Applied Environmental Geology (MSc)
- Duration: 1 year
- Mode: Full time
Open day
Find out more about studying here as a postgraduate at our next Open Day.
Why study this course
Our vocationally focused MSc degree in Applied Environmental Geology provides the requisite skills for employment in professional geo-environmental and geotechnical consultancies and government environmental agencies.
Unique location
South Wales provides a wide range of highly relevant geoenvironmental and geotechnical locations, which we visit during field trips and use in case studies.
Specialist modules
Study specialised, vocational subjects such as contaminated land and geotechnics, and round out your skillset with modules that will enhance your professional skills.
Professional development
Develop the varied transferable skills that are required by a modern professional applied geologist on a career track to the Chartered Geologist (C.Geol) qualification.
Professional project
Complete an industrial placement or in-house research project driven by your own interests in a location or organisation of your choosing, including outside of the UK.
Professionally accredited
Accredited by the Geological Society.
Professional geologists working in consultancies, regulatory authorities and government environmental agencies are required to apply a wide range of transferrable skills to their jobs. Candidates who are able to demonstrate skills in public engagement, communication, professional research and report-writing, in addition to academic knowledge and field skills, are therefore highly sought after in these professions.
This full-time MSc Applied Environmental Geology is part taught and part professional project. We aim to develop your transferrable skills in a professional context and give you a head start in the geology profession of your choice or starting a PhD.
The dual coverage of Geotechnical and geoenvironmental aspects within the course really prepared me for a career in ground investigation. I have been able to draw on content from a variety of modules, which I feel gave me the edge in a recent (successful) job interview for a new role. The hands on and practical nature of the course meant that when I left and started my first 'proper job' I not only felt well prepared for the tasks at hand, but also like I already had a year’s experience in industry under my belt.
Where you'll study
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
We’re making sense of our changing world and solving some of the most critical challenges facing our society, economy and environment.
Admissions criteria
In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.
With your online application you will need to provide:
- A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved a 2:1 honours degree in civil engineering, earth science, environmental engineering, environmental science, geology (including exploration, mining and resource), geophysics, geoscience, geohazards, or an equivalent international degree. If your degree certificate or result is pending, please upload any interim transcripts or provisional certificates.
- A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.
If you do not have a degree in a relevant subject area, or have a 2:2 honours degree, you may still apply but should provide additional evidence to support your application such as a CV and references.
Application deadline:
We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of August but may close sooner if all places are filled.
Selection process:
We will review your application and if you meet the entry requirements, we will make you an offer.
Find out more about English language requirements.
Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification in order to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Course structure
There are two stages to the MSc Applied Environmental Geology.
Stage 1 lasts for 7 months (September – April), where you will complete taught modules and fieldwork, with significant contributions from industry professionals.
In these modules, we will investigate general themes, such as the principles of geotechnical engineering and geophysics. We will also look into environmental themes in more depth including land contamination, environmental regulation, behaviour of soils and water.
If you pass Stage 1 you will progress onto Stage 2, which is a 5-month professional project from May to September culminating in a dissertation. We will, wherever possible, offer you an industrial placement with a professional company either in the UK or overseas over the summer to complete your project but this cannot be guaranteed. Also, we cannot guarantee that your company placement will be paid. Some students do not find a suitable placement and undertake an unpaid, in-house project instead. Students who hold a full UK driving licence are more likely to get a company placement than those who do not and this should be factored into your planning.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2024/25 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2024.
For the first seven months, from September to April, you will complete taught modules and fieldwork at Cardiff University. After this, you will progress onto a 5-month placement in the UK or overseas where you will undertake a professional project and complete your dissertation.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Contaminated Land | EAT105 | 20 credits |
| Transferable Skills | EAT108 | 10 credits |
| The Initial Conceptual Ground Model (ICM) | EAT115 | 10 credits |
| Project Planning, Design and Delivery for Applied Environmental Geology | EAT116 | 20 credits |
| Water in the Geological Environment | EAT117 | 10 credits |
| Engineering properties of geo-materials and the principles of geotechnical engineering and design. | EAT118 | 40 credits |
| Environmental Assessment and Sustainability | EAT119 | 10 credits |
| Dissertation AEG | EAT110 | 60 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
How will I be taught?
The methods of teaching we employ may vary from module to module. Generally we teach using a mixture of lectures, practical work and fieldwork. We also have a series of lectures with invited speakers from across the profession, as well as strong links with the Geological Society.
On the course, you will undertake laboratory work in several modules. This includes standard laboratory tests covering the physical and mechanical properties of soils, and water flow experiments to learn hydrologic and hydrogeologic concepts.
You will also develop your knowledge of numerical tools to model real-world geotechnical problems. Application software, such as CorelDraw, Surfer, ArcGIS, as well as professional geoengineering software, such as Rockscience and Landsim, are used throughout the course.
Throughout the course we encourage communication and teamwork. For example, we may ask you to work in teams in laboratories and on field-trips. Our project training includes skills in supervision and co-ordination of a range of tasks designed to address specific geotechnical and geoenvironmental problems.
How will I be assessed?
We use a wide range of assessment methods, depending on the module. These include exams, coursework, presentations, practical assessment, your industrial placement and dissertation (15,000 words).
How will I be supported?
During your course, you will be supported in a number of ways.
We use the University’s virtual learning environment, Learning Central, to share course materials, including lectures, professional reports and links to government agencies. You may also use Learning Central to communicate and share ideas with fellow students and course tutors.
You will have full use of the Science Library, which houses materials related to Earth and Ocean Sciences, as well as the other University libraries.
You will be allocated a personal tutor when you enrol on the course. A personal tutor is there to support you during your studies, and can advise you on academic and personal matters that may be affecting you. You should have regular meetings with your personal tutor to ensure that you are fully supported.
For your dissertation, we will allocate you an academic supervisor and, if your project is located outside of Cardiff, an industrial supervisor. You should keep in in regular contact with your academic and/or industrial supervisor by email and attend at least one personal progress interview at Cardiff University during the dissertation period.
Cardiff University also offers a wide range of support services which are open to our students, such as the Graduate Centre, counselling and wellbeing, financial and careers advisors, the international office and the Student Union.
Feedback
We offer written and oral feedback, depending on the coursework or assessment you have undertaken. You will usually receive your feedback from the module leader. If you have questions regarding your feedback, module leaders are usually happy to give advice and guidance on your progress.
What skills will I practise and develop?
On completing the course you should be able to:
- Describe and explain the core scientific principles and concepts of soil/rock mechanics, water flow, and the pollution of soil, water and air.
- Identify the standards, regulations, policies and legal frameworks required for the professional practice of applied environmental geology.
- Research and write a professional site report of a geo-environmental hazard using primary sources and GIS techniques.
- Design and execute a geotechnical, geophysical, hydrogeological and geoenvironmental site and laboratory investigation, analyse the data and develop remedial solutions for geoenvironmental problems.
- Communicate effectively (both written and orally) in multi-disciplinary teams, act ethically and in conformity with health and safety regulations, and assess the sustainability of policies and projects.
- Demonstrate understanding of the geotechnical, geochemical and hydrogeological factors that must be considered in investigating and providing solutions to a wide range of problems that exist in Applied and Environmental Geology.
- Demonstrate an awareness and knowledge of; health, safety, scientific, technical UK standards, legal and commercial issues relevant to professional practice as an Applied Geologist.
- Undertake an historical desk and remote sensing study of a previously industrialised site and develop a conceptual ground model of that site to aid redevelopment and planning.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the nature and geochemistry of contaminants found in ground and surface waters, soils, landfill sites, abandoned mines, and atmospheric pollution.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the engineering properties and behaviour of rocks and soil with reference to ground stability issues, geohazards, construction and industrial mining legacy.
- Show an understanding of the appropriate ground investigation and geophysical techniques to apply to any particular site investigation.
- Demonstrate systematic understanding of the hydrogeological and geological parameters that determine groundwater character and flow.
- Demonstrate high-level skills in risk-based assessment of remediation strategies for a range of contaminated land categories and end uses.
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of Environmental Impact Assessment procedures and the regulatory legal framework applied in Law in the UK.
Tuition fees for 2024 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £11,950 | None |
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2024/25 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £28,200 | £2,500 |
More information about tuition fees and deposits, including for part-time and continuing students.
Financial support
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Additional costs
The School covers the cost of everything that is an essential part of the programme, this will be clearly detailed in all programme information and in any verbal instructions given by tutors.
The School provides hard safety hats, PPE clothing and a waterproof technical notebook, but students are required to individually purchase their own safety approved “rigger” type boots suitable for industrial site visits (can be purchased from under £20). Note that walking boots are not approved for industrial site visits as they have no steel re-enforcement.
Will I need any specific equipment to study this course/programme?
We will provide any equipment that is essential to the course. However, we recommend that you bring a laptop computer with appropriate software (e.g. word processing), USB or a hard drive, and general stationary.
Specialist software for the programme is available on networked computers in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
During the course, you will have access to the Science Library, and other University libraries, and study spaces across campus.
Living costs
We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Funding
Careers and placements
Our graduates are widely sought after in industry and often have an advantage in the job market, due to the applied nature of the course and the transferrable skills they have been equipped with.
Following this degree you may choose to work in consultancy, regulatory authorities or government environmental agencies across the world. You may also decide to conduct further research and complete a PhD.
Former students can be found working for the likes of Network Rail, Mott McDonald, Natural Resources Wales, Environment Agency England, WSP, Ove Arup, Atkins and numerous other specialist geo-environmental consultancies and agencies based around the UK.
By completing this course, you will become part of a long line (over 30 years) of alumni who can now be found across the entire environmental geology sector, from entry-level to senior managers and regulators, around the world. Read career case studies from our alumni.
Placements
You will undertake a 5-month project using industry data as part of the second stage of the course, from May-September. Wherever possible, this will be undertaken during a placement with an industrial company where you can collect the data yourself while getting industry experience. This placement can be located in the UK or overseas as long as the project is deemed to be logistically safe and academically viable.
PLEASE NOTE that we are unable to guarantee an industrial placement, or that your industrial placement will be a paid position. Further, students who hold a full UK driving licence are more likely to get an industrial placement than those who do not, so this should be factored into your planning.
Fieldwork
South Wales provides a wide range of highly relevant geoenvironmental and geotechnical case studies and site visits. These include site visits to the Cardiff Bay Barrage, acid mine drainage from abandoned mines and active landslides in the south Wales Valleys. Field work includes surveying skills, rock engineering to the Rhondda Valley and Cardigan, site investigation visits to the Mumbles, Bournville landslide, as well as contaminated land studies at Barry Docks and Bryn Pica landfill site. All fieldwork on this course is compulsory.
Next steps
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.
