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Earth Sciences

BSc (NFQ Level 8)
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This course is available through the following application route(s)

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Earth Sciences are all about our planet and how it works. At no time has this been more important. Understanding the Earth system profoundly impacts many aspects of society and is critical to developing solutions for current global challenges, including climate change, energy, access to clean water and protection from natural disasters. This degree builds on biology, chemistry, physics and physical geography to understand the structure, age and evolution of the Earth, the history of life, and the processes (e.g. plate tectonics, earthquakes, landslides) that shape Earth’s surface and interior. Modules equip graduates with modern field, digital and geospatial skills, and there is an emphasis on developing critical thinking based on earth system data, on scales ranging from microns to thousands of kilometres.

About This Course

Earth Sciences are all about our planet and how it works. At no time has this been more important. Understanding the Earth system profoundly impacts many aspects of society and is critical to developing solutions for current global challenges, including climate change, energy, access to clean water and protection from natural disasters. This degree builds on biology, chemistry, physics and physical geography to understand the structure, age and evolution of the Earth, the history of life, and the processes (e.g. plate tectonics, earthquakes, landslides) that shape Earth’s surface and interior. Modules equip graduates with modern field, digital and geospatial skills, and there is an emphasis on developing critical thinking based on earth system data, on scales ranging from microns to thousands of kilometres.

Information on all our courses including pathways, internships and careers information is available in the UCD Science Undergraduate Courses Entry 2025 Brochure (PDF).

Click here to Download Course Pathways document.

Earth Sciences is one of the degree subjects available through the Earth & Environmental Sciences stream in the common entry Science course.

Students interested in Earth Sciences have the choice in first year to study the modules for Earth Sciences and Environmental Biology or to focus on Earth Sciences only. At the end of second year, students choose their degree subject. This is a sample set of modules that an Earth Sciences student could study each year in UCD.

First Year

Scientific Enquiry • Introduction to Earth Sciences • Understanding Earth Systems • Earth & Humanity • Field Geology • Earth, Environment & Society • Optional Science Modules • Elective Module

Second Year

Crystals to Sedimentary Rocks • Field Geology & Mapwork (Includes a residential field course in the west of Ireland) • Geoscience for Sustainability • Earth & Humanity • Global Environmental Change • Medical Geology • Earth, Environment and Society • History of life on Earth • Dynamic Earth • Option Modules • Elective Modules

Third Year 

Applied Palaeontology • Sedimentary Environments • Igneous Petrology • Geological Mapping • Geological Structures • Metamorphism & Earth Evolution • Geological Fieldwork (Residential field courses in Ireland and England) • Low Temperature Geochemistry • Future Energy • Digital Geology & GIS • Option Modules • Elective Modules

Work Placements & Research Opportunities 

Students have the opportunity to take a work placement module and/or a research project module during third year or during the following summer vacation.

Fourth Year 

Research Project • Marine Geoscience • Ore Geology • Advanced Geological Mapping • Basin Analysis • Geological Fieldwork (Includes a 10-day residential field course, usually held in Spain) • Quaternary Geology • Applied Geophysics • Earth System Analysis.

Earth Sciences as a Minor Subject

Earth Sciences can be combined with either Archaeology or Geography as a Minor subject, with most of your study being in your Archaeology or Geography Major subject through DN700 Social Sciences. Depending on your interests, you may elect to study from the following range of themes: Geology and Society; Landforms, Sediments and Life; Field Skills; Geochemistry; Earth Materials; Solid Earth Evolution. To select Earth Sciences as a Minor, select DN700 Social Sciences, choose the Two Subject Combination, then select either Archaeology or Geography with Minor subject – and pick Earth Sciences.

Earth Sciences graduates work in organisations essential to understanding and protecting the environment including geological surveys, NGOs, onshore and offshore geotechnical companies, environmental consultancies and insurance firms managing natural disaster risk. They are also employed in companies exploring for, and producing, natural resources as mineral exploration and production geologists, geophysicists, hydrogeologists, environmental geochemists and marine surveyors.

Sarah Procter
UCD School of Earth Sciences
askscience@ucd.ie


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 SCI10010 Principles of Scientific Enquiry Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GEOL10060 Introduction to Earth Sciences Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students who wish to take Stage 2 Earth Sciences are strongly recommended to take GEOL10030 in Stage 1. GEOL10030 cannot usually be taken in the same year as Stage 2 Earth Sciences because of timetable incompatibility.
 GEOL10050 Earth and Humanity Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students who wish to take Stage 2 Earth Sciences are strongly recommended to take GEOL10030 in Stage 1. GEOL10030 cannot usually be taken in the same year as Stage 2 Earth Sciences because of timetable incompatibility.
 GEOL10030 Field Geology, Level 1 Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students who wish to take Stage 2 Earth Sciences are strongly recommended to take GEOL10030 in Stage 1. GEOL10030 cannot usually be taken in the same year as Stage 2 Earth Sciences because of timetable incompatibility.
 GEOL10040 Earth, Environment and Society Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
GEOL10070 must be taken in Stage 1 or Stage 2 to progress to Stage 3 in Earth Sciences.
 GEOL10070 Understanding Earth Systems Spring  5

"Earth Sciences is such a diverse and exciting field. The creation and destruction of the Earth beneath our feet, strange creatures preserved in rock and ancient catastrophic events are among a few of the things I find fascinating about it. UCD Science became a clear first choice for me because of the common entry system, and it was through this course that I discovered my love of Earth Sciences. I am now working as a project coordinator in the Offshore Wind Industry. Working in an industry that is constantly taking strides towards a greener future for Ireland is so exciting."

Grace Fitzgerald, Graduate

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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Earth Sciences:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceInt SCU1
Science
Bachelor of Science		 Commencing 2024/2025 September Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Apply
showAudience-audienceInt EES1
Science: Earth & Environmental Sciences
Bachelor of Science		 Commencing 2024/2025 September Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Apply
showAudience-audienceEU DN200
Science
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September
 Application through CAO Apply via CAO
showAudience-audienceEU DN200
Science: Earth & Environmental Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September
 Application through CAO Apply via CAO
* you can change options at the top of the page

Additional special entry route(s) to Earth Sciences:

These options have additional eligibility requirements to cater for specific applicant cohorts. You should not apply via these routes before consulting the requirements or contacting the responsible UCD office.

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt SCU1
Science
Bachelor of Science		 Commencing 2024/2025 September Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.		 Apply
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