Exploration Geology

People have been using Earth’s natural resources like metals, minerals, oil and gas for centuries to build our towns and cities, power our homes, and to make the vehicles, devices and tools that we depend on. New resources are increasingly hard to find and require specialist skills and technology to locate and exploit responsibly.

On our Exploration Geology course, you will learn how the Earth’s processes have created the planet’s natural resources and how to explore for them to meet future demand. You will develop skills in fieldwork (both above and underground), data analysis and confident decision making and use modern exploration software.

We make the most of our location and take regular field trips to explore mining sites across Wales. There will also be an opportunity to do an overseas trip. In the past we’ve been to Spain and Cyprus.

We’ve worked with industry to design our course so you graduate with the specialist skills needed to be a professional exploration geologist. Our degrees are also accredited by the Geological Society, the professional body for geosciences in the UK.

You don’t need to have studied Geology already as we’ll be starting year one with the basic principles to bring everyone to the same level.

Distinctive Features of the Programme

• History and uniqueness – We have been training mining engineers and geologists for over 100 years. Exploration Geology is the only undergraduate degree in the UK to focus on specialist training in resource exploration and we have strong links to industry through placements and through the Exploration alumni network and its mentoring scheme.

• Flexible degree schemes - most of the School’s degrees have a common first semester that introduce you to geosciences and geography. You can then decide whether to stay with your chosen degree or switch to another in the same School.

• Hands-on fieldwork - you will get plenty of opportunity to develop your fieldwork skills above and below ground with day and residential trips. We have a former gold mine close to Cardiff and many other outstanding natural landscapes for us to explore.

• Access to the British Geological Survey and National Museum of Wales - our school is in the same building as the Welsh office of the British Geological Survey and next door to the National Museum of Wales. We use the exhibition galleries of the National Museum and material from its collections to enhance our teaching. The British Geological Survey Wales also provide ideas for student projects and advice on professional skills and careers.

• Society of Economic Geologists Student Chapter – we have a thriving student society that you can join. Our links to this international society means we often get specialist visiting lecturers and sponsor student-led field visits to mineral deposits and mines across Europe. Recently our students have been to Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Serbia.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• The Geological Society