Why should I study Earth Science/Geology?

What is Earth Science/Geology?

Earth Science is taking matters to the global stage serious! This study programme is interested in exploring land surface and natural resources (water, ground, metals, stones, soil) as well as their cultivation. It is focusing on a wide array of questions related to this, made particularly urgent given the dramatically increasing number of people inhabiting Planet Earth. Earth scientists strive to enable humanity to make a more efficient use of the sources of energy available, to ensure better protection of the environment and to find ways in which to deal best with natural disasters.

Given this, earth sciences study programmes cover many areas of expertise. They are highly versatile and subject to constant change and challenges. Earth scientists study these challenges in terms of the consequences they may have on physical, geo-chemical, ecological and economic processes on the surface of this planet.

Three reasons to study Earth Science/Geology:

  1. If you enjoy doing experiments in a lab, earth science gives you plenty of opportunity to gain hands-on experience working on real life challenges.
  2. If you are a fan of the outdoors, studying earth science enables you to do fieldwork in the environment you enjoy.
  3. If you are a science crack, a degree in earth sciences allows you to further complement your knowledge in physics, chemistry, biology and maths with that of mineralogy and geology.

How to study Earth Science/Geology?

You will learn about the basics of earth sciences in the first one to two years of your undergraduate degree. These include the classic sciences that are physics, chemistry and biology as well as maths, but also more specialist knowledge in the areas of geology and soil science. You will need and develop these further in your following years of study to be able to understand the workings of earth. In these later years, you can put your expertise into practice and specialise, for instance, in (technical) mineralogy, soil science, experimental methods, geo-chemistry or in the production of raw materials. It is quite common for you being able to pick and choose your specialism freely.

Assessments will vary across exams, coursework, presentations and lab work. Students will often be required to conduct research of their own, to answer a question of their choosing – generating exactly the sort of skillset that employers are seeking. This is often in a team, so students will be developing their skills in communications, delegation, research and management.

What kind of job can I get by studying Earth Science/Geology?

Because studying earth science has you gain knowledge in a multitude of fields, your future potential employers will be, too: you may work for public research institutes, environmental agencies, but also in engineering companies working on mapping and assessing the quality of soil. If you specialise in geology or geo-chemistry, you are able to work in public administration, in companies working on making accessible the various resources of this planet or in consulting firms. If you get a bit tired of all the fieldwork and hands-on experience, you may also work at a museum instead.

How can U-Multirank help me find the best Earth Science/Geology study programme for me?

If you’re considering pursuing a degree in earth science, then let us help you find the best university for you. U-Multirank’s ‘For students track offers personalised university comparisons, so you can find the university that best matches you. U-Multirank’s subject rankings provide the feedback of more than 100,000 current students studying at the respective universities, offering a unique student perspective to the rankings via our Teaching & Learning dimension. Create your own personalised rankings today and compare universities according to what matters most to you.  To start, make sure to select earth science as your subject of interest and we’ll help guide you through the rest.

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