Earth Sciences

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 2026 Brochure (PDF).

Information on pathways, internships and careers is available in the Undergraduate Courses Brochure (PDF).

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 an opportunity to complete a Geoscience Work Placement worth 5 credits during third year. Work placements are secured on a competitive basis and are typically hosted by resource-based, geotechnical, civil engineering and environmental consultancy companies.

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.

• Level 5/6 QQI-FET
• Open Learning Entry Route
• Mature Entry Route
• DARE Entry Route
• HEAR Entry Route
• University Access