THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2025/2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Year 1 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
Students are required to take 120 credits each year.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A-Q, T, W and Y

Select between 20 and 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A-Q, T, W and Y
Notes:
Students can take a maximum of 40 credits Level 7 language courses in 1st AND 2nd year (combined)
AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.

Year 2 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students are required to take 120 credits each year.

Students continuing into Year 2 of the programme should take all compulsory courses plus select an option from Group A.

Direct entry students to Year 2 of the programme MUST take the compulsory courses plus The Dynamic Earth in Semester 1. There are no elective options for students in this group.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 20 credits in this group.

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A-Q, T, W and Y

OR

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.
OR

Group B

Select exactly 20 credits in this group.

The Dynamic Earth

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Direct Entry students MUST take this option.

Year 3 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Please note that student are permitted to take 20 credits in semester 2 rather than semester 1, but should consider the workload of having 80 credits in semester 2 (including fieldtrip).

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Level 10 Semester 1 Options for Earth Science Y3

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
OR

Level 10 Semester 2 Options for Earth Science Y3

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Student can take 20 credits in semester 2 but should consider the workload of having 80 credits total across semester 2 (including fieldtrip).

Please note that places are limited for EASC10100 and MSc students get priority for places.

Year 4 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
The Earth Sciences degree is currently undergoing a restructure. The courses listed below will change in 26/27, which will be the first delivery of Year 4 of the programme.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Courses from School(s) N - Geology/Earth Sciences Options - Level(s) 10-11

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses

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