Undergraduate study in Earth and Environmental Sciences

St Andrews is an ideal place to study Earth Sciences, as it is surrounded by beaches, the sea, and world-famous geological outcrops. The School's undergraduate programmes take advantage of this with over 100 days in the field, both locally and across Europe. All compulsory field trips are fully subsidised and include associated travel and accommodation costs. This extensive field training, combined with the research and industry experience that Earth Sciences degrees offer, allows graduates from the School to enjoy some of the best employment prospects of any science programme in the country. Our graduates have gone on to jobs across the industrial, environmental, and academic sectors. St Andrews graduates rank among world leaders in academia and industry.

Most students haven’t studied Earth Sciences at school, and choose Earth Sciences based on a love of the environment, the outdoors, and science. If you’re interested in the processes that shape the planet and its environment, a degree in Earth Sciences is the right choice. Small class sizes create a culture of camaraderie between students and staff that fosters and encourages intellectual curiosity and independent thinking. The degree structure at St Andrews also allows you to take modules and maintain interests in other subjects in your first two years (sub-honours) before deciding on your final degree option for your Honours (third, fourth and fifth) years.

The School offers both single and joint undergraduate honours degree programmes, and more detailed information on each can be found at the links below:

The first years of study (sub-honours) are common to all Earth Sciences degree programmes, allowing students the flexibility to develop new interests in other subject until the end of first semester in year 2. However there is flexibility to move between Honours programmes at least until the end of second year.