Applied Environmental Hydrogeology MSc

This MSc programme comprises:

• compulsory and option courses
• dissertation

Topics

You will explore a range of topics, including:

• water resources management
• energy storage
• geofluid interaction (compressed air, methane, hydrogen)
• waste storage (solid, CO2, nuclear)
• energy resource exploitation (geothermal, conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons)
• remediating brownfield and legacy mining sites
• wider groundwater issues such as legislation, economics, climate change, land use and sustainability

Dissertation

We will work with you throughout your studies to prepare you for the dissertation project. This will be your opportunity to explore a topic of your choice in relation to the programme and prepare a dissertation that you can use to demonstrate your work to potential employers.

Online preparatory courses

There will be the opportunity to participate in some pre-arrival online preparatory courses to ensure a baseline level of skills in technical topics.

The courses are online self-learning and indicative only. These preparatory courses may include mathematics, chemistry and geology.

How will I learn?

You will experience a range of learning styles while studying, depending on the subject matter and courses you are taking.

You can view each relevant course for teaching and assessment methods through the ‘Programme Structure’ link under compulsory and option courses below.

Changes to teaching and learning

We are committed to offering high-quality education to all our students. However, please be advised that there may be changes to course options and delivery. All decisions are made to ensure we can provide the highest standards for your educational experience. Although we endeavour to provide a wide range of optional courses to choose from, these can be subject to change or cancellation at short notice. Places on optional courses can be limited due to course capacity and timetabling constraints. It may not be possible to guarantee every offer holder their top choice of optional courses.

Part-time study

You may study this programme part-time as we are committed to helping people into education while continuing to work or managing family and personal commitments.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

On completing the MSc Applied Environmental Hydrogeology, you will be able to:

• understand and evaluate fundamental processes governing groundwater flow and quality
• assess current developments and issues surrounding brownfield contamination and remediation, geoenergy, groundwater source zone protection, legislation and economics
• recognise and appraise the most appropriate monitoring and mitigation techniques to minimise the impact of geoengineering applications
• improve communication skills by documenting data collection, model development, implementation and delivering results through a professionally written report
• development of conceptual and analytical skills to enable critical evaluation of any hydrogeology related project
• intelligently interact with hydrogeology project developers, regulators and researchers

Graduates with hydrogeology skills are in very high demand. There is an expected shortage of hydrogeologists that will continue for the next decade.

There is increasing demand for 'water numerate' professionals that can scientifically address many of the water and energy-resource and geoengineering challenges facing society today.

As a hydrogeologist, you can seek a variety of interesting, in-demand, and environmentally responsible careers.

You will be equipped to work in a range of areas such as:

• contaminated site remediation
• monitoring and regulating groundwater quality
• radioactive waste disposal
• managed aquifer recharge
• minimising impacts from resource extraction
• ground source heating and geothermal energy
• large infrastructure projects
• managing land subsidence
• agriculture
• natural hazards
• international development work focused on delivering safe water for drinking and sanitation

Our programme's focus on groundwater contamination and remediation, and sustainable water management, provides additional scope for careers in waste management, brownfield redevelopment and risk assessment.

Your career after completing the MSc Applied Environmental Hydrogeology can include:

• groundwater resource management
• ground engineering applications requiring groundwater management
• carbon capture and storage
• contaminated groundwater/soil remediation and brownfield redevelopment
• geothermal applications
• energy and energy generation
• energy storage (compressed air; hydrogen; methane gas)
• geological storage of nuclear waste
• environmental monitoring and tracing of fluids in the subsurface
• project management

Other pathways include education, such as teaching, further research and academia.

The MSc's unique focus on coupling computational tools to traditional field skills can also lead you to other exciting career pathways.

These could include:

• environmental consulting
• engineering companies
• water industry such as water providers
• regulatory organisations such as environmental and water quality regulators
• non-governmental organisations (NGO's)
• government organisations.

Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience at the University, providing:

• tailored advice
• individual guidance and personal assistance
• internships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
• access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network

We invest in your future beyond the end of your degree. Studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success, whatever shape that takes.

• Careers Service

Field trips

Field work is an excellent way to explore the factors and forces that shape our world and enable you to put valuable skills into practice.

One of the key field trips undertaken in this programme is a two-day investigation of an aquifer underlying a nearby natural flood management project site, nestled in a scenic Scottish valley. You will learn:

• the basics of conducting hydrogeological site visits
• what to look for when visiting a site
• what field methods are typically employed to quantitatively explore aquifer properties
• how to assemble all of this information into a working conceptual and numerical model of the site

The key skills taught by this visit are fundamental parts of a hydrogeologist's toolkit and are in-demand from employers in this sector.

Our compulsory field trips or field courses are free, including travel. We strive to deliver a low-carbon experience that also supports the local economy.

Changes to field trips Field course locations may change for a variety of reasons, including the health and safety of our students, staff and communities, and to ensure we can maintain the highest standards for your educational experience. Where suitable, fieldwork will be relocated or rescheduled. We will also look at alternative arrangements that will ensure you achieve the quality learning outcomes of your degree. We will announce any changes as soon as possible.

Accessibility on field trips We are committed to making our degree as accessible and inclusive as possible. In the event that you cannot attend a fieldwork trip, we will provide alternatives with comparable learning outcomes where necessary.

Specialist software and facilities

You will gain specialist experience in using hydrogeology standard industry and research software packages, including:

• PhreeqC for Aqueous geochemistry simulations
• Grapher for geochemical presentations
• Aquasolve for analysis of pump tests
• MODFLOW for groundwater and mass transport simulation
• OpenGeoSys for groundwater, mass transport, reactive transport, heat and mechanical simulations
• Tecplot for professional 3D modelling presentations
• Gmsh for the development of 3D numerical meshes
• Leapfrog for the development of 3D numerical meshes
• Python

We support our dissertation projects by providing access to a wide range of specialist software and analytical equipment. We also host a variety of world-class experimental facilities which can be used in dissertations by our students.

Where you will study

You will have access to the University's facilities across all University sites.

For example:

• laboratories
• libraries
• study spaces (some of which are open 24 hours)
• computing facilities
• social spaces
• leisure facilities

Depending on the option courses you choose, you may study at various campus locations in Edinburgh.

King's Buildings campus

Most teaching for this programme occurs within the School of GeoSciences, located at the University's King's Buildings campus. The King's Buildings (KB) is the main campus of the College of Science and Engineering.

The King's Buildings campus is around 15 minutes from central Edinburgh. It is easily accessible by bus. You can also cycle (10 minutes) or walk (25 minutes) from the central area.

Edinburgh Climate Change Institute

Students in this MSc will also have access to the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) Masters Hub. You will have access to the shared 'Masters Hub' study space in ECCI as well as the café and shared working spaces on the ground and first floors. Some of your teaching will take place in the ECCI.

ECCI is also close to many teaching spaces and facilities within the Central Area campus. For example, the Main Library and gym.

• Visit the ECCI website

Take a virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the School of GeoSciences and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site. Discover our city's landmarks, our campuses, accommodation and get video tours - all in one place.

• Take a virtual tour

Edinburgh is your ideal base

Edinburgh is ranked 2nd in the UK and 10th in the world in the QS Best Student Cities 2023.

Edinburgh is not only a fantastic city to live in - it is the perfect location to study the subject you're studying. Our vibrant capital is an irresistible blend of history and modern city life. We have rich environmental locations to explore right on our doorstep. Immerse yourself among rugged coastlines, misty mountains, forest glens and sparkling freshwater lochs.

It is no surprise we are regularly voted one of the most desirable places to live in the world!

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent in appropriate natural science or engineering subjects (for example, Geosciences, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biosciences, and Environmental Sciences).

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place.

• £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

Find out more about tuition fee deposits:

• Tuition fee deposits

Field trips and field courses

We do not charge extra fees for compulsory field trips or field courses.

The programme fees will cover costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence on compulsory field trips. However, you must pay for incidental or personal expenses. This may include suitable outdoor clothing and footwear.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

Featured funding

• ScottishPower Master Scholarships 2024
• Chevening Scholarships

(Revised 05 February 2024 to add 'ScottishPower Master Scholarships' to the featured funding section)

School of GeoSciences scholarships

• See potential funding for GeoSciences students

Scholarships and student funding

You can find funding opportunities, tuition fees and costs of living for prospective UK and international postgraduate students on the University website.

• Postgraduate scholarships and student funding

You are also encouraged to undertake your own research into the range of potential scholarships and other funding outside the University for which you may be eligible.

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding