BSc (Hons) Geophysics with a Placement Year

About

This four-year course will inspire a lifelong interest in and understanding of the way the Earth works. You’ll explore how the whole Earth system and its interactions control our environment. You’ll also develop an understanding of the issues that threaten our future. 

Approximately one third of your time at UEA will be spent studying mathematical techniques and gaining the skills necessary to analyse the physical environment. You’ll develop a critical awareness of issues at the frontier of research, along with a comprehensive understanding of research methods and their limitations. You will learn self-direction and originality in applying knowledge, solving problems and conducting research. 

You’ll get involved in a significant amount of fieldwork in many different geological environments. During your field course, you’ll learn to use a variety of technological equipment and techniques – including seismic and gravity investigations, magnetic and electrical measurements, and ground-penetrating radar surveys. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to spend a year on a work placement – an invaluable addition to your scientific knowledge and technique. This will increase your employability and give you the chance to put your first two years of learning into practice. 

Our geophysics degrees are run jointly by the School of Environmental Sciences and the School of Mathematics, and in collaboration with the School of Computing Sciences, so you’ll benefit from a broad choice of subject material and have the chance to specialise in your field of interest to an advanced level. You can tailor your degree towards geological geophysics, geohazards, meteorology and climatology, oceanography or study a combination of them all. 

When you graduate, you’ll be highly employable, with a wide range of skills that are highly prized by employers. Many of our graduates have gone on to work for local and multinational companies within sectors such as geophysical exploration and services, geotechnical engineering, risk analysis and environmental consultancy.