THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2026/2027

Draft Edition - Due to be published Thursday 9th April 2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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Degree Programme Table: Earth Sciences (MEarthSci Hons) - 5 Years (Full-time) (UTMESESCIE1F)

Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5

Year 1 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: September

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

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
The Dynamic Earth
GESC08003 20 credits
Earth Sciences for Society
EASC08029 20 credits
Geology and Landscapes
EASC08030 20 credits
Earth Science Data Analysis 1

Must be taken during Semester 2

EASC08028 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

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

Select exactly 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A-Q, T, W and Y
OR

Group B

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

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

Select exactly 20 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A-Q, T, W and Y
AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)
EDUA08116 20 credits
Wicked problems: Reason and Rhetoric
EDUA08126 20 credits
Understanding decolonisation in a globalised world
EDUA08127 20 credits
Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030
EFIE08008 20 credits
Living in the Anthropocene
GESC08004 20 credits
Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World
SSPS08012 20 credits
Healthy Eating for People and Planet
VETS08016 20 credits

Year 2 Academic year: 2026/27, 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 optional courses for students in this group.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Earth Materials: From atoms to planets
EASC08031 20 credits
Earth Science Data Analysis 2
EASC08033 20 credits
Rock Forming Processes
EASC08032 20 credits
Field Skills for Earth Sciences
EASC08034 20 credits
Introduction to Geophysics
EASC08008 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 20 credits in this group.

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

Select exactly 20 credits from 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.
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)
EDUA08116 20 credits
Wicked problems: Reason and Rhetoric
EDUA08126 20 credits
Understanding decolonisation in a globalised world
EDUA08127 20 credits
Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030
EFIE08008 20 credits
Living in the Anthropocene
GESC08004 20 credits
Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World
SSPS08012 20 credits
Healthy Eating for People and Planet
VETS08016 20 credits
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.
The Dynamic Earth
GESC08003 20 credits

Year 3 Academic year: 2026/27, 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
Sedimentology, Climate and Tectonics
EASC09061 20 credits
Igneous, Metamorphic and Ore Processes
EASC10107 20 credits
Co-evolution of Life and Earth
EASC10129 20 credits
Structural Geology and Tectonics
EASC09062 20 credits
Advanced Field Skills for Earth Science
EASC10130 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 20 credits in this group.

Level 10 Semester 1 Options for Earth Science Y3

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Hydrogeology 1: Applied Hydrogeology
EASC10082 10 credits
Applied Hydrogeology and Near Surface Geophysics
EASC10101 20 credits
Glacial Processes and Geomorphology
GEGR10075 20 credits
Eroding Landscapes: Mountains, Hills and Rivers
GEGR10136 20 credits
OR

Level 10 Semester 2 Options for Earth Science Y3

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Please note that student are permitted to take 20 credits in semester 2, but should consider the workload of having 80 credits in semester 2 (including fieldtrip).
Hydrogeology 2: Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Transport
EASC10126 10 credits
Planetary Science
EASC10128 20 credits
Topics in Global Change
ENVI10001 20 credits
Ice and Climate
GEGR10119 20 credits
Volcanoes, Environment and People
GEGR10139 20 credits
Global Hydrology
GEGR10146 20 credits
Self-Designed Learning (10 credits; SCQF level 10; GeoSciences)
GESC10001 10 credits

Year 4 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Geological Evolution and Resources of Britain and Ireland
EASC10135 40 credits
Earth Sciences Research Project
EASC10136 40 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Earth Sciences 4th Year Options

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Volcanic and Magmatic Processes
EASC10132 20 credits
Ore Deposits and Crustal Processes
EASC10134 20 credits
Topics in Palaeontology and Evolution
EASC10137 20 credits
OR

Group B

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Earth Sciences 4th Year Options

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Volcanic and Magmatic Processes
EASC10132 20 credits
Ore Deposits and Crustal Processes
EASC10134 20 credits
Topics in Palaeontology and Evolution
EASC10137 20 credits
AND

Level 10 courses in the School of Geosciences

Select exactly 20 credits from Level 10 courses in the School of Geosciences

Year 5 Academic year: 2026/27, Starting in: August

Notes:
The Earth Sciences degree is currently undergoing a restructure. The courses listed below may change.

In order to progress into the 5th year of the MEarthSci, students must achieve an average of 60% or more over the 3rd and 4th year combined. Boards of Examiners will consider cases of progression for students who are borderline (i.e. achieve between 58% and 59.99% average across their 3rd and 4th years), taking into account the same factors for progression which are taken into account for other progression, award or classification decisions. Borderline criteria used by Boards of Examiners are published to students in advance.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Project Design and Literature Analysis
GESC11001 20 credits
Geoscience Research Project
GESC11002 40 credits
MEarthSci field training
GESC11004 20 credits

Course options

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

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Hydrocarbon Reservoir Quality
EASC10015 10 credits
Hydrogeology 1: Applied Hydrogeology
EASC10082 10 credits
Applied Hydrogeology and Near Surface Geophysics
EASC10101 20 credits
Hydrogeology 2: Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Transport
EASC10126 10 credits
Planetary Science
EASC10128 20 credits
Volcanic and Magmatic Processes
EASC10132 20 credits
Ore Deposits and Crustal Processes
EASC10134 20 credits
Topics in Palaeontology and Evolution
EASC10137 20 credits
Topics in Global Change
ENVI10001 20 credits
Glacial Processes and Geomorphology
GEGR10075 20 credits
Ice and Climate
GEGR10119 20 credits
Eroding Landscapes: Mountains, Hills and Rivers
GEGR10136 20 credits
Volcanoes, Environment and People
GEGR10139 20 credits
Global Hydrology
GEGR10146 20 credits
Self-Designed Learning (10 credits; SCQF level 10; GeoSciences)
GESC10001 10 credits
Modelling of Systems for Sustainability
INFR10088 20 credits
Seismic Reflection Interpretation
PGGE11144 10 credits
Subsurface Reservoir Quality
PGGE11226 20 credits
Principles and Practice of Remote Sensing
PGGE11233 20 credits
Spatial Modelling and Analysis
PGGE11236 20 credits
Polar Oceans: Science and Policy
PGGE11260 20 credits
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