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Earth Sciences  (ERC1)

BSc (NFQ Level 8) · Academic Year 2025/2026
School
School of Earth Sciences
Attendance
Full Time
Level
Undergraduate
NFQ Level
8
Award
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Programme Director
Assoc Professor Patrick Orr
Overall Programme Credits:
240
Programme Credits:
N/A
Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
Stage 1: 10

Curricular information is subject to change.

Students’ performance will be reviewed at the end of the academic year. Students who fail 50% or more of their registered modules, and who fail to progress to the next stage of their programme, will be identified under the UCD Continuation – Academic progress policy. Students’ performance will continue to be reviewed in subsequent trimesters and students will be invited to meetings with the College of Science office for support and guidance.

Where the rate of progression and performance over two academic years is deemed unacceptable, a case will be submitted to the Governing Board for review. A recommendation for discontinuation may be the outcome of this review.

As Stages 3 and 4 have the most dynamic components of the programme, and the material studied previously may no longer be relevant, a student who has been away from the programme for a significant period should be required to register again to Stage 3. The upper limit for completion of Stages 3 and 4 should be six years if they choose to do 120 credits with 20 in each year.

Stage 1

Students must take a total of 12 modules (60 credits) in Stage 1 with at least 11 modules (55 credits) taken from within the BSc degree programme. GEOL10070 must be taken in either Stage 1 or Stage 2.

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