
Geophysics Field Trips
Field-trips play a major part in the learning process. Students get the chance to test out their new-found skills whilst using state-of-the-art equipment.
Providing professional-level geophysics training and education to open up career opportunities across a number of industries and for future academic research.
RSK Geosciences is offering a scholarship for a Home/UK student commencing the MSc Geophysics in September 2023. Deadline: 14 July 2023. Find out more...
Developed on the back of a recognised need for qualified geophysicists within industry, this programme is hosted by the Department of Geology & Geophysics and is delivered by staff across the School of Geosciences supplemented by external experts.
It equips students with the skills for careers in the energy transition, hydrocarbon and minerals exploration, renewable energy, environmental sciences and associated service industries, or broader geophysics research.
This unique programme is designed to expose students to the theory and practice of modern geophysics, with an emphasis on cutting edge techniques for understanding the structure, dynamics and composition of the Earth from the near surface to the deep interior.
The content is broad-based and integrative with a strong focus on the quantitative aspects of geophysical data analysis and interpretation.
Here, you will learn from experienced geophysics staff and key industry experts, delivered in world-class facilities with dedicated teaching and study space and explore the theory of geophysics and its application to a multitude of research and industry problems across a variety of scales, via a curriculum that covers the broad fundamentals and new technologies.
We place specific emphasis on students gaining hands-on experience in using industry-standard software and acquiring geophysical data with our large pool of geophysics equipment (including broadband seismometers, seismic reflection/refraction, ground penetrating radar, resistivity tomography, magnetometers and differential GPS).
Pre-Sessional Resources
Download our Pre-Sessional Tests and Reading Guide for diagnostic mathematics tests and a list of recommended textbooks and reading material.
This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.
Topics include orientation overview, equality and diversity, health, safety and cyber security and how to make the most of your time at university in relation to careers and employability.
Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’.
15 Credit Points
This course aims to develops students' understanding of the fundamentals of Earth’s structure and geodynamic processes, introducing geological concepts to those from a more physics-based background, and fundamental physics to those from a geoscience background. By the end of this course students will be able to explain how Earth's structure and processes are governed by the underlying physics, and describe how the Earth deforms and the consequences of this on the surface of the Earth. This course will also develop students' coding skills and give them experience in reading scientific papers and in scientific writing.
15 Credit Points
This module focuses on the application of geophysical techniques for solving near surface environmental problems. It covers basic theory and practical aspects of modern data collection for near surface magnetic, gravity, resistivity, electro-magnetic (EM), ground penetrating radar (GPR) and seismic refraction, along with case study examples of application to the assessment and monitoring of a range of scientific and technical environmental problems including water resources, geotechnics, contaminated lands, civil engineering, mining, geothermal resources, archaeology. The module will be taught so that the students will be equipped to plan and undertake their own geophysical experiments focusing on a variety of near surface geophysical targets. The use of a variety of geophysical equipment in the field will form a significant component of this module.
15 Credit Points
This module is designed to give students a range of computational skills associated with time-series analysis and inverse theory. The module content will be delivered in the form of lectures, practicals and webinars.
Time series analysis and inverse theory is of paramount importance in exploration geophysics and computational sciences. The students will get familiar with signal processing and optimisation. This will open up multiple career paths in geoscience and STEM in general.
15 Credit Points
Borehole Geophysics provides critically important information about the subsurface through well logging and core analysis. This course will cover the fundamentals of Petrophysics and its use in the analysis of cores and geophysical well logs for reservoir characterisation and hydrocarbon assessment.
The course will then examine rock physics properties recorded in seismic data. This course will review the basics of rock physics analysis and modeling to introduce how microstructure information can be used to understand subsurface reservoirs.The course will conclude by, examining how changes in rock physics over time can be used to aid the extraction and storage of fluids in the the subsurface.
15 Credit Points
This module will cover on the most important essentials of reflection seismics: from basic to advanced information on how seismic data are acquired and processed to generate images of the subsurface. Practical exercises involving processing of seismic reflection data will form a significant part of the curriculum with the aim of familiarising students with key industry software packages.
15 Credit Points
This module will take students to the boundaries of applied geophysics, through hands-on training to academia and industry standard techniques in field geophysical data acquisition, visualisation, and mapping. The course content is drawn from academic research, industry geophysics case studies, and dedicated field geophysics training. It provides skills that open up career paths to graduates in a range of geophysical industries. The balance between topics and techniques may shift from year to year in response to changing patterns of research and changing employer demand.
15 Credit Points
This module is designed to give students a range of skills associated with data-driven approaches and machine learning. Machine learning has revolutionised numerous scientific fields and it has begun to change the paradigm in geosciences by providing real-time solutions to non-trivial and computationally intense problems. Throughout the module the students will become familiar with the basic concepts and tools of machine learning. This will open up multiple career paths in geoscience and STEM in general.
60 Credit Points
This course provides the student an opportunity to design and execute the workflow of the data treatment (including in exceptional cases the possible of acquisition), processing, analysis and modelling, and interpretation of a geophysical dataset in the context of Earth structure or processes and/or exploration goals relevant to resource industries. The project is an extended, independent, self-directed, piece of practical work integrating and reinforcing the material taught on the course, and giving a detailed insight into the demands of, and ways of working in academia or industry.
We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
Fee category | Cost |
---|---|
EU / International students | £28,764 |
Tuition Fees for 2023/24 Academic Year | |
Home / RUK | £13,184 |
Tuition Fees for 2023/24 Academic Year |
Further Information about tuition fees and the cost of living in Aberdeen
Industry Scholarships:
Other sources:
Eligible self-funded international Masters students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Visit our Funding Database to find out more and see our full range of scholarships.
Continuous assessment will play a major part in the programme, as well as course specific project work and exams.
One-third of the overall assessment will be attributed to an individual project involving original research or applied work. Students may gain direct support from industry during the individual project.
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen. Our minimum entry requirement for this programme is
Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
Successful completion of this programme will open up opportunities for students with oil and gas operators and mineral exploration companies, as well as dedicated geophysics service companies related to renewable energy, and civil and environmental engineering. Two-thirds of our graduates now enjoy a geophysics industry career, with a quarter undertaking geophysics research towards a PhD or University lecturing, and the remainder are employed in the digital technology or other sectors.
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
Field-trips play a major part in the learning process. Students get the chance to test out their new-found skills whilst using state-of-the-art equipment.
Student-led social and professional events and networking.
Find out moreAUGER is a suite of geophysical equipment available for research or commercial projects.
Find out more