediation, and other environment-related issues.
In the near future, most geoscientists will probably continue to be employed by the hydrocarbons industry. Here, prospects are closely tied to the amount of exploration activity, which in turn depends on the state of the world economy, with its irregular upturns and downturns.
Further information
Expanding horizons - career opportunities in teaching for geoscience graduates. Companion leaflet to this one. Available free from the Geological Society.
UCAS Directory 2001 lists all the UK university and college courses and course combinations available each year. Available from bookshops.
CRAC Degree Course Guide, Geography & Geological Sciences. Hobson's, Cambridge. Obtainable from Biblios PDS Ltd, Star Road, Partridge Green, West Sussex RH13 8LD Tel: 01403 710851.
University and departmental prospectuses.
These are available free on request. Contact the Admissions Officer or the geology (or Earth science) department at universities of interest to you, or visit their world wide website.
Environmental science and geology HND courses are offered by the University of Luton, Park Square, Luton LU1 3JU.
Tel: 01582 743941.
An Industrial & Applied Geology HND course is offered by Truro College.
Tel: 01872 264251.
Exploration and Extraction of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Protection and Conservation AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service) information booklets, obtainable from:
Higher Education Careers Services Unit (CSU),
Prospects House,
Booth Street East,
Manchester M13 9EP
(Tel: 0161 277 5200) or from any university Careers Advisory Service.
Postgraduate training courses and awards. An information booklet on postgraduate courses in geoscience supported by Natural Environment Research Council training awards is obtainable from
NERC, Polaris House,
North Star Ave, Swindon SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411500.
World Wide Web site - Geological Society: http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/
By Dr Ted Nield
Science & Communications Officer,
the Geological Society of London
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