**Course details** Earth Sciences is the holistic study of the planet from the core to the surface, its water and the surrounding atmosphere. Our lives on Earth are at a turning point. Studying Earth Sciences provides knowledge and insight into the implications of this and explores society’s options to secure a sustainable future for the Earth, its environment and its inhabitants. Understanding the processes involved in shaping the Earth’s surface through the study of minerals and rocks can inform us about the impact of past and present changes in environmental conditions. This knowledge will allow us to develop solutions to protect society and the planet from today’s challenges, from climate change and natural disasters to resource shortages and sustainability. **Why Durham University?** Durham is one of the UK’s leading providers of Earth Sciences education. We offer six undergraduate courses, four of which are accredited by The Geological Society of London. Our courses explore the full geological spectrum including climate change, oceans, mass extinctions, rocks and minerals, volcanoes, and the structure and chemistry of the Earth. Our multidisciplinary approach applies physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and physical geography to real world scenarios to make sense of today's major geoscience concerns. Our flexible degree puts you in control, giving you both the fundamentals and increased specialisation as you progress through the degree, allowing you to choose a pathway of most interest to you. The BSc Geology is accredited by the Geological Society of London. **Facilities** Our teaching takes place in the modern, purpose-built Arthur Holmes Building equipped with brand-new optical microscopes and a large teaching collection of rocks, fossils, geological maps, and thin sections. We use industry-standard and research-level software (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS Pro, Python and Matlab). If your dissertation or research project involves laboratory study, you can access our world-class geochemistry and rock mechanics labs. **Rankings** **3rd** in the UK Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 **5th** in the Guardian University Guide 2026 **5th** in the UK Complete University Guide 2026 **Top 100** in the QS World University Rankings 2026 **Career Opportunities** Our flexible courses have been developed to meet the needs of industry and provide you with the skills you need to succeed. You will graduate with the scientific foundations and transferable skills to move directly into the workplace or to progress to a more specialised postgraduate qualification. Career prospects for Durham graduates are excellent. Geology and Earth Sciences graduates are highly valued by employers and go on to a wide range of highly successful careers in the sector and beyond, working in industry and research, including environmental management, water management, energy and engineering geology. Some of the high-profile employers our graduates have gone on to work for include ATKINS, ARUP, Centrica and the Environment Agency.
A Level: AAB | Specific subjects required for entry: including AB in two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, Computer and Marine Science, Economics, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Life and Health Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology or Statistics. Specific subjects excluded for entry: Critical Thinking and General Studies. Information: Applicants taking Science A-levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This refers only to English A Levels. | T Level | At Durham we welcome applications from students of outstanding achievement and potential from all educational backgrounds. We will consider applicants studying T level qualifications for entry to many of our courses. Where a course requires subject specific knowledge and this is not covered within the T level being studied, you may need to supplement your T level studies with a suitable qualification to meet this requirement, for example at A level. Where this is needed this will be clearly stated in our entry requirements. Detailed entry requirements can be found on individual course entries on our courses database. https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/courses/f600/#entry-requirements-1237457 | Scottish Higher: AAABB | Departments will normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. In the absence of 3 Advanced Highers, where these are not offered by the applicant’s school, offers comprising of Advanced Highers and Highers or a number of Highers may be made on a case by case basis. | Access to HE Diploma: 30 UCAS points | Access to HE Diploma: 15 UCAS points | Access to HE Diploma | We require 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 (or equivalent). Applicants may be required to meet additional subject-specific requirements for particular courses at Durham. At least 30 level 3 credits at Distinction and in addition at least 15 level 3 credits at a minimum of merit, including 2 sciences. | Scottish Advanced Higher: AAB | Two Science subjects required. | International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: 35 UCAS points | 665 at higher level, including two science subjects | Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016): DDD | Specific subjects required for entry: plus two science A levels from Biology, Chemistry, Computer and Marine Science, Economics, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Life and Health Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology or Statistics. | Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017): H2H2H2H3H3 | Two Science subjects required. | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DDD | Including two Sciences
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The tuition fees shown for home students remain subject to parliamentary approval. They are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Durham University will charge home rate tuition up to the maximum allowed by the UK Government. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government. The tuition fees shown for international and EU students are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees are subject to an annual inflationary increase. Tuition fees will rise annually by up to the higher of 6% or the latest annual percentage increase in the Consumer Prices Index. As a student you may also get involved in optional activities which incur additional costs. To find out more visit https://www.dur.ac.uk/colleges-and-student-experience/additional-charges/. — 27/28 Placeholder
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