This four-year programme includes a placement year in industry so that you can gain valuable experience working in a relevant company or organisation as well as completing your academic studies.

Globally there is an ever-increasing need for oil, gas, metals and construction materials in a world where resources are finite. Our BSc degree builds on a solid grounding in geology and focuses on the applied understanding of exploration of the Earth’s natural resources.

The programme provides knowledge of processes that lead to the formation of a natural resource, be it a hydrocarbon or a metalliferous deposit. Between years two and three it also includes either an industrial placement or an applied geological mapping project.

Because they are trained in specialist fieldwork and the IT skills needed by a professional exploration geologist, our graduates are in great demand in the mineral exploration industry.

The fieldwork activities for this course are similar to those for our Geology programme but with an applied aspect. In year one the main location is Pembrokeshire. In year two students currently visit South West England to study sedimentary basins and the tin mining legacy and northern Spain, where rock exposure is completely different from the UK.

In year three you may visit Cyprus or another location, where all that you have learned previously about the formation and exploitation of ore deposits can be synthesised into a picture that truly shows the essential practical skills needed by exploration geologists.

An exploration geologist needs a broad range of skills including an aptitude for fieldwork, good IT skills and the ability to make key decisions from limited information. This applied and vocationally-orientated course will prepare you for a potentially exciting professional career as a geologist working in the global hydrocarbon, metalliferous or bulk mineral industries.

Distinctive features

You will have the opportunity to learn in a School which has a research focus with sophisticated analytical equipment routinely used on site.

Research-active staff are involved in programme design and delivery and there are a variety of modules on offer based on academic research as well as applied studies including placement opportunities.

This programme involves a common first term allowing you to experience aspects of Earth Sciences and Geography before finally deciding upon which honours degree course you wish to pursue.

There is extensive fieldwork provision and you will have expert supervision in the field.

The generic nature of the programme provides professional skills appropriate for a range of career pathways or advanced training options and the School has links with local consultancy companies and exploration companies worldwide.

We have a thriving Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) chapter that links us to this international society and lets us attract specialist visiting lecturers and arrange field visits to working quarries and mines.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake a year working with an appropriate company.