Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

School: GeoSciences

About the School

At the School of GeoSciences we examine the interactions between the Earth’s geology, atmosphere, oceans and life, as well as considering our own role and impact on our planet.

The effect of these complex relationships is vitally important to our world’s future, which means the skills and knowledge you will develop as a postgraduate student here will put you in an exceptional position to help make that future better. Spanning the entire spectrum of the geosciences field, we offer opportunities that are increasingly interdisciplinary and international in focus. We are the largest geoscience research group in the UK, with around 400 academics and researchers. The quality of our research is among the best in the UK. We were ranked second for research power in earth systems and environmental sciences (Research Fortnight REF 2014) following the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014. We had 78 per cent of our research rated 4* world leading or 3* internationally excellent on the overall quality profile. We offer dedicated expertise across our core teaching areas of ecology, environmental sciences, geography, geology, geophysics, meteorology and oceanography.

Illustrious past, exciting future

While we can draw upon a rich geological heritage (James Hutton, the father of modern-day geology, was an Edinburgh alumnus), we don’t rest on our laurels. The School of GeoSciences is at the forefront of new developments and thought leadership. Our current staff and research collaborations build upon established prestige and reputation, continuing to break new ground in their understanding and application of the principles of geosciences.

Learn from the leaders

You will be very well placed to benefit from the latest research and industry practice, which our staff will bring to your learning experience. We are one of the largest groupings of geoscientists and geographers in the UK, and the quality of our research is among the best. We were ranked second for research power in earth systems and environmental sciences (Research Fortnight REF 2014) following the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014. We had 78 per cent of our research rated 4* world leading or 3* internationally excellent on the overall quality profile.

Collaborations

The city of Edinburgh is a dynamic hub for the geosciences with a high concentration of businesses and other organisations working in the field. Our programmes are strengthened through collaboration with a range of internal and external partners including the University’s other schools, such as the Business School, the School of History, Classics & Archaeology and the School of Social & Political Science, and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). We work closely with industry, through Edinburgh Innovations (the University’s commercialisation office), to find practical answers to tomorrows problems. We are privileged to host lectures by representatives from government, business and civil society, who contribute to our programmes, courses and dissertation supervision, providing you with the skills and contacts needed to fulfil your ambitions.

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About our degrees

We offer a range of options for postgraduate study: from professional qualifications to independent research, on-campus taught programmes to part-time, online study. Find out which graduate study option is right for you: