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Geoscientists study the Earth's structure and formation, and analyse rocks to explore its natural mineral and energy resources.
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
In the field you could:
In the laboratory you could:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in a laboratory, visit sites or in an office.
Your working environment may be physically demanding, outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often.
You can get into this job through:
To work as a professional geoscientist you'll need a degree in a relevant subject. Courses often combine theory with fieldwork and practical training. Degree subjects include:
It's becoming more common for new entrants to hold or be working towards postgraduate qualifications like an MSc or PhD.
Integrated postgraduate master's qualifications like a MGeol or MSci can be studied at university. These courses include more independent research and are designed to lead directly onto further study like a PhD.
You'll usually need:
If you want to work in the engineering sector using geoscience, you could do a Geotechnical engineer integrated degree apprenticeship.
Employers look for graduates with a degree in subjects like:
You'll usually need:
It's useful to get some work experience through an internship or year in industry placement while you are at university. Your university careers service can help you find opportunities. Organisations like Geology for Global Development also run projects and placements to help you gain skills.
Experience of specialist geological software and software modelling packages can be an advantage when you are applying for roles.
Since many employers of geoscientists operate internationally, having additional language skills can also be useful.
You can discover more about careers in geoscience through The Geological Society.
With experience, you could progress towards a consultant position, or move into teaching or management.
You may also be able to apply for chartered environmentalist status. You can find out more about being a chartered environmentalist from the Society for the Environment.
You can discover more about careers in geoscience through The Geological Society.