Why Aberdeen Geology?

Working Together to Build a Sustainable Future

Our focus is building a sustainable future for people and our planet. We study the processes that form and shape the Earth and examine how people interact with their environment through time to help improve how we manage our natural resources, transition to sustainable energy sources, protect our environment and combat climate change.

Geology and Geophysics staff are highly involved with the University's Centre for Energy Transition (CET), particularly in areas such as geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage, nuclear waste storage and critical materials for the energy transition.

The School of Geosciences is strongly interdisciplinary, and our teaching and research is strengthened by our close working relationships with our colleagues in Archaeology, Geography and Planetary Sciences as well as others in the School of Biological Science, the School of Engineering and the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. For example, undergraduate geology students can also study the geology and atmospheres of the earth, planets and satellites of the solar system thanks to our collaboration with the Department of Planetary Sciences.

The Department is also highly active in the QUADRAT and GeoNetZero doctoral training programmes as well as Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage, ClimateXChange, and various UKRI funding and industry partnerships.

Industry Links

Aberdeen is the hub of the European energy industry. If you’re interested in joining the energy industry, in either oil and gas or renewables, there is no better place to study in the UK. We have extensive links with industry and our students benefit from guest lectures, industry based projects and various networking events.

You will also have the opportunity to join professional societies to expand your knowledge, skills and professional networks beyond the classroom. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain have a unified student chapter within the department. Other events in the department are organized by the Aberdeen Geological Society.

Unrivalled Fieldwork Opportunities

Field study is a major part of our teaching, and our location means we enjoy easy access to wonderful field locations throughout Scotland such as Arran, Skye, and the Scottish Highlands. International field trips to Europe and North America are also a feature of certain programmes.

The School of Geosciences is a world-leader in the adoption and application of digital technology, combining the latest virtual tools and resources. You will gain experience using specialist software to create virtual models of geological features and processes. V3 Geo, for example, has been developed by Aberdeen geoscientists and is a bespoke public repository and viewer for 3D virtual geoscience models, with a focus on virtual geological outcrops.

World Class Facilities

Undergraduate geology students are taught in the new Science Teaching Hub. Opened in 2022, this ultra-modern facility provides geology students with the most modern microscopy laboratories in the UK. Our new polarizing, 5-objective microscopes, are equipped with state-of-the-art cameras linked to a provided laptop, which allows you to capture high-quality images for reports, assessments and for your own use. All microscopes are linked to the laboratory network enabling sharing of images with instructors, other students, and the rest of the class.

Each of our postgraduate programmes have a dedicated home room, where students can access the necessary analytical equipment and state-of-the-art industry software packages for their programme.

Research is supported by our world-class facilities, equipment and laboratories, including 3D Seismic Interpretation Facilities; ACEMAC Nano Scale Electron Microscopy and Analysis Facility; Dirty and Clean Sedimentary Laboratories; Geochemistry Laboratory; GIS Equipment; Hydrology Laboratory; Petrographic and Stereomicroscopes; Petrophysics Laboratory.