Geology

Six reasons to study geography, geology and environment at the University of Brighton

How did life begin? What did Earth look like four billion years ago? What will it be like in future? If you are interested in the big questions, geology is the place to start.

Combining chemistry, economics, physics and more with an emphasis on fieldwork, it brings together many disciplines in one degree - and gives you the skills to match. When you graduate, you could find yourself working out how to minimise earthquake damage in a populous region, detecting supplies of clean groundwater or investigating patterns of long-term climate change.

At the University of Brighton we go beyond the classroom to apply knowledge to the real world. We specialise in solving environmental problems, investigating the vital issue of water supplies, exploring factors affecting urban regeneration and geological hazard management and working with mining and hydrocarbon companies to improve resource yield.

Undergraduate courses
Postgraduate courses
Further information

Undergraduate courses

When you choose Geology BSc(Hons) or Geography and Geology BSc(Hons), your degree will be accredited by the Geological Society of London. This means that you will already have met some of the requirements for Chartered Geologist status. We also offer a new Earth and Ocean Science BSc(Hons), which is awaiting accreditation.

You will learn about the Earth and its processes, and the role of geology in environmental and resource management. If you are studying Earth and Ocean Science you will also explore the oceans as a biological, mineral and energy resource, and their critical role in climate regulation.

You will have plenty of flexibility within your degree, with a solid foundation in the first two years followed by your choice of options after that. Depending on your interests, you might pick Environmental and Spatial Planning, Coastal and River Engineering or Sustainable Development from the dozens of topics available. You might decide to take options from outside the subject or even study a language. In your final year you will choose an independent project, with recent studies covering 'Volcanic evolution of Landmannalaugar, Iceland: igneous and geothermal processes' and 'Sedimentological and fossil evidence for palaeo-environments of the Isle of Wight's Wealden'.

The chalk landscape, cliffs and sea around Brighton are perfect for field trips, and you will also visit other UK locations, Spain and Cyprus to experience different geological and oceanographic environments. On your field trip to Yorkshire, for example, you will practise logging, the field description of rocks, and geological mapping. Back in the classroom, you will be taught using a mixture of lectures, practicals, case studies and groupwork, using state-of-the-art facilities such as:

rock and material characterisation kit like X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, gamma spectrometry and grain size analysers
computer suites (including a dedicated Geographic Information Systems suite)
electron microscopy
geophysical equipment
large-scale flume and sedimentary modelling facilities
groundwater monitoring networks
a dedicated geology laboratory with an excellent range of rock and mineral specimens.

Working with staff at the forefront of research, plus the transferable skills you will gain in computing, project management and geographical information systems, will benefit your career prospects. Our links with local industry and consultancies give you a head start in building contacts, and we will help you find a placement in the UK or abroad if you want to spend a year boosting your CV, making some money and putting the theory into practice.

Becky Getty, a 2008 Geology graduate, became an Exploration Geologist for a coal consultancy company in Australia. She says: 'My time at the University of Brighton was an invaluable step towards honing my skills as an interpretive geologist. My degree helped me learn to think independently and make good scientific decisions. Many thanks to all my lecturers.'